BSDCan 2011: Superpages in FreeBSD

This talk will describe the addition of superpage support to the FreeBSD 8 kernel on the Intel PC architecture. Superpages aggregate together standard-sized hardware pages into much larger "superpages". Each superpage requires only one entry in the page table replacing the numerous entries used by the standard-sized hardware pages. The result is much smaller page tables and greatly increased coverage by the TLB, producing much higher TLB hit rates for large processes. While superpages are used for all appropriate processes with no explicit request by the applications, understanding how they work will enable you to write your applications to make optimal use of them.

This talk will describe the addition of superpage support to the FreeBSD 8 kernel on the Intel PC architecture. Superpages aggregate together standard-sized hardware pages into much larger "superpages". Each superpage requires only one entry in the page table replacing the numerous entries used by the standard-sized hardware pages. The result is much smaller page tables and greatly increased coverage by the TLB, producing much higher TLB hit rates for large processes. While superpages are used for all appropriate processes with no explicit request by the applications, understanding how they work will enable you to write your applications to make optimal use of them.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• freebsd
• mckusick
• superpages
• kernel

[beradero]

I want this t-shirts! The freebsd-mall only has ugly ones!

[nuclearthelab]

Very interesting

[AspidZent]

yeahhh, I've already found this particular lecture, however this edited version is a bit shorter and neater. Besides, now that I can see the questions from the audience, I understand the explanations of Dr. McKusick. Man... that guy is a god!!! I wish I could see him at my local BSDCon... I'll stalk the hell out of him... :)

[xwicked7]

great to see some new stuff.