Real-time response on large systems: predictions vs. reality

Only a few short years ago, predictions that Linux would do real-time heavy lifting were not universally believed, especially those predictions that Linux would do this real-time heavy lifting on SMP systems. Nevertheless, today Linux really does take on significant real-time tasks on SMP systems. But now it is time to look at where we are compared to where we (or at least I) thought we would be. This talk gives a quick overview of the progress, then focuses on one of the surprises encountered recently.

Topic Lead: Paul E. McKenney
Paul has been coding for almost four decades, more than half of that on parallel hardware, where his work has earned him a reputation among some as a flaming heretic. Over the past decade, he has been an IBM Distinguished Engineer at the IBM Linux Technology Center. He maintains the RCU implementation within the Linux kernel, where the variety of workloads present highly entertaining performance, scalability, real-time response, and energy-efficiency challenges. Prior to that, he worked on the DYNIX/ptx kernel at Sequent, and prior to that on packet-radio and Internet protocols (but long before it was polite to mention Internet at cocktail parties), system administration, business applications, and real-time systems. His hobbies include what passes for running at his age along with the usual house-wife-and-kids habit.