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Linux Slab Allocator, Learn How Linux Manages Memory

ibm.com — Good operating system performance depends in part on the operating system's ability to efficiently manage resources. In the old days, heap memory managers were the norm, but performance suffered due to fragmentation and the need for memory reclamation. Today, Linux uses method which allocates memory as objects based on their size.

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 19, 2008

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  • nuand, on 08/19/2008, -0/+33Linux now uses a updated version of SLAB called SLUB, it was introduced about a year ago. From what I remember it has way better cache coloring and an improved pool organization algorithm for caches within the same kmem_cache.
  • Pssdoff, on 08/19/2008, -7/+30Wow a tech article! Not a single mention of Obama... Good work!
  • srg13, on 08/19/2008, -1/+14Please find some different website to inflict your stupidity on.
  • nickpick, on 08/19/2008, -1/+12buried this non-nerd *****
  • DteK, on 08/19/2008, -0/+8inferiority complex
  • JMellissa, on 08/19/2008, -1/+9Cool, I recently designed a driver that does a similar thing in terms of "first fit" for storage objects. I guess we were thinking along the same lines as IBM in this case.
  • garrettg84, on 08/19/2008, -0/+7-1 for being hypocritical.....nerd *****, you are sitting at your computer on digg as well...
  • garrettg84, on 08/19/2008, -0/+7-1 for being hypocritical again.....nerd *****, you are sitting at your computer on digg as well...

    would -1 again if i could
  • garrettg84, on 08/19/2008, -0/+7Check out this idiot's history, he buries anything that is technical. Must have a lot of time on his hands.

    -1 and blocked. I can't stand idiots.
  • anksrivastava, on 08/19/2008, -0/+6Finally an article of substance.
  • sublimemm, on 08/19/2008, -0/+5You do realize you must mentioned it right?
  • contradictator, on 08/19/2008, -2/+7I originally read that as "Linus Slaps Alligator, Learn How Linux Massages Memory".

    I think I need a coffee.
  • Tehrab, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4This sure beats my current method of opening my case and verbally asking the individual memory modules how they're doing on space.
  • Munshot, on 08/20/2008, -0/+4It's not however the default. Most people are probably still using SLAB. You need to enable it with CONFIG_SLUB in your kernel config if you want to try it out.
  • gdonald, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4Ancient.. Currently SLAB is "out", and SLUB is "in".
  • kahrn, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4wrboyce was pointing at the fact IBM has been writting great tech articles for a long time. They're a research company after all. ;)
  • longbow486, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4oh no a paradox!
  • Phocion55, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4Report. Block. Repeat.
  • stix213, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4Would have been better if this article was up on Digg while SLAB was actually part of Linux...
  • sysop073, on 08/19/2008, -0/+4Wow, you posted the same comment 4 times? Why?
  • wrboyce, on 08/19/2008, -2/+5and *now* great tech articles?
  • stix213, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2"What are you doing... Dave?"
    "Ohh, just wondering how much free memory you got in there HAL"
  • yogiincork, on 08/19/2008, -1/+3*my head asplode*
  • nickpick, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2*puts on his stupid hat*
  • kahrn, on 08/19/2008, -0/+2Whatever you're smoking.. i want some!
  • nickpick, on 08/19/2008, -1/+2I thought it was pretty well written.
  • tinkafoo, on 08/19/2008, -1/+2What we mean is they've had great tech articles for about 35 years. Do you know what IEFBR14 does? Exactly..
  • fluxion, on 08/20/2008, -0/+1yah im sure IBM's GERMAN subsidiary had a lot of choice on that one
  • Acolyte357, on 08/20/2008, -0/+1Are you "leary" of Hugo Boss, VW, Siemens, Bayer, BASF, Aventis, Ford, Mercedes, Mitsubishi (nice planes), ThyssenKrupp AG.... I can keep going if you want.
  • nickpick, on 08/19/2008, -5/+5You ought to love IBM. Adverts for Linux, WorldGrid to fight AIDS and Cancer and now great tech articles. Way to go!
  • Knowltey, on 08/25/2008, -0/+0Well most those that I know of are German (with the exception of Ford, and I'm not sure what they did), IBM I'm leary of because they were an American company that worked against America.
  • nickpick, on 08/19/2008, -1/+1Is it just me or did the sentence above make little to no sense?
  • ethana2, on 08/19/2008, -0/+0**** you. Two of my friends died slapping alligators.
  • TejanoRey, on 08/19/2008, -2/+1IBM has been trying to fix their reputation since they provided the Nazi party in a method of tracking the Jews and organize their numbers during all the deaths.
  • Knowltey, on 08/19/2008, -2/+0Lot better than what they did in World War 2, I'm personally still a little leary towards them because of it. If you don't already know what I'm talking about, Google is your big bro... err... friend.
  • tinkafoo, on 08/19/2008, -7/+1OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA
  • Pssdoff, on 08/19/2008, -18/+3I now use an updated version of SLUB called SLUT. It has way better cache coloring and improved pool organization- if you know what I mean...

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