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-rw-r--r--Documentation/block/biodoc.txt19
1 files changed, 6 insertions, 13 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/block/biodoc.txt b/Documentation/block/biodoc.txt
index ecad6ee75705..6fab97ea7e6b 100644
--- a/Documentation/block/biodoc.txt
+++ b/Documentation/block/biodoc.txt
@@ -1040,23 +1040,21 @@ Front merges are handled by the binary trees in AS and deadline schedulers.
1040iii. Plugging the queue to batch requests in anticipation of opportunities for 1040iii. Plugging the queue to batch requests in anticipation of opportunities for
1041 merge/sort optimizations 1041 merge/sort optimizations
1042 1042
1043This is just the same as in 2.4 so far, though per-device unplugging
1044support is anticipated for 2.5. Also with a priority-based i/o scheduler,
1045such decisions could be based on request priorities.
1046
1047Plugging is an approach that the current i/o scheduling algorithm resorts to so 1043Plugging is an approach that the current i/o scheduling algorithm resorts to so
1048that it collects up enough requests in the queue to be able to take 1044that it collects up enough requests in the queue to be able to take
1049advantage of the sorting/merging logic in the elevator. If the 1045advantage of the sorting/merging logic in the elevator. If the
1050queue is empty when a request comes in, then it plugs the request queue 1046queue is empty when a request comes in, then it plugs the request queue
1051(sort of like plugging the bottom of a vessel to get fluid to build up) 1047(sort of like plugging the bath tub of a vessel to get fluid to build up)
1052till it fills up with a few more requests, before starting to service 1048till it fills up with a few more requests, before starting to service
1053the requests. This provides an opportunity to merge/sort the requests before 1049the requests. This provides an opportunity to merge/sort the requests before
1054passing them down to the device. There are various conditions when the queue is 1050passing them down to the device. There are various conditions when the queue is
1055unplugged (to open up the flow again), either through a scheduled task or 1051unplugged (to open up the flow again), either through a scheduled task or
1056could be on demand. For example wait_on_buffer sets the unplugging going 1052could be on demand. For example wait_on_buffer sets the unplugging going
1057(by running tq_disk) so the read gets satisfied soon. So in the read case, 1053through sync_buffer() running blk_run_address_space(mapping). Or the caller
1058the queue gets explicitly unplugged as part of waiting for completion, 1054can do it explicity through blk_unplug(bdev). So in the read case,
1059in fact all queues get unplugged as a side-effect. 1055the queue gets explicitly unplugged as part of waiting for completion on that
1056buffer. For page driven IO, the address space ->sync_page() takes care of
1057doing the blk_run_address_space().
1060 1058
1061Aside: 1059Aside:
1062 This is kind of controversial territory, as it's not clear if plugging is 1060 This is kind of controversial territory, as it's not clear if plugging is
@@ -1067,11 +1065,6 @@ Aside:
1067 multi-page bios being queued in one shot, we may not need to wait to merge 1065 multi-page bios being queued in one shot, we may not need to wait to merge
1068 a big request from the broken up pieces coming by. 1066 a big request from the broken up pieces coming by.
1069 1067
1070 Per-queue granularity unplugging (still a Todo) may help reduce some of the
1071 concerns with just a single tq_disk flush approach. Something like
1072 blk_kick_queue() to unplug a specific queue (right away ?)
1073 or optionally, all queues, is in the plan.
1074
10754.4 I/O contexts 10684.4 I/O contexts
1076I/O contexts provide a dynamically allocated per process data area. They may 1069I/O contexts provide a dynamically allocated per process data area. They may
1077be used in I/O schedulers, and in the block layer (could be used for IO statis, 1070be used in I/O schedulers, and in the block layer (could be used for IO statis,