realtime support in kernel 2.6.18

Sigi · 2006-10-13 09:00:21

Hi

linuxdevices wrote:

...
Gleixner was the main author of Linux's hrtimer (high-resolution timer) subsystem, and has been a major contributor to Ingo Molnar's real-time preemption patch. The changelog for the 2.6.18 kernel reflects the addition of 136 patches authored by Gleixner, along with 143 from Molnar, who works for Red Hat.
The 2.6.18 release includes real-time technology that will save individual kernel developers from having to maintain separate real-time kernel trees, according to TimeSys. Additionally, embedded Linux developers or normal desktop users wishing to build kernels capable of achieving millisecond-level real-time responsiveness will no longer have to apply patches.
...

Are things like this already enabled in the stock or the ck kernel?
Are there any benefits for a standard desktop user in using this features or is realtime support something only audio freaks are interested in?

Cheers Sigi

iphitus · 2006-10-13 10:23:30

the new hrtimers are being merged in gradually, and we'll get the dynticks patch in a few more releases.

as for Ingo's -rt patchset, no, for most users it is of no use. Unless you're dealing with audio or video or an embedded system, you probably dont need to worry about realtime.

Generally you don't need to have things done "with millisecond level responsiveness". To do that, the kernel has to give priority to that process, by taking CPU time from other processes. So, it's not without an overhead and certainly isnt free responsiveness boosts.

James

Sigi · 2006-10-13 10:31:15

Thanks a lot for the clarification, James. That's more or less what I expected.

Arch Linux

#1 2006-10-13 09:00:21

realtime support in kernel 2.6.18

#2 2006-10-13 10:23:30

Re: realtime support in kernel 2.6.18

#3 2006-10-13 10:31:15

Re: realtime support in kernel 2.6.18

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