Soft IRQ Threads

From eLinux.org

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 LKML discussions 1.1.1 Time Sys patch 1.1.2 Korty patch 1.2 Rationale 2 Downloads 2.1 Patch 2.2 Utility programs 3 How To Use 4 Sample Results 5 Future Work

Introduction

This page describes Soft IRQ threads, which is a mechanism to run certain interrupt bottom halves using a kernel thread with scheduling that can be prioritized in the same scheduling class as other threads and processes.

LKML discussions

Recently (July 2004), two patches have been submitted to provide Soft IRQ threads for the Linux kernel.

Time Sys patch

See http://lkml.org/lkml/2004/7/13/125

It applies against 2.6.8-mm1, with one PPC-specific reject

Korty patch

See http://lkml.org/lkml/2004/7/13/152

Rationale

This feature is important because it allows Soft IRQ processing to be scheduled at a lower priority than realtime threads. This allows for better realtime handling by the Linux kernel.

Downloads

Patch

- [Patch for CELF version XXXXXX is *here*]
- [Patch for 2.4.xx is *here*]
- [Patch for 2.6.xx is *here*]

Utility programs

None

How To Use

[Should fill this in]

Sample Results

Future Work

Here is a list of things that could be worked on for this feature:

(None so far)