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Date:      Sat, 16 Mar 2002 08:59:55 -0500
From:      "Jules Gilbert" <jules@aasp.net>
To:        <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
Subject:   3GB address space for user app's with FreeBSD 4.5
Message-ID:  <008101c1ccf2$dc569be0$1800a8c0@verizon.net>

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I am running FreeBSD 4.5.

Out of the box, I can malloc almost 512M.  Nice for starter's, but not =
nearly enough.  To overcome this (in earlier editions of FreeBSD), I set =
MAXDSIZ and DFLDSIZ to 1.5GB, giving me an effective 1GB of malloc'able =
space.

But I've made some changes to my application and I need to go higher, at =
least to 2GB, and I would not be surprised in six months to be at 2.5GB.

I have heard that 4.5 includes a feature to allow the user to increase =
his available address space.  I need to know more.  I saw a reference to =
an export'able variable.  Is this right?  What is the name of this =
variable?  Where is it documented?

My application involves large-scale data mining, and I just upgraded to =
1.5GB per box.

So, ideas anyone?

Sincerely,
Jules Gilbert


PS1:  When I set the MAXDSIZ and DFLDSIZ above, say 1700M, the machines =
ocasionally issue double interrupts, which causes a third interrupt, =
which in X86 is equivalent to a hard reset.  Not very convienient!

PS2:  Years ago (until about '95) I ran Slackware Linux.  Tried it again =
for this application.  It's changed, and today the Linux'es I tried were =
bloated and performed very poorly compared to FreeBSD.  Sure, not as =
many applications run 'out of the box' as with Linux, but if you can use =
a C compiler and want performance, the BSD's are the right choice -- =
let's make the address space adaquate, too!

PS3:  What is really needed is a port of FreeBSD designed JUST FOR =
cluster box'es.  The machines I'm using are part of a small cluster =
(each with 1.5GB and two disks).  No terminals, no X sessions, no serial =
com lines.  Just an ethernet card and horsepower.  Putting FreeBSD on =
these boxes was incredibly difficult -- we wound up dup'ing disks.  A =
floppy based install via NFS would have been great.  But my bigger point =
is that no one is providing support for clustered boxes.


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am running FreeBSD 4.5.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Out of the box, I can malloc almost =
512M.&nbsp;=20
Nice for starter's, but not nearly enough.&nbsp; To overcome this (in =
earlier=20
editions of FreeBSD), I set MAXDSIZ and DFLDSIZ to 1.5GB, giving me an =
effective=20
1GB of malloc'able space.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>But I've made some changes to my =
application and I=20
need to go higher, at least to 2GB, and I would not be surprised in six =
months=20
to be at 2.5GB.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have heard that 4.5 includes a =
feature to allow=20
the user to increase his available address space.&nbsp; I need to know=20
more.&nbsp; I saw a reference to an export'able variable.&nbsp; Is this=20
right?&nbsp; What is the name of this variable?&nbsp; Where is it=20
documented?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>My application involves large-scale =
data mining,=20
and I just upgraded to 1.5GB per box.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So, ideas anyone?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jules Gilbert</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>PS1:&nbsp; When I set the MAXDSIZ and =
DFLDSIZ=20
above, say 1700M, the machines ocasionally issue double interrupts, =
which causes=20
a third interrupt, which in X86 is equivalent to a hard reset.&nbsp; Not =
very=20
convienient!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>PS2:&nbsp; Years ago (until about '95) =
I ran=20
Slackware Linux.&nbsp; Tried it again for this application.&nbsp; It's =
changed,=20
and today the Linux'es I tried were bloated and performed very poorly =
compared=20
to FreeBSD.&nbsp; Sure, not as many applications run 'out of the box' as =
with=20
Linux, but if you can use a C compiler and want performance, the BSD's =
are the=20
right choice -- let's make the address space adaquate, too!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>PS3:&nbsp; What is really needed is a =
port of=20
FreeBSD designed JUST FOR cluster box'es.&nbsp; The machines I'm using =
are part=20
of a small cluster (each with 1.5GB and two disks).&nbsp; No terminals, =
no X=20
sessions, no serial com lines.&nbsp; Just an ethernet card and =
horsepower.&nbsp;=20
Putting FreeBSD on these boxes was incredibly difficult -- we wound up =
dup'ing=20
disks.&nbsp; A floppy based install via NFS would have been great.&nbsp; =
But my=20
bigger point is that no one is providing support for clustered=20
boxes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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