Subject: microtime(9) slow on i386?
To: None <port-i386@NetBSD.org>
From: Jaromir Dolecek <jdolecek@NetBSD.org>
List: port-i386
Date: 10/22/2001 23:03:28
Hi,
Andreas Persson, while investigating for kern/14246, found out
that if he avoids the microtime()  in kern/sys_pipe.c:vfs_timestamp()
and use a stub instead, the performance of the benchmark using 2KB
pipe buffer raises like 3 times on his PIII. Thus, it seems microtime()
incurrs significant overhead to the pipe code.

Upon further investigation, it shows that microtime(9) on i386 uses
port i/o, which is very slow on modern processors. Is there a way
to improve this? This could help system overall, since microtime(9)
is used quite often.

Jaromir
-- 
Jaromir Dolecek <jdolecek@NetBSD.org> http://www.NetBSD.org/Ports/i386/ps2.html
-=  Those who would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserve  =-
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