>> to any process. suppose i start a program that allocates 8k but between >> the malloc and the memset, another program uses the last available >> page in memory, then my original program faults. > > yes, and you'll always have to deal with that in some form or another. > i've started a program, it allocates some memory, is guaranteed to have it > (unlike the current system), > but later, some other program allocates enough memory that mine can't get > any more, memory that mine needs to finish (perhaps during an output phase). > my original program fails, even though the system guarantees physical memory > for all virtual memory allocations.
that would be perfect. perhaps i've been unclear. i don't have any problem dealing with failed alloc. malloc has always been able to return 0. dealing with a page fault due to overcommit is a different story. - erik
