With kernel-secure-2.4.17-5mdk I observer almost the same behavior as in http://www.uwsg.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0201.1/1337.html. I rsync cooker into Jaz connected to parallel port (ppa) and at the same time rsync off net in another directory.
What happens is, memory is filled by disk->ppa buffers; until buffers are written out onto ppa *nothing* can run (even login is impossible); another rsync just hangs. As soon as some amount of memory was freed both rsync run until memory is full again then both wait. Writing to over parallel port was never pleasant experience but it was *never* as bad. I do not recall such problems before 2.4.17. It is low memory system (32M) so the effect is seen pretty soon. Any info I could collect? -andrej
