On Thu, 2013-04-18 at 02:42 +0000, Xavier Trilla wrote:
> Hi Eric,
> 
> We have been doing some more research, and finally we managed to get a
> fast kernel with a new minimal configuration using the last release of
> the 2.6.32 (2.6.32.60). We compiled what we think is a kernel with
> options that could affect network performance removed. We used our
> general networking/computing knowledge and reviewed every option, so
> I'm sure it's not perfect but should be a better start point than the
> one we had. Then we did a "make oldconfig" to adapt this ".config" to
> a 3.4.41 kernel reviewing every new option. 
> 
> But again we have the same situation, 2.6.32 kernel seems to be
> extremely fast (we have successfully routed more than 2Mpps) and 3.4
> is not able to route more than 500Kpps, and again when we do a "perf
> top" we see _raw_spin_lock_irqsave consuming a lot of CPU.
> 
> BTW: Remember that we use for this test just one Xeon 5620 in a dual
> Xeon environment, so 50% CPU usage means we are using the 100% of the
> cores assigned to RSS queues.
> 
> Kernel 3.4.41 CLEAN 
> 
> Packet generator: Two bonesi instances each one sending about 500Kpps
> from 50K sources. 
> Machine reaches 100% CPU usage on cores with RSS queues assigned, and
> doesn't route more than 500kpps. 
> 
> perf top output: http://pastebin.com/xByZnxL1
> perf record output: http://pastebin.com/2idhM3V1
> 
> Kernel 2.6.32.60 CLEAN
> 
> Packet Generator: Two bonesi instances each one sending about 500Kpps
> 50K sources. 
> Machine routes about 1Mpps (Bonesi doesn't generate exactly 500Kpps
> per instance, so a small difference  is normal).
> 
> perf record output: http://pastebin.com/gfvcQNZv
> perf top output: http://pastebin.com/8Qpp604p
> 
> Note: We use a CISCO 3750G to measure the pps in each port, so we can
> see number of packets coming in and out (Flow control is disabled on
> the switch ports). 
> 
> As you may see, the main difference is that on kernel 3.4.41
> _raw_spin_lock_irqsave is using the 46.4% of the CPU (So, 92.8% of the
> Cores assigned to RSS queues).
> 
> Also, I'm starting to have doubts about this being related with IGB
> driver... but anyway if you have any idea that could lead us in the
> right direction it would be extremely useful :)
> 
> P.S.: I'm not familiar at all with lists, so I just did a "reply all"
> from my e-mail client but I see you'll get a direct copy of this
> mail...  Should it work like that or I shall just reply to the
> [email protected] mail address? If I did wrong please
> just let me know.
> 
> And... Thanks for your help :)
> 
> Saludos cordiales,
> Xavier Trilla P.
> Silicon Hosting
> 

Check on your .config files on both kernels :

grep IOMMU .config

Then try to boot your 3.4.41 machine adding "iommu=off" 

Or read the documentation about IOMMU in general...




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