Virtual Memory Page Critical Marking for Over-Committed Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In computer systems, transferring data between storage and physical memory is an expensive and time-consuming operation, which can be minimized by preventing unnecessary transfers of virtual memory pages from physical memory to disk storage.
Innovation Solution
The operating system marks a virtual memory page as critical to keep it in physical memory, using cooperative memory over-commitment, thereby avoiding premature paging-out to disk storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If virtual memory pages are transferred to disk storage to free physical memory, then memory availability is improved, but transfer time and system performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by marking pages as critical before they are actually needed, allowing the virtual memory manager to retain these pages in physical memory rather than transferring them to disk. This advance identification and retention of critical pages prevents unnecessary transfer operations and maintains memory availability without the time penalty of disk transfers.
2Productivity
If virtual memory pages are marked as critical to remain in physical memory, then transfer operations are reduced, but memory management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the virtual memory manager receives information about page criticality from the operating system and adjusts memory management decisions accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to automatically identify which pages should remain in physical memory, reducing the need for manual intervention and simplifying the overall memory management process while maintaining high system efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a computer implemented method and apparatus for marking as critical a virtual memory page in a data processing system. An operating system indicates to a virtual memory manager a virtual memory page selected for paging-out to disk. The operating system determines that the data processing system is using a cooperative memory over-commitment. The operating system, responsive to a determination that the data processing system is using cooperative memory over-commitment, marks the virtual memory page as critical, such that the virtual memory page remains in physical memory. The operating system, responsive to marking the virtual memory page as critical, sets the virtual memory page to a page-out state.