Linode.com Forum

DaninFuchs · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Hey there. About to set up my Linode for a few things, and I was just curious - is it considered in bad taste to run cpu-heavy software?

Am I allowed to run my allocation of CPU at 100% perpetually? (AKA boinc projects, etc) Or is it generally preferred to only use what's required? If CPU resources are shared I certainly have no issue only using what I require, but if they're static-allocated, I'll certainly put my 'left-overs' to good use..

Thanks!

Xan · Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 310 Location: Austin

Memory is allocated to each Linode. CPU is burstable. Any Linode can use all the CPU that's available.

It would definitely be "frowned upon" to use all your CPU all the time.

DaninFuchs · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

That's what I suspected. Thank you for confirming, I'll definitely avoid it. I can see this being a frequent curiosity for new users - perhaps an FAQ mention would be in order? Just a thought.

zunzun · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:52 am Post subject:

Xan wrote: It would definitely be "frowned upon" to use all your CPU all the time.

On the contrary! It is my understanding this is NOT the case.

Please use all the CPU you wish, is my understanding. No Frowning. I suggest you ask the Linode staff yourself in an email or support ticket rather than relying on our "opinions".

James

Xan · Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 310 Location: Austin

zunzun wrote: I suggest you ask the Linode staff yourself in an email or support ticket rather than relying on our "opinions".

Please do, now I'm curious. Because if everybody were doing that, there'd be no burst at all.

CDMoyer · Joined: 02 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

I found this, at one point when wondering about this:

http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=7426#7426

zunzun · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject:

CDMoyer wrote: I found this...

There is this from the Linode FAQ, looks like a 'No Frowning' policy to me:

http://www.linode.com/faq.cfm#how-do-i-get-my-fair-share-of-cpu

James

Xan · Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 310 Location: Austin

The FAQ refers to the "worst case scenario", which is what you guys are trying to achieve by hogging all the CPU. In the IRC chat that CDMoyer dug up, Caker refers to lowering the priority of chronic CPU abusers. That sounds like frowning to me.

And apart from that, it's just plain rude and bad form to chew up the whole CPU. This is a shared environment. I thought it was a bad idea when Linode made Gentoo available, for this reason, but I guess it's working out okay. FaH certainly wouldn't.

EDIT: I don't mean DaninFuchs is trying to be a CPU hog. He was asking the simple question whether CPU was statically allocated or not, and based on that he was going to run BOINC or not. I think that question has been answered and this thread has digressed. I do hope you join Linode, DaninFuchs!

zunzun · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

Xan wrote: Caker refers to lowering the priority of chronic CPU abusers.

I will open a support ticket and ask if this is the case.

James

zunzun · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

Ticket opened as follows;

There is currently a forum thread in which it seems to be Linode policy to lower the kernel scheduling priority for those Linode users that are labeled "chronic CPU abusers".

Xan wrote: Caker refers to lowering the priority of chronic CPU abusers.

1) Is priority reduction for CPU usage the current policy?

2) What determines application of the label "chronic CPU abuser"?

3) Is it currently being applied to any Linode customer?

4) Is it being applied to my site, zunzun.com?

James

zunzun · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

Answers below.

1) Is priority reduction for CPU usage the current policy?

Yes

2) What determines application of the label "chronic CPU abuser"?

Significantly higher than average CPU usage consistently for prolonged time such that it causes decreased performance for the other Linodes sharing the host.

3) Is it currently being applied to any Linode customer?

Not that I am aware of.

4) Is it being applied to my site, zunzun.com?

No.

Xan · Joined: 08 Feb 2004 Posts: 310 Location: Austin

Thanks for finding that out, zunzun; it's nice to have some more authoritative information.

I'd summarize it as "use all the CPU you want, but don't go nuts with BOINC or Folding or by letting processes run away." Seems more than fair to me.

Stever · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 41 Location: NC, USA

Hate to take an already OT thread and make it worse, but...
Xan wrote: I thought it was a bad idea when Linode made Gentoo available, for this reason, but I guess it's working out okay.
My linode is a lightly loaded static web and mailserver, running Gentoo, updated weekly:

Your Linode has averaged
0%
of one Host CPU for this month

DURING this weeks update:
# cat /proc/io_status
io_count=322162 io_rate=33 io_tokens=2000000 token_refill=512 token_max=2000000

I'd choose a host populated with Gentoo installs over one full of number crunching apps any day :)

zunzun · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject:

Xan wrote: Thanks for finding that out, zunzun; it's nice to have some more authoritative information.

My wife's Burmese nickname is zunzun, hence zunzun.com. My name is James - and you're welcome!

James

P.S. Of course 'chronic CPU abuser' could be someone running Vista, heh heh heh...

darkbeholder · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 3

How about someone running 3 vista machines? :D

CPU policy question pre-setup