1999Q2/
<!-- MHonArc v2.4.4 -->
<!--X-Subject: Re: [MUD&#45;Dev] Multi&#45;threaded mud server. -->
<!--X-From-R13: "Xba O. Znzoreg" <wyflfvapNvk.argpbz.pbz> -->
<!--X-Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 08:45:41 &#45;0700 -->
<!--X-Message-Id: 199905170504.AAA19224@dfw&#45;ix5.ix.netcom.com -->
<!--X-Content-Type: text/plain -->
<!--X-Reference: Pine.LNX.4.10.9905162033590.4142&#45;100000@drpc&#45;jrn.res.st&#45;an d.ac.uk -->
<!--X-Reference: 4.1.19990516165255.00a48770#pop,darklock.com -->
<!--X-Head-End-->
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title>MUD-Dev message, Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</title>
<!-- meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow" -->
<link rev="made" href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">
</head>
<body background="/backgrounds/paperback.gif" bgcolor="#ffffff"
      text="#000000" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#006000">

  <font size="+4" color="#804040">
    <strong><em>MUD-Dev<br>mailing list archive</em></strong>
  </font>
      
<br>
[&nbsp;<a href="../">Other Periods</a>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="/search.php3">Search</a>
&nbsp;]
<br clear=all><hr>
<!--X-Body-Begin-->
<!--X-User-Header-->
<!--X-User-Header-End-->
<!--X-TopPNI-->

Date:&nbsp;
[&nbsp;<a href="msg00282.html">Previous</a>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="msg00284.html">Next</a>
&nbsp;]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Thread:&nbsp;
[&nbsp;<a href="msg00294.html">Previous</a>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="msg00301.html">Next</a>
&nbsp;]
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Index:&nbsp;
[&nbsp;<A HREF="author.html#00283">Author</A>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<A HREF="#00283">Date</A>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<A HREF="thread.html#00283">Thread</A>
&nbsp;]

<!--X-TopPNI-End-->
<!--X-MsgBody-->
<!--X-Subject-Header-Begin-->
<H1>Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</H1>
<HR>
<!--X-Subject-Header-End-->
<!--X-Head-of-Message-->
<UL>
<LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: "Jon A. Lambert" &lt;<A HREF="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</A>&gt;</LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Mon, 17 May 1999 01:03:47 -5</LI>
<LI><em>Reply-To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI>
<LI><em>Sender</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev-admin#kanga,nu">mud-dev-admin#kanga,nu</A></LI>
</UL>
<!--X-Head-of-Message-End-->
<!--X-Head-Body-Sep-Begin-->
<HR>
<!--X-Head-Body-Sep-End-->
<!--X-Body-of-Message-->
<PRE>
On 16 May 99,, Caliban Tiresias Darklock wrote:
&gt; On 08:42 PM 5/16/99 +0000, I personally witnessed Ross Nicoll jumping up to
&gt; say:
&gt; &gt;
&gt; &gt;The MUD creates as many threads as processors, and then allocates players
&gt; &gt;and computer characters in such a way that load on each processor should
&gt; &gt;be roughly equal. This should keep context switching to a minimum.
&gt; 
&gt; Maybe I don't understand context switching -- my understanding of threads
&gt; is minimal -- but this sounds fallacious. As I understand it, context
&gt; switching is when one thread gives way to another thread, which means its
&gt; state (context) needs to be saved and the other's has to be restored
&gt; (switching). 
&gt;

Yes, but I can't for the life of me figure out why it's so damn important 
to avoid. ;)

Here's a common example:
 
There exists a 400 mhz Pentium II single-processor with 64 Mb of memory 
running Redhat Linux.  Running on the server is ftpd, httpd, telnetd,
smptd, dns, a stock Diku mud server, a DGD LP mud server, and a ColdMUD 
server.  The server is probably underloaded.   

Is there context switching going on here?  YES! Loads and loads of the 
"expensive" process-level context switching.  

&lt;rant&gt;
Now suppose I wish to redesign and multi-thread that Diku mud server.  
Why would I WORRY about the overhead of "cheaper" thread-level context 
switching?
Why should I CARE at the application-level how many processors are 
present on the friggin box!?!@#!??
&lt;/rant&gt;


--
--*     Jon A. Lambert - TychoMUD Email:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com             *--
--*     Mud Server Developer's Page &lt;<A  HREF="http://pw1.netcom.com/~jlsysinc">http://pw1.netcom.com/~jlsysinc</A>&gt;      *--
--* To fight the empire is to be infected by its derangement. Whosoever    *--
--* defeats part of the empire becomes the empire; it proliferates like a  *--
--* a virus... thereby it becomes its enemies." -- P.K. Dick               *--


_______________________________________________
MUD-Dev maillist  -  MUD-Dev#kanga,nu
<A  HREF="http://www.kanga.nu/lists/listinfo/mud-dev">http://www.kanga.nu/lists/listinfo/mud-dev</A>


</PRE>

<!--X-Body-of-Message-End-->
<!--X-MsgBody-End-->
<!--X-Follow-Ups-->
<HR>
<ul compact><li><strong>Follow-Ups</strong>:
<ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="00337" HREF="msg00337.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Ross Nicoll &lt;rnicoll#lostics,demon.co.uk&gt;</li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="00302" HREF="msg00302.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Jo Dillon &lt;emily#thelonious,new.ox.ac.uk&gt;</li></ul>
<li><strong><A NAME="00301" HREF="msg00301.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>
<ul compact><li><em>From:</em> Mik Clarke &lt;mikclrk#ibm,net&gt;</li></ul>
</UL></LI></UL>
<!--X-Follow-Ups-End-->
<!--X-References-->
<UL><LI><STRONG>References</STRONG>:
<UL>
<LI><STRONG><A NAME="00273" HREF="msg00273.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></STRONG>
<UL><LI><EM>From:</EM> Caliban Tiresias Darklock &lt;caliban#darklock,com&gt;</LI></UL></LI>
</UL></LI></UL>
<!--X-References-End-->
<!--X-BotPNI-->
<UL>
<LI>Prev by Date:
<STRONG><A HREF="msg00282.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></STRONG>
</LI>
<LI>Next by Date:
<STRONG><A HREF="msg00284.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></STRONG>
</LI>
<LI>Prev by thread:
<STRONG><A HREF="msg00294.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></STRONG>
</LI>
<LI>Next by thread:
<STRONG><A HREF="msg00301.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></STRONG>
</LI>
<LI>Index(es):
<UL>
<LI><A HREF="index.html#00283"><STRONG>Date</STRONG></A></LI>
<LI><A HREF="thread.html#00283"><STRONG>Thread</STRONG></A></LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</UL>

<!--X-BotPNI-End-->
<!--X-User-Footer-->
<!--X-User-Footer-End-->
<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><STRONG>Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM>
<ul compact>
<ul compact>
<ul compact>
<ul compact>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00297" HREF="msg00297.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Mark Gritter <a href="mailto:mark#erdos,Stanford.EDU">mark#erdos,Stanford.EDU</a>, Tue 18 May 1999, 06:43 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00299" HREF="msg00299.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Ross Nicoll <a href="mailto:rnicoll#lostics,demon.co.uk">rnicoll#lostics,demon.co.uk</a>, Tue 18 May 1999, 06:45 GMT
</LI>
</ul>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00284" HREF="msg00284.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Mon 17 May 1999, 15:46 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00294" HREF="msg00294.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Ross Nicoll <a href="mailto:rnicoll#lostics,demon.co.uk">rnicoll#lostics,demon.co.uk</a>, Tue 18 May 1999, 06:42 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</ul>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00283" HREF="msg00283.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Mon 17 May 1999, 15:45 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00301" HREF="msg00301.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Mik Clarke <a href="mailto:mikclrk#ibm,net">mikclrk#ibm,net</a>, Tue 18 May 1999, 07:01 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00302" HREF="msg00302.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Jo Dillon <a href="mailto:emily#thelonious,new.ox.ac.uk">emily#thelonious,new.ox.ac.uk</a>, Tue 18 May 1999, 07:02 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00308" HREF="msg00308.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Travis S. Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#io,com">efindel#io,com</a>, Wed 19 May 1999, 04:47 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00315" HREF="msg00315.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Multi-threaded mud server.</A></strong>, 
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Thu 20 May 1999, 05:20 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</ul>
</ul>
</LI>
</UL></BLOCKQUOTE>

</ul>
<hr>
<center>
[&nbsp;<a href="../">Other Periods</a>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="../../">Other mailing lists</a>
&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="/search.php3">Search</a>
&nbsp;]
</center>
<hr>
</body>
</html>