README for Minix Scheduler Benchmark Suite

test.sh is straightforward - running the script will prompt you for a test name, and then run through the test cycle. The test cycle consists of one warm-up run and 10 test run cycles of each benchmark program.

Stoppping test.sh:

If you need to interrupt the test cycle, press ctrl-c on the keyboard and test.sh will shutdown the processes and remove the test files.

Example Output:

root:~/schedule-bench #./test.sh 
Please enter the name of this test run (e.g. control): MAX_nr_sched_queues
Scheduler Benchmark Test Suite
Begin Time: Mon Oct 17 13:53:27 2011
-----------------------------------
Warm-up Running
io-bound,62,17.467,17.717
cpu-bound,63,22.783,0.683
cpu_io-mix,85,20.650,2.367
Warm-up Complete in 85s.
-----------------------------------
Initializing Report
-----------------------------------
Beginning Tests
-----------------------------------
Running Test 1
...

The scheduler config script helps to automate the changes to the Minix scheduler algorithm by modifying two files:

• /usr/src/include/minix/config.h
• /usr/src/servers/sched/schedule.c

The script was designed with the following test protocol in mind:

1. Test the default scheduler variables.
2. Lower all the variables to their acceptable minimum.
3. Raise each variable one at a time to its acceptable maximum, leaving the others at minimum.

This test protocol will result in 6 test reports, each containing the output from 10 test cycles. The complete test results set will have 540 data points in total, for further review.

Running sched-config.sh

When run, the schedule parameter configuration switcher will present you with the current configuration values as gathered from the existing source files, and a numeric menu for inserting new values. Each menu item indicates the parameter it will change, and the value it will change to.

root:~/schedule-bench #./sched-config.sh 
-----------------------------------
Scheduler Parameter Config Switcher
-----------------------------------
Current Configuration Values:
    tnr_sched_queues: 16
        user_quantum: 200
     quantum_penalty: 1
     balance_timeout: 5
-----------------------------------
1) Set default values [16,200,1,5]  5) Set max quantum_penalty [2]
2) Set min values [6,25,1,1]        6) Set max balance_timeout [20]
3) Set max nr_sched_queues [64]     7) Enter Custom Values
4) Set max user_quantum [1500]      8) Quit
Select Config #:

If you select a number, the script will insert those values into the source files and return the new values. When making a modification to the source files, the script backs up the existing file in place, with the extention .BAK.

Select Config #: 2
Setting Minimum Values
-----------------------------------
Setting New Values
------
Backing up config.h to config.h.BAK
Setting NR_SCHED_QUEUES to 6
Setting USER_QUANTUM to 25
------
Backing up schedule.c to schedule.c.BAK
Setting QUANTUM_PENALTY to 1
Setting BALANCE_TIMEOUT to 1
-----------------------------------
Current Configuration Values:
    tnr_sched_queues: 6
        user_quantum: 25
     quantum_penalty: 1
     balance_timeout: 1
-----------------------------------

Once the values have been inserted, the next step is usually to quit the script (option #8). On quit, the script will check if changes have been made, and prompt for automatic re-compilation of the Minix kernel.

Select Config #: 8
-----------------------------------
Changes made to source files. Recompile Kernel [y/N]? 
-->

If you type y or yes, the script will automatically launch the make world command in /usr/src/ - triggering a recompilation of the Minix kernel. If you enter n or nothing, the script simply quits - the modified values remain in place.

Using custom scheduler values

If you wish to define custom values for the scheduler algorithm, select option #7 at the menu prompt. This will then prompt you for the 4 scheduler variables in question.

Select Config #: 7
-----------------------------------
Enter Custom Values
-----
Enter nr_sched_queues: 16
Enter user_quantum: 200
Enter quantum_penalty: 1
Enter balance_timeout: 5
-----------------------------------
Setting New Values
------
Backing up config.h to config.h.BAK
Setting NR_SCHED_QUEUES to 16
Setting USER_QUANTUM to 200
------
Backing up schedule.c to schedule.c.BAK
Setting QUANTUM_PENALTY to 1
Setting BALANCE_TIMEOUT to 5
-----------------------------------
Current Configuration Values:
    tnr_sched_queues: 16
        user_quantum: 200
     quantum_penalty: 1
     balance_timeout: 5
-----------------------------------

Please Note: There is NO type or value checking on the custom input entries. If you enter something other then an integer, the script will happily insert it into the source file - and proceed to stop working (it checks for specific fields in the file, and will fail if they aren't found). This is why .BAK files are made before writing any changes.

1. Shutdown your Minix system. In your virtualization solution, create a snapshot of your Minix 3 VM just in case you make a mistake that causes the system to not be runnable.
2. Make sure the output of the command echo $PATH is the following: /root/bin:/usr/local/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/pkg/bin:/usr/pkg/sbin:/usr/pkg/X11 R6/bin
3. cd to /usr/src
4. Type make world. Wait about 3-5 minutes.
5. After saving your work, shutdown the system with the shutdown command.
6. Start the VM. At the boot menu, press the ‘2’ key to boot the custom micro kernel.

Code © 2011 Jeremy Chalmer