Bug#495529: linux-source: SMP process scheduler leaves CPUs idle

[Moritz Muehlenhoff <jmm@inutil.org>]

On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 08:43:30PM +1000, Paul Szabo wrote:
> Package: linux-source
> Version: 2.6.18.dfsg.1-18etch6
> Severity: normal
> 
> 
> I have some machines with 8 CPUs (dual Intel Xeon quad-core CPU chips),
> used for long-running calculations; normally there are no short-lived
> processes. If all processes are "niced" to the same or nearby level,
> then things behave as expected. But if there is a large difference in
> the "nice" level (e.g. one job at level 15 and 8 jobs at level 18), then
> one CPU is left idle: total CPU percentages adding to 700% and "top"
> shows idleness at 12.5%. (Under some similar conditions I have also
> observed 2 idle CPUs.)
> 
> Please let me know if you need further details.

Did you upgrade to Lenny in the mean time? If so, does the behaviour
persist?

Cheers,
        Moritz