Optimizing NetBSD/Amd64 Kernel Boot Time: A Performance Breakthrough

https://mail-index.netbsd.org/tech-kern/2024/01/23/msg029450.html

by jaypatelani • 2 years ago

7 3 2 years ago

mail-index.netbsd.org

The author has been working on optimizing the NetBSD/amd64 virtual machine kernel boot time. With performance enhancements, the kernel can now boot in less than 15ms on a not-so-modern i5-7600K using QEMU 6.2 with the microvm machine type. The performance branch, available on GitHub, introduces features like Generic PVH boot, a new PV bus for hypervisors without PCI, MMIO-backed devices, performance fixes, pvclock using KVM timecounter, and a TSLOG framework for tracing performance. The author provides a kernel configuration and instructions for testing with QEMU on Linux or NetBSD using NVMM. Additionally, the kernel is compatible with a PVH branch of AWS's Firecracker, and the author offers a basic configuration for testing. Feedback is encouraged, and precompiled binaries are provided for those who want to try it without compiling.

[Performance Branch on GitHub](https://github.com/NetBSDfr/NetBSD-src/tree/perf)

[Precompiled Kernel and Disk Image](https://imil.net/NetBSD/disk.img)

wwarek• 2 years ago

Discussed couple of days ago here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39015036

jaypatelani2• 2 years ago

Thanks for link.

Optimizing NetBSD/Amd64 Kernel Boot Time: A Performance Breakthrough

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