*BSD News Article 27701


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From: John Dyson <dysonj@delphi.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.development
Subject: Re: Notes on the *new* FreeBSD V1.1 VM system
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 94 19:34:47 -0500
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)
Lines: 21
Message-ID: <J23KeJf.dysonj@delphi.com>
References: <BcxpGux.dysonj@delphi.com> <MYCROFT.94Feb20102534@duality.gnu.ai.mit.edu> <CLL9J6.FCF@endicor.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1b.delphi.com
X-To: Ty Sarna <tsarna@endicor.com>

Ty Sarna <tsarna@endicor.com> writes:
 
>Is there any reason why memory allocation can't simply fail when there
>isn't any more to allocate? Sure, lots of unix software is going to
>kill itself off anyway dereferencing NULL pointers, but it at least
>gives those who care to check return values a chance to avoid
>catastrophe. 
 
I understand, and we will probably solve the problem in a hopefully better
way in the future.  The process that is killed off BTW is one who trys
to create a NEW page that does not reside anywhere on backing store.  I
know that it does not really address the issue that you are talking about,
but I DO understand your concern.  The purpose of my temporary solution was
to make sure the system would not hang (I had so many other things to work,
not being paid directly to do this and spending over 1k hours on it and
peripheral issues, I did not have *time* to really do a perfect job on it.)
But your concern is noted and maybe a better solution will appear in 1.2...
 
Thanks for your comments and interest
John
dyson@implode.root.com