*BSD News Article 9754


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From: kaleb@swat (Kaleb Keithley)
Subject: definition of avenrun
Message-ID: <1993Jan12.001127.25486@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov>
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Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA)
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 00:11:27 GMT
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I've been using the program 'top' on SunOS for three years now, pretty 
much as is.  My current assignment requires that I implement some top-like
features, so, rather than reimplement the wheel, I have taken to dismantling 
the source for top to see what makes it tick.  Generally I find it straight 
forward enough, but what seems to be lacking is a clear explanation of the 
kernel variable "avenrun".  (Actually, three variables -- on SunOS, three
"scaled integers", on others, three doubles.)

This variable seems well enough known, as it's used in X11's xload too.

I've check both Bach's Design of the Unix Operating System and Leffler's 
Design and Implemention of 4.3BSD, and neither discuss this variable; or 
if they do, it's not in the index.

My project for tonight is to dig into the source to 386BSD and see if the
Net2/Jolitz sources have a useful explanation, but if there's someone out 
there who knows what this variable is, and wants to illuminate me in the
mean time, I'd certainly appreciate it.

Thanks

-- 

Kaleb Keithley                               kaleb@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov