Comment 569 for bug 500069
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#569 |
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35a32c5
(Get the code!)
I've observed something that might be relevant to this bug (using the 2.6.31.5 kernel): when I do large I/O operations from one external device (say /dev/sdb) to another slow USB flash key (say /dev/sdc), I can hear my *internal* hard drive (/dev/sda) thrashing away constantly even though its light indicates that no read/write activity is going on. During this time anything that requires access to /dev/sda is slowed right down and hence running new programs slows down disk access.
When I start copying, eg using nautilus, there is usually a 400 MB buffering delay before writing starts to the USB drive (ie before its light starts flashing). During this time, there is NO /dev/sda thrashing. /dev/sda starts thrashing starts as soon as the USB key light starts flashing.
So there appears to be a bug that makes /dev/sda constantly seek during the /dev/sdc USB write operation, and this is affecting system responsiveness.