Bug 104652

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Description of problem:
When you copy or create lots of new files the allocated inode_cache entries
aren't being freed anymore, even after memory pressure. The problem is that the
machine runs out of memory after some time, gets inresponsive and then unusable.
kswapd eats 80% of the cpu time and the only thing left is to reset the machine.

I'll attach a simple tarball with 100 directores each containing 100 files with
each 5 bytes with which the problem can be easily reproduced.

Watching /proc/slabinfo really shows that the number of inode_cache entries just
increases but never decreases until you delete the newly generated files.

Harald and i have tracked down the problem to patch Patch1000:
linux-2.4.21-rmap.patch. If that one is left out everything works fine again.

Read ya, Phil

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
kernel-2.4.21-1.1931.2.405.ent

How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. cd /usr/tmp
2. tar jxvf foo.tar.bz2
3. for i in `seq 0 100`; do rm -rf foo$i; done;
4. Watch your /proc/slabinfo inode_cache climb to unseen hights. :-)

Actual Results:  Machine gets slower and slower and virtually locks up with a
kswapd running amok.

Expected Results:  inode_cache entries should be purged under memory pressure
and machine should still be usable.

Additional info: