Bug 54950

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Description of problem:
I mounted the RH7.2 iso images via loopback with this command:
mount $1 -r -t iso9660 -o loop $2    where $1 is the iso image and $2 is
the mount point.

All is fine, until I start copying files.  I like to copy all the RPMS into
a separate directory for easy access.  As it copies, the amount of used
memory grows and grows until about 5M, and then the system slows down to a
crawl.  kswapd starts running at about 30% cpu time, and the system load
rises into the 9s.  Swap memory does not get used during this time either. 
Eventually, the copy process finishes and system performance and use of
resources returns to normal.

Note: I did not have this problem with RH7.1

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:
Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Mount an ISO image via loopback
2. Start copying data from it
3. When available memory approaches 0, system will slow to a crawl
	

Actual Results:  system performance became incredibly slow until the copy
process eventually completed

Expected Results:  Memory should've been freed as the copy proceeded or
used swap space as necessary.

Additional info:

I have 1.5Gb RAM.  I successfully reproduced this bug with 500Mb of swap
space, and with 2Gb of swap.  Turning swap on or off, or changing swap
device's priority doesn't seem to affect performance, kswapd still sucks
major system resources.

I'm running on an Abit KT7A-Raid with a 1.33Ghz Athlon