Description of problem: The system seems prone to large bouts of swapping even when a resonable amount of free memory is available. For example, below is the results of running vmstat 1 at the same time as untarring a gcc release tarball. Notice how there is a mild amount of swap activity until I run the command, then suddenly I get huge amounts of swapouts even though I have half a gig of free RAM. At this point the system has become unresponsive, the mouse cursor moves erratically and the output of tar has stalled. A bit later I kill the tar job and swapping in resumes. The system is in such a state that all applications feel laggy and performance is very poor. Firefox reports unresponsive scripts, and switching tabs in konsole takes 10s of seconds. Swapping in continues for a minute or two after the tar job has been killed. The system has 4G RAM, a 2-way 3GHz Core 2 Duo and a 7200 RPM disk which according to bonnie++ gets about 80Mb/s read and write. I have a 1Gb VirtualBox VM running. r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st 0 2 529204 575992 6456 107924 6 5 75 47 5 5 12 3 83 2 0 0 1 528880 575932 6464 107624 184 0 184 60 1288 2243 4 2 77 16 0 0 1 528796 575868 6464 107636 40 0 40 0 1156 1864 1 2 93 3 0 0 1 527708 574904 6464 107960 472 0 828 0 1376 2310 2 3 49 46 0 0 1 527708 574504 6464 107960 572 0 572 0 1238 1922 2 1 49 47 0 0 1 527708 573884 6464 107956 612 0 612 36 1212 1941 1 2 49 48 0 0 2 527708 573140 6468 107952 760 0 760 40 1257 1955 2 2 49 47 0 0 1 527284 577788 6472 107964 540 0 540 4 1612 2044 11 7 46 35 0 1 0 527008 577900 6472 108000 136 0 136 0 1411 2183 5 6 84 5 0 0 0 526748 577852 6472 107972 8 0 8 0 1147 2110 3 3 93 1 0 1 0 526748 577852 6472 107972 0 0 0 64 1098 1572 2 3 95 0 0 0 0 526732 579092 6472 107988 0 0 0 0 1090 1572 2 2 96 0 0 1 0 526652 579092 6480 107968 72 0 72 20 1207 1737 1 3 91 4 0 1 1 526556 578968 6748 108008 20 0 288 0 1103 2057 2 3 92 2 0 0 1 526552 578968 6752 107964 4 0 8 0 1217 1805 2 3 94 1 0 0 0 526348 578720 6884 107972 160 0 292 4 1202 1853 2 2 82 14 0 1 0 526348 578720 6884 107972 0 0 0 0 1199 1821 1 2 96 0 0 0 0 526348 578656 6884 107972 0 0 0 0 1148 1662 2 2 96 0 0 0 0 526348 578656 6884 107972 0 0 0 0 1179 1662 2 3 95 0 0 0 0 526348 578720 6892 107968 0 0 0 12 1150 1824 2 2 94 1 0 0 0 526348 578720 6892 107972 0 0 0 0 1126 1793 2 2 96 0 0 0 0 526268 578596 6896 107972 64 0 68 0 963 1640 1 1 92 5 0 0 0 526252 578844 7028 107972 0 0 132 0 1235 1675 7 3 89 1 0 2 0 526200 566056 7624 115716 0 0 3072 0 1599 4452 14 4 74 8 0 3 0 525728 529428 7956 151100 192 0 5056 0 2427 14430 57 16 22 5 0 3 0 525384 496488 9840 178048 12 0 924 6604 2372 7489 33 42 22 2 0 1 0 525384 459232 11380 208328 0 0 1548 33048 2417 7013 37 32 25 7 0 4 0 525384 577608 7104 99340 0 0 1284 32360 2722 7974 30 48 19 3 0 0 14 544652 711612 6720 85580 620 19788 5912 20116 2743 2553 1 14 0 86 0 0 15 544596 706404 6768 90308 520 0 2892 0 2420 2934 0 0 0 100 0 0 10 544804 705164 6624 91796 392 272 1924 272 2262 3022 1 1 0 99 0 0 9 544740 703180 6628 93424 308 0 1892 4 2256 2945 1 1 0 99 0 0 10 544576 700916 6760 95584 476 0 2752 0 2257 2884 0 1 0 99 0 2 9 544404 699552 6896 96584 300 0 1416 0 2275 3617 4 5 0 92 0 0 9 544084 697848 7040 97364 564 0 1608 0 1591 2241 3 1 0 96 0 0 6 544060 697504 7036 98652 704 172 1896 172 1589 1964 6 4 0 90 0 1 5 543832 695864 7036 99812 956 0 2172 0 1824 2215 4 5 0 90 0 0 4 543676 694936 7052 100332 464 0 1124 5808 1484 1940 4 4 0 91 0 0 7 546392 700420 7216 102516 480 3076 756 21696 2623 3527 6 11 0 82 0 0 5 547620 699400 7252 103928 660 1368 1536 1516 2056 2571 5 7 0 88 0 0 6 547484 698052 7252 104548 736 0 1520 0 1811 2198 6 5 0 89 0 0 3 547356 696952 7252 104628 1032 0 1044 0 1636 2699 5 5 0 90 0 0 16 552776 740088 6780 71872 564 5556 2840 32116 3164 2705 2 8 0 90 0 1 8 551896 736372 6784 74932 428 0 2536 0 1152 1420 3 2 0 95 0 1 10 550312 734280 6784 76236 796 0 2112 0 710 1033 1 0 0 99 0 1 6 550136 730624 6984 79388 976 0 1320 0 1547 2675 3 7 0 91 0 0 4 550024 715296 7796 92408 936 0 1924 0 2097 4669 18 20 0 61 0 0 5 549900 713804 7796 92984 1112 0 1568 0 1804 2288 4 6 0 90 0 procs -----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- --system-- -----cpu----- r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st 0 4 549984 713432 7604 93200 684 200 864 200 1788 2222 6 5 0 89 0 0 6 550408 712644 7392 94232 696 488 1072 5016 1723 2452 6 6 0 87 0 3 6 553036 716012 6752 91408 1340 2760 1724 6520 1698 1890 3 13 0 83 0 1 5 559548 733464 6752 83716 468 6528 600 6812 2315 2680 4 9 0 87 0 1 6 559736 723284 6636 93164 1548 412 3196 2692 1918 5119 16 8 0 76 0 1 4 560276 702256 7000 112976 1040 628 3632 5524 2523 8048 32 13 0 54 0 0 3 561020 684264 7212 130552 792 848 3312 1732 2310 6549 31 11 4 54 0 2 2 567228 715884 5984 109568 232 6304 1612 7292 2716 5327 19 12 3 66 0 2 5 571204 711248 5724 120200 480 4092 3848 4284 2810 7582 31 12 2 55 0 1 6 572192 707056 5544 126488 744 1200 4568 1208 2546 5225 11 7 2 80 0 2 8 572084 683960 5640 148112 592 0 4780 28 1741 7415 23 4 0 73 0 0 8 572576 679868 5748 150824 1080 604 2100 1872 1633 2667 7 4 0 89 0 0 9 573364 678540 5876 151580 1128 964 2260 5812 1573 2194 3 5 0 92 0 0 10 574880 683092 5840 149564 868 1592 976 1592 1947 2161 6 7 0 88 0 0 7 578300 687428 5840 149732 604 3704 784 3864 1972 1873 3 6 0 91 0 1 5 579056 687596 5892 150148 1048 852 1416 2792 1659 2040 4 6 0 90 0 0 5 580236 687424 5928 150660 1080 1360 1724 3288 2049 3243 5 8 0 87 0 1 7 581240 687572 6004 150932 1100 1172 1436 4916 1992 2482 5 8 0 87 0 0 6 587364 720548 5524 137248 236 6324 784 6380 2447 2843 5 11 0 84 0 0 6 589220 728252 5296 130972 920 2392 2896 3808 1950 1905 4 8 0 88 0 1 6 589384 727068 5292 131964 896 380 2036 384 1836 2294 5 8 0 88 0 0 9 589972 733268 5148 126420 1572 804 2400 4808 2194 2680 4 7 2 87 0 0 5 589816 731392 5148 127184 1324 0 1980 0 1445 1885 3 4 0 92 0 0 9 590716 732664 5136 126692 5092 6836 6140 9440 6662 7947 5 8 0 87 0 1 5 595512 745048 5120 129016 1608 292 2972 812 1695 2949 9 6 0 85 0 0 6 595916 745044 5064 128276 1260 752 3204 2108 2043 3546 11 10 0 79 0 0 6 595856 743976 5060 129112 1288 184 2004 188 1671 2129 4 5 0 90 0 0 3 596048 742196 5140 129168 2224 548 2368 2400 1792 2179 5 5 0 90 0 0 7 597652 744968 5160 128120 2136 1956 2208 2360 1984 2580 6 6 0 87 0 1 7 601128 750380 5160 127984 208 3492 208 3492 1124 1104 1 3 0 95 0 0 7 601920 749728 5096 131244 2268 1516 3544 1548 2313 3721 11 9 6 74 0 0 6 601552 731516 5360 146688 2068 0 4016 8 2176 7161 24 8 16 52 0 0 8 602408 730824 5376 146504 1500 1136 1524 9800 1948 2585 5 6 0 88 0 0 7 607056 741812 5368 146100 572 4760 692 4776 1654 1775 2 8 0 90 0 1 4 607044 736736 5476 150400 1672 520 2884 12016 2095 4450 14 9 0 77 0 1 6 606816 739696 5504 143496 2864 340 3632 21364 2563 4097 9 9 0 81 0 1 5 606680 733700 5620 147508 1632 128 2248 976 1848 3147 10 8 0 82 0 0 6 606500 731712 5620 147816 1948 128 2140 128 1967 2441 9 6 0 85 0 1 6 606360 729848 5624 148324 1668 136 2168 3808 1860 2254 7 7 0 86 0 1 8 606016 727120 5624 148608 2800 0 3084 0 1918 2304 5 5 0 90 0 0 7 605868 727616 5596 148192 2368 144 2788 864 1717 2043 5 5 0 90 0 1 5 605712 726004 5608 148440 1568 0 1836 32 1779 2171 5 5 0 89 0 0 4 605512 724392 5608 148716 1748 0 2016 320 1875 2243 6 5 0 89 0 0 8 606416 732948 5668 139592 1756 1068 2260 4112 2102 2461 6 7 17 70 0 1 8 607612 759360 5668 113916 48 1212 48 1212 1469 1719 4 5 0 91 0 0 5 609516 770148 5544 110224 936 2436 1540 2564 2259 3274 6 9 0 85 0 0 13 609532 771884 5480 107812 1436 372 2044 3924 1871 2294 5 8 0 86 0 0 20 615660 783912 5472 107944 500 6304 708 7840 2026 2072 4 10 0 86 0 procs -----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- --system-- -----cpu----- r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st 0 10 616312 784772 5464 108076 1232 872 1352 984 1745 2001 4 6 0 90 0 1 8 619420 787508 5552 107240 1904 3316 2304 8108 1987 2171 5 7 0 88 0 0 7 623080 792464 5556 106144 1336 3872 1520 15952 1668 1759 4 6 0 90 0 0 8 628360 813624 5444 100000 872 5416 1304 5476 2137 1992 4 11 4 82 0 2 10 628580 816896 5448 100336 1820 348 2124 26216 1849 2156 6 6 7 81 0 0 14 633576 838948 5396 88236 1156 5228 1392 5228 2362 2170 5 10 0 85 0 0 8 633488 837784 5400 88784 2076 452 2752 456 1797 2304 5 7 0 88 0 1 5 632876 832252 5420 92112 2572 0 3092 0 1825 3524 10 6 0 84 0 1 6 633072 830268 5420 92228 1820 276 1996 280 1850 2180 5 7 0 88 0 0 5 633020 828532 5420 92324 1752 0 1764 0 1885 2246 5 6 0 89 0 1 5 633004 826324 5420 92352 2144 132 2144 384 1931 2305 5 6 0 88 0 0 5 632872 823840 5420 92736 2076 0 2448 0 1124 1495 2 2 0 96 0 1 9 633036 823204 5588 92316 1300 276 1824 4520 1604 1978 4 5 0 91 0 0 9 634188 827788 5588 88608 888 1192 892 1192 1350 1657 2 4 0 94 0 0 7 638116 866228 3992 59692 544 4012 1580 4828 2119 2390 4 12 0 84 0 1 5 638768 861372 4184 64104 1028 828 2724 3444 2251 3688 8 8 0 84 0 2 4 639840 854820 4316 70268 1884 1360 2576 15800 2570 6056 12 9 0 79 0 0 6 639840 851232 4336 71632 3148 488 3984 5928 2422 3785 9 7 18 65 0 0 4 639768 848808 4344 71808 2432 292 2460 968 1981 2878 6 7 37 51 0 1 3 639720 863500 4332 65652 1672 260 1788 264 1386 1781 3 10 16 71 0 0 10 644216 905520 1092 34416 1980 5728 3344 10072 2620 2179 1 11 9 80 0 1 8 644964 901056 1092 39840 588 0 5864 0 1700 2021 4 4 0 92 0 0 7 644828 894236 1136 45968 548 0 3208 0 2247 3743 6 3 0 92 0 0 7 645096 891384 1140 48580 656 336 3552 340 2288 3298 3 3 0 95 0 0 6 644904 887912 1140 51028 1176 0 3424 0 1989 2684 4 7 0 89 0 0 7 646864 886172 1112 54664 484 2072 2988 2264 2219 3297 6 6 0 88 0 0 9 650776 898832 1180 54288 812 3968 3360 4052 3274 5079 4 4 0 91 0 0 7 650732 896848 1184 55028 1176 0 1520 0 2711 3667 0 1 0 98 0 0 5 650580 893856 1188 56404 1684 0 3084 4 2328 3258 3 3 0 95 0 1 6 650924 890864 1188 58808 980 424 3440 424 2346 3496 4 5 0 92 0 0 14 652316 898924 1088 56384 2488 1948 3488 2152 5092 6569 0 1 0 98 0 0 5 651924 895360 1088 57316 1228 0 1900 0 2282 2960 0 1 15 85 0 2 3 651660 893252 1088 57888 1404 0 2004 0 2289 3439 3 3 4 91 0 0 4 651268 890556 1096 58596 1928 0 2648 12 2352 3296 2 2 2 95 0 0 4 651084 888700 1116 59392 1124 0 1920 3632 2288 3561 3 4 1 94 0 2 7 650888 886344 1116 60596 1156 0 2296 0 2270 3195 1 2 0 98 0 0 4 650528 883240 1116 62276 1156 0 3004 0 2318 3591 5 5 0 91 0 0 2 650344 880768 1116 63556 1216 0 2316 0 2330 3907 4 5 7 83 0 2 4 650100 878292 1116 64192 2108 0 2740 0 2069 3352 4 5 21 71 0 1 5 649880 875640 1128 64284 2324 0 2528 988 1972 2235 5 6 15 74 0 0 3 649732 873500 1164 65132 1352 0 1772 4 2162 3022 5 6 14 75 0 1 6 648728 870072 1240 66136 2416 0 2720 0 2362 3920 9 6 3 81 0 0 8 648324 866136 1240 67400 2592 0 3836 0 2425 3926 5 5 11 79 0 0 5 648056 862788 1376 68532 2016 0 3364 0 2455 3532 4 6 2 88 0 1 6 647532 863408 1404 69624 1924 0 3052 740 2378 3741 5 5 5 86 0 1 5 647196 860664 1408 70052 2220 0 2664 8156 2191 3368 7 6 29 58 0 1 3 646956 858184 1428 70776 1744 0 2448 0 1802 2182 5 4 36 54 0 0 2 646768 855580 1676 71824 1396 0 2688 0 1812 2035 5 5 41 49 0 Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): 2.6.33.6-147.fc13.x86_64 How reproducible: Always.
Here's another example of it "falling of a swap cliff", this time without even running anything in particular. I'm not sure what pushed it into reclaim this time. Setting swappiness anywhere from 60 to 0 doesn't seem to have much effect (if any). procs -----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- --system-- -----cpu----- r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st 0 1 557780 530420 14696 205092 0 0 5020 0 2235 5169 10 8 41 41 0 0 1 557748 524840 14696 210204 4 0 5016 0 2282 3206 14 10 38 38 0 1 1 557736 520252 14696 214756 0 0 4548 0 2390 3417 17 12 32 39 0 0 1 557736 515664 14696 219268 0 0 4596 0 2275 3117 8 7 43 42 0 1 1 557276 509472 14712 223696 120 0 4516 1884 2216 3119 10 7 36 47 0 1 1 557264 504744 14712 228632 0 0 4992 0 2503 3555 14 11 40 34 0 1 2 557232 498428 14712 234164 344 0 5852 0 2233 3092 14 10 35 41 0 1 1 557204 493724 14716 237964 748 0 4528 0 2303 4511 15 11 38 36 0 1 0 557192 488328 14716 243384 4 0 5412 0 2420 3420 16 11 37 36 0 0 1 557104 484300 14724 247112 28 0 3752 68 2235 6982 12 8 39 40 0 2 0 557080 468924 14856 253992 0 0 6964 0 2248 3019 12 10 40 38 0 2 1 556896 433460 14856 254360 136 0 520 0 2357 4416 56 10 29 5 0 2 0 556740 419820 14988 254828 652 0 812 0 2613 7049 19 8 55 18 0 0 0 556208 397872 14988 255280 228 0 228 0 2823 5187 34 10 48 7 0 0 0 556168 394136 14996 256020 36 0 36 380 3063 5859 19 19 59 4 0 2 0 556096 393264 14996 256900 64 0 64 0 3221 5737 21 17 59 2 0 0 28 849944 1042192 144 26416 11416 295580 28820 297852 47992 35967 3 9 1 87 0 0 26 849188 1033140 144 28816 3292 0 4108 0 1092 1533 0 0 0 100 0 0 23 848884 1029296 144 29356 3460 0 3956 0 862 1067 0 0 0 100 0 0 22 848564 1025452 152 30296 2764 0 3744 28 802 1106 0 0 0 100 0 0 19 848348 1022228 424 31108 2128 0 3216 0 764 1074 0 0 0 100 0 0 15 848040 1019252 556 31156 2592 0 2880 0 780 1105 0 0 0 100 0 0 16 847924 1017144 704 31680 1664 0 2108 4 677 1027 0 0 0 100 0 0 16 847604 1014540 708 31760 2396 0 2640 0 815 1268 0 0 0 100 0 0 14 847444 1011564 728 32576 2148 0 2956 4 774 1174 0 0 0 99 0 0 12 847168 1008100 736 33940 2056 0 3288 0 775 1101 0 0 0 100 0 0 12 846948 1005000 748 35468 1672 0 3196 464 747 1045 0 0 0 100 0 0 10 846588 1001900 752 36300 2368 0 3144 4 793 1125 0 0 0 100 0
The problem seems dependant on having VirtualBox running. Perhaps it is somehow unbalancing the VM and pushing it beyond watermark levels? I can't really debug this further as a recent kernel upgraded broke my radeon multihead, so I'm now running a 2.6.35 Linus kernel.
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Fedora 13 changed to end-of-life (EOL) status on 2011-06-25. Fedora 13 is no longer maintained, which means that it will not receive any further security or bug fix updates. As a result we are closing this bug. If you can reproduce this bug against a currently maintained version of Fedora please feel free to reopen this bug against that version. Thank you for reporting this bug and we are sorry it could not be fixed.