Exploiting In-Kernel Data Paths to Improve I/O Throughput and CPU Availability

We present the motivation, design, implementation, and performance evaluation of a UNIX kernel mechanism capable of establishing fast in-kernel data pathways between I/O objects. A new system call, splice() moves data asynchronously and without user-process intervention to and from I/O objects specified by file descriptors. Performance measurements indicate improved I/O throughput and increased CPU availability attributable to data copying and context switch overhead.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1993
• Where: USENIX
• Authors: Kevin R. Fall, Joseph Pasquale
• Keywords: I/O Objects, In-kernel Data Pathways, Operating System, UNIX Kernel Mechanism, USENIX 1993