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USENIX
1994

The Slab Allocator: An Object-Caching Kernel Memory Allocator

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The Slab Allocator: An Object-Caching Kernel Memory Allocator
This paper presents a comprehensive design overview of the SunOS 5.4 kernel memory allocator. This allocator is based on a set of object-caching primitives that reduce the cost of allocating complex objects by retaining their state between uses. These same primitives prove equally effective for managing stateless memory (e.g. data pages and temporary buffers) because they are space-efficient and fast. The allocator's object caches respond dynamically to global memory pressure, and employ an objectcoloring scheme that improves the system's overall cache utilization and bus balance. The allocator also has several statistical and debugging features that can detect a wide range of problems throughout the system.
Jeff Bonwick
Added 02 Nov 2010
Updated 02 Nov 2010
Type Conference
Year 1994
Where USENIX
Authors Jeff Bonwick
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