Source URL: https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/news/cheriton-school-computer-science-researchers-update-linux
Source: Hacker News
Title: Linux kernel could cut energy use in data centres by up to 30 per cent
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Summary: Researchers have enhanced the Linux kernel to improve data center energy efficiency significantly, potentially reducing consumption by up to 30%. This innovation can have far-reaching implications for industries reliant on data centers, aiding in sustainability efforts.
Detailed Description:
The advancements made by researchers at the Cheriton School of Computer Science focus on optimizing the Linux kernel to improve energy efficiency in data centers. Given that data centers account for a significant portion of global energy consumption, this development is pivotal.
Key Points of the Research:
– **Improvement in Energy Efficiency**: The modification to the Linux kernel aims to cut energy consumption in data centers by up to 30%, which could lead to a major decrease in environmental impact.
– **Background of Research**: Conducted by Professor Martin Karsten and former student Peter Cai, the research highlights inefficiencies in processing network traffic for communications-heavy server applications.
– **Technical Changes**:
– The researchers rearranged operations within the Linux networking stack to enhance performance and energy efficiency.
– Their changes have been shown to increase throughput by up to 45% without degrading tail latency.
– **Nature of the Code Modification**: The kernel change consists of only 30 lines of non-intrusive code, which aims to improve linux’s network traffic management.
– **IRQ Suspension Feature**: Central to their research is the IRQ (interrupt request suspension), which helps balance CPU power usage and data processing efficiency, reducing CPU interruptions during high traffic while maintaining performance during low traffic.
– **Potential for Adoption**: Major companies that utilize Linux, such as Amazon and Google, could see substantial energy savings by implementing this method in their data centers.
– **Sustainability Impact**: The research not only aims for increased efficiency but also stresses the importance of sustainability in tech, showcasing a drive towards a greener future through innovative computing solutions.
This research is notable not only for its potential environmental benefits but also for promoting the importance of computing optimizations to create more sustainable data center operations. The code has been officially included in Linux’s latest kernel version 6.13, suggesting a significant step towards industry adoption, which could lead to substantial energy savings across the internet’s infrastructure.