[linux-audio-dev] Realtime audio and IO schedulers

[Cal]

> i wonder if there's a way to grant a process priority over all other
> processes when it comes to disk i/o.. Somewhat similar like SCHED_FIFO
> scheduling for cpu priorities.
> 

This may be late/redundant/boring, but such is life when you deal with
digests.  Jens Axboe's cfq-ts patch fits pretty close to what you
describe, and comes with a utility for setting the io priority.  It's
been getting quite a healthy workout by ck mailing list members.  I gave
it a good push with Ardour at one point, but then life got in the way. 
Jens' last post/patch (that I saw) is at
http://bhhdoa.org.au/pipermail/ck/2005-January/002650.html

It'd be worth skimming the ck archive <http://bhhdoa.org.au/pipermail/ck/>
for hurrahs, horror stories and info on the ionice utility before diving
in though - the earlier warnings on experimentalism are wise counsel. 

 cheers, Cal