[linux-audio-dev] [Slightly OT] How to access "real-time" capabilities

[Jack O'Quin]

Martin Habets <errandir_news at mph.eclipse.co.uk> writes:

> The RT limits solution implemented by some kernel folks puts a limit on
> the percentage of cpu time consumed by these processes, so other stuff
> should get some time to run as well.

To clarify: there *was* an experimental patch like this created six
months ago, but it is not widely available.

The rtlimits patch in the -mm kernels only limits the SCHED_FIFO
priority available to certain users or groups.  It does *not* limit
the amount of time they can consume.  If you want to guard against CPU
starvation, you'll need some kind of watchdog thread.  JACK has one
for it's own clients, but not a general solution.
-- 
  joq