timeslice

timeslice defines the scheduling-timeslice interval.

Acceptable Values:

Minimum
-1
Maximum
2147483647 (approximately 8 months)
Default
10 (ten 10-msec ticks)

Specify integer value or use integer formula expression. For more information, see Specifying Parameter Values.

Description

The timeslice interval is the amount of time one process is allowed to run before the CPU is given to the next process at the same priority. The value of timeslice is specified in units of (10 millisecond) clock ticks. There are two special values:

0
Use the system default value (currently ten 10-msec ticks, or 100 milliseconds).

-1
Disable round-robin scheduling completely.

Impact on System

timeslice imposes a time limit which, when it expires, forces a process to check for pending signals. This guarantees that any processes that do not make system calls can be terminated (such as a runaway process in an infinite loop). Setting timeslice to a very large value, or to minus 1, allows such processes to continue operating without checking for signals, thus causing system performance bottlenecks or system lock-up.

Use the default value for timeslice unless a different value is required by system applications having specific real-time needs.

No memory allocation relates to this parameter. Some CPU time is spent at each timeslice interval, but this time has not been precisely measured.

Related Parameters

None.

Additional Information