pthread_setconcurrency(3P)pthread_setconcurrency(3P)NAME
pthread_setconcurrency, pthread_getconcurrency - modify scheduling
concurrency
C SYNOPSIS
#include <pthread.h>
int pthread_setconcurrency(int level);
int pthread_getconcurrency(void);
DESCRIPTION
Threads which are created with the PTHREAD_SCOPE_PROCESS attribute (which
is the default) [see pthread_attr_setscope()], are scheduled on a number
of kernel execution vehicles. By default the number of execution
vehicles used is adjusted by the library as the application runs and is
called the concurrency level. This is different from the traditional
notion of concurrency because it includes any threads blocked by the
application in the kernel (for example to do IO). The library raises or
lowers the level to maintain a balance between user context switches and
CPU bandwidth.
An application may choose to give the library a hint as to the best
concurrency level by using the pthread_setconcurrency() interface. The
level value indicates the concurrency that the application desires. This
value will be used to compute the ideal number of execution vehicles for
scheduling PTHREAD_SCOPE_PROCESS threads. If level is zero the library
reverts to its default mode; adjusting the level itself.
The pthread_getconcurrency() interface returns the current concurrency
level requested by pthread_setconcurrency() or zero if the default
concurrency mode is being used.
Concurrency is a matter of performance not correctness; an application
will function correctly using the default mode. However the result may
be overly conservative in its use of execution vehicles (and therefore
CPUs). In this case performance may be improved by setting the
concurrency level explicitly.
Conversely the library will not permit changes to the concurrency level
to create starvation. Should the application set the concurrency level
to n and then cause n threads to block in the kernel the library will
activate additional execution vehicles as needed to enable other threads
to run. In this case the concurrency level is temporarily raised and
will eventually return to the requested level.
DIAGNOSTICS
On success pthread_setconcurrency() returns zero; otherwise an error
number is returned:
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pthread_setconcurrency(3P)pthread_setconcurrency(3P)
[EINVAL] The value of level is negative.
pthread_getconcurrency() returns the current concurrency level (default
is zero).
SEE ALSOpthread_attr_setscope(3P).
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