On Sat, 7 Jul 2001 wojtek@wojtek.3miasto.net wrote:

> > 	then started dumping characters at it.  Of course, they came back at
> > 	240Hz, just as I wanted.
> >
> > I'm surprized that works.  Are you sure you're getting 240Hz wakeups?
> why? 2400/10=240. i don't know how netbsd handles serial port on sparc,
> but with low speed i think serial port sends one interrupt per character.
> so why it shouldn't work?

Because there's a difference between 240 interrupts per second and 240
wakeups per second. The difference is the scheduler.

The scheduler typically gives the processor to a process for one tick. If
one tick is 10 ms (100 Hz), and there's a process running when the
interrupt comes it, there's a good chance the process running will get to
finish its tick. Thus there will be a big delay in getting the wakeup down
to the process that wants it. Also, multiple interrupts could pile up
before one is delivered.

Take care,

Bill