[Popcon-developers] Popcon takes over my PC

[Bill Allombert]

On Tue, Jan 07, 2014 at 05:16:27PM +0100, Michael Bunk wrote:
> Hello Chas IRONS,
> 
> > The System monitor is always running on my Ubuntu 12.04 desktop . So
> > when response drops I switch to see why and popularity-con is active.
> > The priority is shown as very low but my active program practically
> > stops for up to a minute. This status lasts for maybe half an hour.
> > 
> > So I have done some digging and found this in the FAQ:
> > "Under the default configuration of cron, this happens at 6:47 in the
> > morning.
> > This can be changed by editing /etc/crontab but if your computer is not
> > always
> > turned on, we really recommend you install the anacron package."
> > 
> > Because I am a retired end user I only run the PC a few hours a day. 
> > Please advise me how to use anacron or how else to avoid the slow-down.
> > 
> > I do not want to remove popcon. In fact I suggest the data could be used
> > to limit software updates to only the programs that are used every month.
> 
> Installing anacron instead of cron would not solve your problem.  It
> would just make sure that cronjobs that could not run when your computer
> is switched off do run later when it is on again.
> 
> Your problem is related to nice vs ionice, see
> http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=483465

Do you have personnal experience with this slowdown ?
I am willing to reconsider applying the patch in 483465,
if I am sure it fix a practical problem.

Cheers,
-- 
Bill. <ballombe at debian.org>

Imagine a large red swirl here.