Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of Linux poll for Efficient Networking（linuxpoll）

Linux poll has existed for decades and provides efficient performance for various process communication models of Linux Kernel. It uses a poll array and driver-defined file descriptor to support asynchronous execution in multiplexed input/output. As a result, it is an efficient tool for networking services in Linux systems.

Benefits of Linux poll

Linux poll provides various advantages for networking services. One of the key benefits is networking performance under single threaded model. Poll array effectively helps in processing events that are requested by different threads in Linux kernel. In other words, it helps in inter-processor communication in shared memory between different threads without creating uncontrolled synchronization. Besides, poll array also reduces high context switching and cache misses associated with other high-performance computing techniques.

Another benefit of Linux poll is improved system throughput. It enables applications to perform I/O in a non-blocking fashion with efficient multi-threaded execution by utilizing read and write operations. This allows applications to scale in terms of handling additional network requests without creating extra system calls. Furthermore, poll array also simplifies I/O management, as it automatically masks and unmask interrupts associated with I/O operations.

Drawbacks of Linux poll

However, Linux poll also has several drawbacks. One of the major disadvantages of Linux poll is its limited performance when handling large workloads. As it works under a single-threaded model, it fails to handle unexpected workloads, as it lacks the capability to detect and manage such workloads.

Moreover, Linux poll also has limited scalability and flexibility. As the poll data structure remains static, it is not possible to extend the poll array and handle multiple simultaneous requests executing at the same time. In addition, the long latency of Linux poll also becomes visible in case of IO operations with varying load.

Conclusion

To sum up, Linux poll provides several advantages for efficient networking services. It helps in improved throughput and scalability. However, it has several limitations, as well. It cannot handle large workloads or variable input/output operations and has limited flexibility in terms of scalability. Overall, Linux poll is an efficient and useful tool for networking services in Linux systems, when used correctly.