[Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Droebbel]

On recent kernels, writing to DVD-RAM is much slower than to be
expected. A 3x Writer should do about 1.9MB/s including automatic
verify. This is what I get with 2.6.7 up to bk7. However, from 2.6.7-bk8
to 2.6.10 write speed is as low as 600 to 1000 kB/s. The drive's head
jumps a lot more with these kernels. Reading is ok.

I tested UDF and ext2 filesystems,
DMA is ok according to hdparm,
I set taskfile-io on and off when building the kernels,
and I compared the settings for the io-scheduler.

The drive is connected via onboard via82xx ide or usb2 external (both
works perfectly with hd).

The drive is a LG GSA-4163B; a GSA-4120 had the same problem as far as I
remember.

Medium: Panasonic 3x

Could not find any kernel error messages.


For testing the 2.6.7-bk2 to bk14 I took the cdrom.c from bk15, as the
cdrom devices wer marked read-only without.


As I am not a programmer, I failed to track down the problem any
further, but I'll do my best if I get any hints or advice where to
search.

David

--------------

**hdparm output:**

 Model=HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4163B, FwRev=A101, SerialNo=K764C241904
 Config={ Fixed Removeable DTR<=5Mbs DTR>10Mbs nonMagnetic }
 RawCHS=0/0/0, TrkSize=0, SectSize=0, ECCbytes=0
 BuffType=unknown, BuffSize=0kB, MaxMultSect=0
 (maybe): CurCHS=0/0/0, CurSects=0, LBA=yes, LBAsects=0
 IORDY=on/off, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
 PIO modes:  pio0 pio3 pio4
 DMA modes:  mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
 UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 *udma2
 AdvancedPM=no
 Drive conforms to: device does not report version:

 * signifies the current active mode


ATAPI CD-ROM, with removable media
        Model Number:       HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4163B
        Serial Number:      K764C241904
        Firmware Revision:  A101
Standards:
        Likely used CD-ROM ATAPI-1
Configuration:
        DRQ response: 50us.
        Packet size: 12 bytes
Capabilities:
        LBA, IORDY(can be disabled)
        DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 *udma2
             Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns
        PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4
             Cycle time: no flow control=120ns  IORDY flow control=120ns
HW reset results:
        CBLID- above Vih
        Device num = 0

-----------------

Additional information:
**Output of ver_linux on the testing system with 2.6.7-bk8:**

Linux schlupp 2.6.7-bk8 #6 Sat Feb 12 22:28:31 CET 2005 i686 GNU/Linux

Gnu C                  3.3.5
Gnu make               3.80
binutils               2.15
util-linux             2.12p
mount                  2.12p
module-init-tools      3.1
e2fsprogs              1.35
jfsutils               1.1.6
xfsprogs               2.6.20
PPP                    2.4.2
Linux C Library        2.3.2
Dynamic linker (ldd)   2.3.2
Procps                 3.2.4
Net-tools              1.60
Console-tools          0.2.3
Sh-utils               5.2.1
Modules Loaded         ehci_hcd uhci_hcd sata_via libata md dm_mod
parport_pc lp parport sr_mod

---------------

**ioports**

0000-001f : dma1
0020-0021 : pic1
0040-005f : timer
0060-006f : keyboard
0070-0077 : rtc
0080-008f : dma page reg
00a0-00a1 : pic2
00c0-00df : dma2
00f0-00ff : fpu
0170-0177 : ide1
01f0-01f7 : ide0
02f8-02ff : serial
0376-0376 : ide1
03c0-03df : vga+
03f6-03f6 : ide0
03f8-03ff : serial
0808-080b : ACPI timer
0810-0815 : ACPI CPU throttle
0cf8-0cff : PCI conf1
b000-b0ff : 0000:00:0e.0
b400-b407 : 0000:00:0e.0
b800-b81f : 0000:00:10.0
  b800-b81f : uhci_hcd
c000-c01f : 0000:00:10.1
  c000-c01f : uhci_hcd
c400-c41f : 0000:00:10.2
  c400-c41f : uhci_hcd
c800-c81f : 0000:00:10.3
  c800-c81f : uhci_hcd
cc00-cc7f : 0000:00:07.0
d000-d0ff : 0000:00:0f.0
  d000-d0ff : sata_via
d400-d40f : 0000:00:0f.0
  d400-d40f : sata_via
d800-d803 : 0000:00:0f.0
  d800-d803 : sata_via
dc00-dcff : 0000:00:0a.0
e000-e007 : 0000:00:0f.0
  e000-e007 : sata_via
e400-e403 : 0000:00:0f.0
  e400-e403 : sata_via
e800-e807 : 0000:00:0f.0
  e800-e807 : sata_via
ec00-ecff : 0000:00:0c.0
fc00-fc0f : 0000:00:0f.1
  fc00-fc07 : ide0
  fc08-fc0f : ide1

-----------------

**iomem**

00000000-0009fbff : System RAM
0009fc00-0009ffff : reserved
000a0000-000bffff : Video RAM area
000c0000-000cb7ff : Video ROM
000f0000-000fffff : System ROM
00100000-1ff2ffff : System RAM
  00100000-0035f07d : Kernel code
  0035f07e-004413ff : Kernel data
1ff30000-1ff3ffff : ACPI Tables
1ff40000-1ffeffff : ACPI Non-volatile Storage
1fff0000-1fffffff : reserved
e4e00000-f4dfffff : PCI Bus #01
  e8000000-efffffff : 0000:01:00.0
f4f00000-f70fffff : PCI Bus #01
  f6000000-f6ffffff : 0000:01:00.0
f7700000-f77007ff : 0000:00:07.0
f7b00000-f7b03fff : 0000:00:0a.0
f7d00000-f7d000ff : 0000:00:0c.0
f7e00000-f7e000ff : 0000:00:0e.0
f7f00000-f7f000ff : 0000:00:10.4
  f7f00000-f7f000ff : ehci_hcd
f8000000-fbffffff : 0000:00:00.0
fff80000-ffffffff : reserved

-----------------

**lspci**

0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8385 [K8T800 AGP]
Host Bridge (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc.: Unknown device 80a3
        Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 8
        Region 0: Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 PCI bridge
[K8T800 South] (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 0000f000-00000fff
        Memory behind bridge: f4f00000-f70fffff
        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: e4e00000-f4dfffff
        BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA- VGA+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:07.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host
Controller (rev 80) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc.: Unknown device 808a
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64 (8000ns max), Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at f7700000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=2K]
        Region 1: I/O ports at cc00 [size=128]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Yukon
Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Adapter (rev 13)
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc.: Unknown device 811a
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64 (5750ns min, 7750ns max), Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256
bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
        Region 0: Memory at f7b00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=16K]
        Region 1: I/O ports at dc00 [size=256]
        Expansion ROM at f7a00000 [disabled] [size=128K]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:0c.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
        Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RT8139
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64 (8000ns min, 16000ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
        Region 0: I/O ports at ec00 [size=256]
        Region 1: Memory at f7d00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=256]
        Expansion ROM at f7c00000 [disabled] [size=64K]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:0e.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics 56k
WinModem (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Lucent Microelectronics LT WinModem 56k Data+Fax
+Voice+Dsvd
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0 (63000ns min, 3500ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 7
        Region 0: Memory at f7e00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=256]
        Region 1: I/O ports at b400 [size=8]
        Region 2: I/O ports at b000 [size=256]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:0f.0 RAID bus controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT6420 SATA
RAID Controller (rev 80)
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 20
        Region 0: I/O ports at e800 [size=8]
        Region 1: I/O ports at e400 [size=4]
        Region 2: I/O ports at e000 [size=8]
        Region 3: I/O ports at d800 [size=4]
        Region 4: I/O ports at d400 [size=16]
        Region 5: I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:0f.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc.
VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
(prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 32
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 20
        Region 4: I/O ports at fc00 [size=16]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at b800 [size=32]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at c000 [size=32]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at c400 [size=32]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at c800 [size=32]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 86)
(prog-if 20 [EHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 21
        Region 0: Memory at f7f00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=256]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 ISA bridge
[K8T800 South]
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping+ SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-

0000:00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-

0000:00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-

0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV11
[GeForce2 MX/MX 400] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: CardExpert Technology: Unknown device 0001
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 248 (1250ns min, 250ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at f6000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=16M]
        Region 1: Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
        Expansion ROM at f7000000 [disabled] [size=64K]
        Capabilities: <available only to root>

dm@schlupp:~$ sudo lspci -vvv
0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8385 [K8T800 AGP]
Host Bridge (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc.: Unknown device 80a3
        Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 8
        Region 0: Memory at f8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
        Capabilities: [80] AGP version 3.5
                Status: RQ=32 Iso- ArqSz=0 Cal=2 SBA+ ITACoh- GART64-
HTrans- 64bit- FW+ AGP3- Rate=x4
                Command: RQ=1 ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA- AGP+ GART64- 64bit- FW-
Rate=x4
        Capabilities: [c0] #08 [0060]
        Capabilities: [68] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
        Capabilities: [58] #08 [8001]

0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 PCI bridge
[K8T800 South] (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
        I/O behind bridge: 0000f000-00000fff
        Memory behind bridge: f4f00000-f70fffff
        Prefetchable memory behind bridge: e4e00000-f4dfffff
        BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR+ NoISA- VGA+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B-
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:07.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host
Controller (rev 80) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc.: Unknown device 808a
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64 (8000ns max), Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at f7700000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=2K]
        Region 1: I/O ports at cc00 [size=128]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. Yukon
Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Adapter (rev 13)
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc.: Unknown device 811a
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64 (5750ns min, 7750ns max), Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256
bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
        Region 0: Memory at f7b00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=16K]
        Region 1: I/O ports at dc00 [size=256]
        Expansion ROM at f7a00000 [disabled] [size=128K]
        Capabilities: [48] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0+,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=1 PME-
        Capabilities: [50] Vital Product Data

0000:00:0c.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
        Subsystem: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RT8139
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64 (8000ns min, 16000ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 17
        Region 0: I/O ports at ec00 [size=256]
        Region 1: Memory at f7d00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=256]
        Expansion ROM at f7c00000 [disabled] [size=64K]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:0e.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics 56k
WinModem (rev 01)
        Subsystem: Lucent Microelectronics LT WinModem 56k Data+Fax
+Voice+Dsvd
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR+ FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0 (63000ns min, 3500ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 7
        Region 0: Memory at f7e00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=256]
        Region 1: I/O ports at b400 [size=8]
        Region 2: I/O ports at b000 [size=256]
        Capabilities: [f8] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1- D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:0f.0 RAID bus controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT6420 SATA
RAID Controller (rev 80)
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 20
        Region 0: I/O ports at e800 [size=8]
        Region 1: I/O ports at e400 [size=4]
        Region 2: I/O ports at e000 [size=8]
        Region 3: I/O ports at d800 [size=4]
        Region 4: I/O ports at d400 [size=16]
        Region 5: I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
        Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:0f.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc.
VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
(prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 32
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 20
        Region 4: I/O ports at fc00 [size=16]
        Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:10.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at b800 [size=32]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:10.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at c000 [size=32]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:10.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at c400 [size=32]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:10.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB
1.1 Controller (rev 81) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 21
        Region 4: I/O ports at c800 [size=32]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:10.4 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 86)
(prog-if 20 [EHCI])
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV+ VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 64, Cache Line Size: 0x40 (256 bytes)
        Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 21
        Region 0: Memory at f7f00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=256]
        Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=375mA PME(D0+,D1
+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 ISA bridge
[K8T800 South]
        Subsystem: Asustek Computer, Inc. A7V600 motherboard
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping+ SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 0
        Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-

0000:00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Capabilities: [80] #08 [2101]

0000:00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-

0000:00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-

0000:00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 NorthBridge
        Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-

0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV11
[GeForce2 MX/MX 400] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Subsystem: CardExpert Technology: Unknown device 0001
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop-
ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort-
<TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR-
        Latency: 248 (1250ns min, 250ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 16
        Region 0: Memory at f6000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable)
[size=16M]
        Region 1: Memory at e8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
        Expansion ROM at f7000000 [disabled] [size=64K]
        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA
PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
        Capabilities: [44] AGP version 2.0
                Status: RQ=32 Iso- ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA- ITACoh- GART64-
HTrans- 64bit- FW+ AGP3- Rate=x1,x2,x4
                Command: RQ=32 ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA- AGP+ GART64- 64bit-
FW- Rate=x4

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Wakko Warner]

Droebbel wrote:
> On recent kernels, writing to DVD-RAM is much slower than to be
> expected. A 3x Writer should do about 1.9MB/s including automatic
> verify. This is what I get with 2.6.7 up to bk7. However, from 2.6.7-bk8
> to 2.6.10 write speed is as low as 600 to 1000 kB/s. The drive's head
> jumps a lot more with these kernels. Reading is ok.
> 
> I tested UDF and ext2 filesystems,
> DMA is ok according to hdparm,
> I set taskfile-io on and off when building the kernels,
> and I compared the settings for the io-scheduler.
> 
> The drive is connected via onboard via82xx ide or usb2 external (both
> works perfectly with hd).
> 
> The drive is a LG GSA-4163B; a GSA-4120 had the same problem as far as I
> remember.
> 
> Medium: Panasonic 3x
> 
> Could not find any kernel error messages.

I have:
Host: scsi1 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
  Vendor: HL-DT-ST Model: DVDRAM GSA-4160B Rev: A300
  Type:   CD-ROM                           ANSI SCSI revision: 02

I also notice this with 2.6.10.  I think I also had it with 2.6.8.1 but I
don't remember, it's been a while.  The media I use is maxell DRM47 ver 2
(whatever that means).  I don't notice any jumping, but the system is quite
noisy as it is.  I have this same drive at work in a usb2 box but haven't
had the opportunity to try dvdram.

The DVDRAM above is not using ide-scsi emulation, it has a hardware scsi-ide
converter from Acard.  (I already have my ide ports used).  The scsi
controller is an adaptec dual u320 onboard (supermicro x5da8)

-- 
 Lab tests show that use of micro$oft causes cancer in lab animals

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Tino Keitel]

On Sun, Feb 13, 2005 at 09:26:35 -0500, Wakko Warner wrote:
> Droebbel wrote:
> > On recent kernels, writing to DVD-RAM is much slower than to be
> > expected. A 3x Writer should do about 1.9MB/s including automatic
> > verify. This is what I get with 2.6.7 up to bk7. However, from 2.6.7-bk8
> > to 2.6.10 write speed is as low as 600 to 1000 kB/s. The drive's head
> > jumps a lot more with these kernels. Reading is ok.
> > 
> > I tested UDF and ext2 filesystems,
> > DMA is ok according to hdparm,
> > I set taskfile-io on and off when building the kernels,
> > and I compared the settings for the io-scheduler.
> > 
> > The drive is connected via onboard via82xx ide or usb2 external (both
> > works perfectly with hd).
> > 
> > The drive is a LG GSA-4163B; a GSA-4120 had the same problem as far as I
> > remember.
> > 
> > Medium: Panasonic 3x
> > 
> > Could not find any kernel error messages.
> 
> I have:
> Host: scsi1 Channel: 00 Id: 00 Lun: 00
>   Vendor: HL-DT-ST Model: DVDRAM GSA-4160B Rev: A300
>   Type:   CD-ROM                           ANSI SCSI revision: 02
> 
> I also notice this with 2.6.10.  I think I also had it with 2.6.8.1 but I
> don't remember, it's been a while.  The media I use is maxell DRM47 ver 2

I also have low write performance (around 300 kb/s) with several 2.6
kernels (2.6.7 to 2.6.9-mm1) and I can hear the head jump around when I
use ext2 or UDF. It will be fast when written directly to the device
without a file system using dd.  The drive is a LG GSA-4040B. I tried
several media types from Panasonic and EMTEC.

I'll try to test if the problem disappears with 2.6.6.

Regards,
Tino

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Droebbel]

On Mo, 2005-02-14 at 09:53 +0100, Tino Keitel wrote:
>I also have low write performance (around 300 kb/s) with several 2.6
>kernels (2.6.7 to 2.6.9-mm1) and I can hear the head jump around when I
>use ext2 or UDF. It will be fast when written directly to the device
>without a file system using dd.  The drive is a LG GSA-4040B. I tried
>several media types from Panasonic and EMTEC.
>
>I'll try to test if the problem disappears with 2.6.6.

I had also tested writing with dd (forgot to mention), it seemed faster
sometimes, but not as fast as it could be. pre-2.6.7-bk8 was still
faster, though only about 25%.

Which 2.6.7 did you use? 

Regards
David

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Droebbel]

On Mo, 2005-02-14 at 11:53 +0100, Tino Keitel wrote:
>On Mon, Feb 14, 2005 at 11:25:34 +0100, Droebbel wrote:
>> Which 2.6.7 did you use? 
>
>Only 2.6.7 with a -mm patch, since vanilla 2.6.7 screwed up my system
>clock, and the noapic option which was suggested to unscrew the clock
>screwed up the USB driver etc... :-(

Which -mm patch? If that patch contains the error, the bk8 contains it 
as well and the bk7 doesn't, that might already make serching a bit
easier. Or maybe 2.6.6, if you want a stable release. Not tested yet.

>What kernels do you suggest me to test?
You might try the last working one, 2.6.7 with bk7. You might as well
have to replace the drivers/cdrom/cdrom.c with on from a later virsion
(>bk15), as the cdrom device is generally marked write-protected with
bk2 to bk14.
But instead of just trying those kernel versions, I think we might try
and find the changes that might have had the unfortunate side effect. I
am admittedly not too good at that, as I do not even know C (shame on
me).

>And what test procedure? Thisis what I do in such cases:
>
>time { dd if=/dev/zero of=<path/to/bighile> bs=1024k count=<bignum> ; sync ; }
This is what I did.

>I'd be very happy to see a fix for this since backups to DVD-RAM are
>awfully slow at the moment.
I've been after this for months now, before finally posting here...

Regards

David

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Droebbel]

Some new information:

2.6.7 is ok, 2.6.7-mm2 is not ok, 2.6.7 with just the linus-patch from
mm2 is ok, 2.6.7 with linus.patch from mm3 isn't.
So I took some of the patches from the broken-out mm2 and tested them
seperately.

The vmscan-dont-reclaim-too-many-pages.patch led to the said reduction
of writing speed. I reverse-applied it to 2.6.8.1, where it seems to
solve the problem. I also reverse-applied it to the current prepatched
Ubuntu-2.6.10. It helped a bit there. Some new errors since 2.6.8, as it
seems... getting depressing a bit, this whole thing.

If you are using 2.6.7-mm1, there is another patch with even greater
impact: abs-fix.patch. Take the same + abs-fix-fix.patch from mm2.

If you might have a look at the vmscan-dont-reclaim-too-many-pages.patch
from
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/akpm/patches/2.6/2.6.7/2.6.7-mm2/broken-out/, maybe you will find out something.

Comparing the abs-fix patches from mm1 and mm2 might also help.

This is all I can do for now.

Regards 

David

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Droebbel]

On Mi, 2005-02-16 at 22:55 +0100, Droebbel wrote:
>Some new information:
>
>2.6.7 is ok, 2.6.7-mm2 is not ok, 2.6.7 with just the linus-patch from
>mm2 is ok, 2.6.7 with linus.patch from mm3 isn't.
>So I took some of the patches from the broken-out mm2 and tested them
>seperately.
>
>The vmscan-dont-reclaim-too-many-pages.patch led to the said reduction
>of writing speed. I reverse-applied it to 2.6.8.1, where it seems to
>solve the problem.

Sorry, have to correct that: it seemed to help at my tests with dd
(write 1G of zeroes to a file). Copying a file with mc still shows
around 1.4MB/s. Could be worse, but is definitely not ok. It *is* better
with 2.6.7.

Regards

David

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Tino Keitel]

On Wed, Feb 16, 2005 at 23:29:24 +0100, Droebbel wrote:
> On Mi, 2005-02-16 at 22:55 +0100, Droebbel wrote:
> >Some new information:
> >
> >2.6.7 is ok, 2.6.7-mm2 is not ok, 2.6.7 with just the linus-patch from
> >mm2 is ok, 2.6.7 with linus.patch from mm3 isn't.
> >So I took some of the patches from the broken-out mm2 and tested them
> >seperately.
> >
> >The vmscan-dont-reclaim-too-many-pages.patch led to the said reduction
> >of writing speed. I reverse-applied it to 2.6.8.1, where it seems to
> >solve the problem.
> 
> Sorry, have to correct that: it seemed to help at my tests with dd
> (write 1G of zeroes to a file). Copying a file with mc still shows
> around 1.4MB/s. Could be worse, but is definitely not ok. It *is* better
> with 2.6.7.

Here are some numbers with my setup. I always wrote 1 GB of data to the
same DVD-RAM disc (EMTEC), to the device directly and to a fresh ext2
on
the disc.

kernel 2.6.10:

$ time { sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=bigfile bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ; }

real    32m5.025s

$ time {sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/cdrom bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ;}

real    29m41.980s

kernel 2.6.7:

$ time { sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=bigfile bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ; }

real    13m23.688s

$ time {sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/cdrom bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ;}

real    13m14.609s

Regards,
Tino

Re: [Problem] slow write to dvd-ram since 2.6.7-bk8

[Droebbel]

On Fr, 2005-02-18 at 00:10 +0100, Tino Keitel wrote:
>On Wed, Feb 16, 2005 at 23:29:24 +0100, Droebbel wrote:
>> On Mi, 2005-02-16 at 22:55 +0100, Droebbel wrote:
>> 
>> >The vmscan-dont-reclaim-too-many-pages.patch led to the said reduction
>> >of writing speed. I reverse-applied it to 2.6.8.1, where it seems to
>> >solve the problem.
>> 
>> Sorry, have to correct that: it seemed to help at my tests with dd
>> (write 1G of zeroes to a file). Copying a file with mc still shows
>> around 1.4MB/s. Could be worse, but is definitely not ok. It *is* better
>> with 2.6.7.
>
>Here are some numbers with my setup. I always wrote 1 GB of data to the
>same DVD-RAM disc (EMTEC), to the device directly and to a fresh ext2
>on
>the disc.
>
>kernel 2.6.10:
>
>$ time { sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=bigfile bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ; }
>
>real    32m5.025s
>
>$ time {sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/cdrom bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ;}
>
>real    29m41.980s
>
>kernel 2.6.7:
>
>$ time { sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=bigfile bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ; }
>
>real    13m23.688s
>
>$ time {sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/cdrom bs=64k count=16000 ; sync ;}
>
>real    13m14.609s

This is what I get:
 2.6.8 to 2.6.10: about 30 min. I think that's clear now. I did not run
any mre test with that.

2.6.7 gives less than 10 minutes.

Reverse-Patched 2.6.8.1 and 2.6.10 about 9-11 min.

But what I think is interesting: Other than with 2.6.7, with my 2.6.10
the result seems to be highly dependent on other io activities. I came
to test that when I saw that writing to dvd-ram slowed down when reading
from a cdrom at the same time. System disk, cdrom and dvd-ram are
connected by buses as independent as possible: hda, hdd and scd0 via
on-chip ide2. hdc is inactive and spun down at the times of testing.

Some results (same command as yours, but writing to file only):

2.6.8.1 with vmscan-dont-reclaim-too-many-pages.patch
and vmscan-scan-sanity.patch reversed:

real    9m17.389s
real    10m11.271s
(run twice)

2.6.10, both patches reversed:

real    10m26.374s

same kernel, some io and high (but niced) system load by reading from
hda and gzipping into /dev/null

real    21m46.795s

same kernel, some io and low load by reading from cdrom (raw read with
dd as well) into /dev/null

real    22m11.639s

2.6.7 vanilla, some io and low load by reading from cdrom (raw read with
dd as well) into /dev/null

real	5m58.092

That's too fast - impossible on 3x media with verification. I'll check
that again. But it *really* seemed to be fast.

I also hat the impression that my tests with 2.6.10 and 2.6.8.1 were
much more promising when run from a rather basic testing system without
X, a bit closer to the 2.6.7 results. Haven't got time to check that
till monday. All the above results except the 2.6.7 are from Ubuntu
(Hoary) Systems with X and Gnome running. 

Regards
David