ntp wakes once per second [was: ntp kills polar bears]

Bug #697676 reported by Cristian Klein
26
This bug affects 4 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
ntp (Ubuntu)
Won't Fix
Low
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: ntp

The current design of ntp makes it generate at least 1 wakeup/second, thus disallowing the CPU to enter deeper states of sleep [1].

I propose applying a patch from Fedora which solves this issue. Previous attempts at integrating it upstream failed [2], despite the fact that the patch is used in Fedora for a long time. Hopefully, with the increasing need for energy efficient computing and Ubuntu validating the approach, upstream will be more willing to integrate the fix.

I attach the patch which has to be copied to debian/patches and added to debian/series.

[1] http://www.linuxpowertop.org/known.php#ntp
[2] https://bugs.ntp.org/show_bug.cgi?id=860

Tags: patch
Revision history for this message
Cristian Klein (cristiklein) wrote :
tags: added: patch
Revision history for this message
Serge Hallyn (serge-hallyn) wrote :

Thanks for reporting this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better.

I'm not sure how others will feel about it, but it sounds like a good idea. However, we should try and get this applied through the upstream Debian package if possible. Please let us know if this is something you're willing to try yourself, or if you prefer us (me) to forward it.

Changed in ntp (Ubuntu):
status: New → Incomplete
importance: Undecided → Low
Revision history for this message
Cristian Klein (cristiklein) wrote :

Hello,

Would you please be so kind and attempt to do this yourself.

Thanks in advance,
Cristi.

Revision history for this message
Serge Hallyn (serge-hallyn) wrote :

I've forwarded a debdiff against the Debian sid package to the Debian ntp
maintainers.

Changed in ntp (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Triaged
Revision history for this message
Dustin Kirkland  (kirkland) wrote :

Hi Cristian,

Thank you very much for bringing this patch to our attention. It is, indeed, quite interesting, and I, too, very much have an interest in the Ubuntu's server's energy efficiency.

There is an issue, here, though, in that ntp is an absolutely fundamental package found on most Ubuntu desktops and servers. The patch from Fedora, although vetted by Fedora users, is non-trivial. Quite the opposite, it's pretty involved and intricate. Given the nature of ntp in Ubuntu, I advise that we work with Debian on this issue. It would be best for both Debian and Ubuntu users to keep this package as close as possible between Debian/Ubuntu.

Cheers,
Dustin

summary: - ntp kills polar bears
+ ntp wakes once per second [was: ntp kills polar bears]
Revision history for this message
Serge Hallyn (serge-hallyn) wrote :

The Debian ntp package maintainers would like a patch to go into the upstream project, and will not take this patch. Given the invasiveness of the patch, Ubuntu will likewise wait for a proper fix from upstream. Please feel free to take the issue up with upstream. Since the Debian maintainers point out that it has been 2 years, it definately may be worth trying again.

Changed in ntp (Ubuntu):
status: Triaged → Won't Fix
Revision history for this message
Cristian Klein (cristiklein) wrote :

I gave the upstream bug another spin. I'm curious what their response will be.

Revision history for this message
Serge Hallyn (serge-hallyn) wrote : Re: [Bug 697676] Re: ntp wakes once per second [was: ntp kills polar bears]

Quoting Cristian KLEIN (<email address hidden>):
> I gave the upstream bug another spin. I'm curious what their response
> will be.

Thanks very much!

Revision history for this message
Christian Mertes (cmertes) wrote :

That much for the other spin I guess: https://support.ntp.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=802

The upstream bug is set to "wontfix" with the primary reason being ignorance if I may say so. They don't see the problem. It's just once per second and mostly we don't even do anything! Read the thread, people tried to explain again and again. It looks hopeless to me, really.

This is the Debian response:
http://lists.alioth.debian.org/pipermail/pkg-ntp-maintainers/2011-January/002731.html

It's basically: "If upstream won't include the patch, it's probably garbage." Although there wasn't much of a discussion so maybe there is a chance of convincing the Debian people at least.

Best chance, however, would be to do it in Ubuntu I guess.

AFAICS the patch has been in Fedora for quite some time so I don't really see the risk.

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