[dm-devel] dm-cache metadata size questions

[Ian Pilcher]

I am trying to come up with an algorithm to divide a single fast block
device into cache data and metadata, and I have several questions.

1.  Is metadata_size = 4MiB + 16 * nr_blocks still the correct formula
     for the metadata size?

2.  Am I correct in thinking that the number of blocks is based on the
     size of the cache data, rather than the origin device  -- i.e.
     nr_blocks = cache_size / block_size?

3.  Assuming that both of the above are correct, how does this look?

     AS: available space on "fast device"
     BS: block size
     MS: metadata size
     CS: cache data size
     NB: number of blocks

     NB = CS / BS

     MS = 4MiB + 16 * NB
        = 4MiB + 16 * (CS / BS)

     CS = AS - MS
        = AS - (4MiB + 16 * (CS / BS))
        = AS - 4MiB - 16 * CS / BS

     CS * BS = (AS - 4MiB) * BS - 16 * CS

     CS * BS + 16 * CS = (AS - 4MiB) * BS

     CS * (BS + 16) = (AS - 4MiB) * BS

     CS = (AS - 4MiB) * BS / (BS + 16)

     I.e. given the available space on my fast device, and the desired
     block size, I can calculate the cache data size as:

       cache_size = (available_size - 4MiB) * block_size /
                                                     (block_size + 16)

     and:

       metadata_size = available_size - cache_size

Yay algebra!

-- 
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Ian Pilcher                                         arequipeno at gmail.com
-------- "I grew up before Mark Zuckerberg invented friendship" --------
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