Messages in this thread | | | Date | Mon, 18 May 2009 10:35:45 +0100 | From | Alan Cox <> | Subject | Re: super root shell/mode/api |
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> Some days ago I've lost some important data on a Linux > machine, because of an out of memory and swap situation. > > When I was coding on c-64 and it crashes I pressed my > Cartridge button and could save what I wanted, execute > code and so on. Some may remember this old school times :) > > Now 20 years has passed and a web page can block my whole > machine?!?!?!?
Your distribution failed to configure your system sensibly in that case. Linux has supported a strict overcommit mode for some years, and in that mode a process isn't permitted to drive the system so far out of memory it locks up or hangs.
You can also set some limits on a given process (which with certain versions of firefox - especially old ones or if you have the flash plugin is a good idea).
First call - ask your distribution why it isn't using strict overcommit.
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