OTP-8666 Enable automatic binding of schedulers when possible

The runtime system will by default bind schedulers to logical processors
using the default_bind bind type if the amount of schedulers are at least
equal to the amount of logical processors configured, binding of schedulers
is supported, and a CPU topology is available at startup.

NOTE: If the Erlang runtime system is the only operating system process
that binds threads to logical processors, this improves the performance of
the runtime system. However, if other operating system processes (as for
example another Erlang runtime system) also bind threads to logical
processors, there might be a performance penalty instead. If this is the
case you, are are advised to unbind the schedulers using the <seealso
marker="erl#+sbt">+sbtu</seealso> command line argument, or by invoking
<seealso
marker="erlang#system_flag_scheduler_bind_type">erlang:system_flag(schedule
r_bind_type, unbound)</seealso>.

1 files changed, 36 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/erts/doc/src/erl.xml b/erts/doc/src/erl.xml
index bb741c7836..df80142ce1 100644
--- a/erts/doc/src/erl.xml
+++ b/erts/doc/src/erl.xml
@@ -41,6 +41,26 @@
       to scroll back to text which has scrolled off the screen.
       The <c><![CDATA[erl]]></c> program must be used, however, in pipelines or if
       you want to redirect standard input or output.</p>
+      <note><p>As of ERTS version 5.8 (OTP-R14A) the runtime system will by
+               default bind schedulers to logical processors using the
+	       <c>default_bind</c> bind type if the amount of schedulers are
+	       at least equal to the amount of logical processors configured,
+	       binding of schedulers is supported, and a CPU topology is
+	       available at startup.
+	    </p><p>
+	       If the Erlang runtime system is the only operating system
+	       process that binds threads to logical processors, this
+	       improves the performance of the runtime system. However,
+	       if other operating system processes (as for example
+	       another Erlang runtime system) also bind threads to
+	       logical processors, there might be a performance penalty
+	       instead. If this is the case you, are are advised to
+	       unbind the schedulers using the
+	       <seealso marker="#+sbt">+sbtu</seealso> command line argument,
+	       or by invoking
+	       <seealso marker="erlang#system_flag_scheduler_bind_type">erlang:system_flag(scheduler_bind_type,
+	       unbound)</seealso>.</p>
+      </note>
   </description>
   <funcs>
     <func>
@@ -657,6 +677,22 @@
 	       that the <c>+sct</c> flag may have to be passed before the
 	       <c>+sbt</c> flag on the command line (in case no CPU topology
 	       has been automatically detected).</p>
+            <p>The runtime system will by default bind schedulers to logical
+	       processors using the <c>default_bind</c> bind type if the amount
+	       of schedulers are at least equal to the amount of logical
+	       processors configured, binding of schedulers is supported,
+	       and a CPU topology is available at startup.
+	    </p>
+	    <p><em>NOTE:</em> If the Erlang runtime system is the only operating
+	       system process that binds threads to logical processors, this
+	       improves the performance of the runtime system. However, if other
+	       operating system processes (as for example another Erlang runtime
+	       system) also bind threads to logical processors, there might be a
+	       performance penalty instead. If this is the case you, are advised
+	       to unbind the schedulers using the <c>+sbtu</c> command line
+	       argument, or by invoking
+	       <seealso marker="erlang#system_flag_scheduler_bind_type">erlang:system_flag(scheduler_bind_type,
+	       unbound)</seealso>.</p>
 	    <p>For more information, see
 	    <seealso marker="erlang#system_flag_scheduler_bind_type">erlang:system_flag(scheduler_bind_type, SchedulerBindType)</seealso>.
 	    </p>