path: root/erts/doc/src/erts_alloc.xml

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<!DOCTYPE cref SYSTEM "cref.dtd">

<cref>
  <header>
    <copyright>
      <year>2002</year><year>2011</year>
      <holder>Ericsson AB. All Rights Reserved.</holder>
    </copyright>
    <legalnotice>
      The contents of this file are subject to the Erlang Public License,
      Version 1.1, (the "License"); you may not use this file except in
      compliance with the License. You should have received a copy of the
      Erlang Public License along with this software. If not, it can be
      retrieved online at http://www.erlang.org/.

      Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS"
      basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See
      the License for the specific language governing rights and limitations
      under the License.

    </legalnotice>

    <title>erts_alloc</title>
    <prepared>Rickard Green</prepared>
    <docno>1</docno>
    <date>03-06-11</date>
    <rev>1</rev>
    <file>erts_alloc.xml</file>
  </header>
  <lib>erts_alloc</lib>
  <libsummary>An Erlang Run-Time System internal memory allocator library.</libsummary>
  <description>
    <p><c>erts_alloc</c> is an Erlang Run-Time System internal memory
      allocator library. <c>erts_alloc</c> provides the Erlang
      Run-Time System with a number of memory allocators.</p>
  </description>

  <section>
    <title>Allocators</title>
    <marker id="allocators"></marker>
    <p>Currently the following allocators are present:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><c>temp_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for temporary allocations.</item>
      <tag><c>eheap_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for Erlang heap data, such as Erlang process heaps.</item>
      <tag><c>binary_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for Erlang binary data.</item>
      <tag><c>ets_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for ETS data.</item>
      <tag><c>driver_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for driver data.</item>
      <tag><c>sl_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for memory blocks that are expected to be
       short-lived.</item>
      <tag><c>ll_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for memory blocks that are expected to be
       long-lived, for example Erlang code.</item>
      <tag><c>fix_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>A very fast allocator used for some fix-sized
       data. <c>fix_alloc</c> manages a set of memory pools from
       which memory blocks are handed out. <c>fix_alloc</c>
       allocates memory pools from <c>ll_alloc</c>. Memory pools
       that have been allocated are never deallocated.</item>
      <tag><c>std_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used for most memory blocks not allocated via any of
       the other allocators described above.</item>
      <tag><c>sys_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>This is normally the default <c>malloc</c> implementation
       used on the specific OS.</item>
      <tag><c>mseg_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>A memory segment allocator. <c>mseg_alloc</c> is used by other
       allocators for allocating memory segments and is currently only
       available on systems that have the <c>mmap</c> system
       call. Memory segments that are deallocated are kept for a
       while in a segment cache before they are destroyed. When
       segments are allocated, cached segments are used if possible
       instead of creating new segments.  This in order to reduce
       the number of system calls made.</item>
      <tag><c>sbmbc_alloc</c></tag>
      <item>Allocator used by other allocators for allocation of carriers
      where only small blocks are placed. Currently this allocator is
      disabled by default.</item>
    </taglist>
    <p><c>sys_alloc</c> and <c>fix_alloc</c> are always enabled and
      cannot be disabled. <c>mseg_alloc</c> is always enabled if it is
      available and an allocator that uses it is enabled. All other
      allocators can be <seealso marker="#M_e">enabled or disabled</seealso>.
      By default all allocators are enabled.
      When an allocator is disabled, <c>sys_alloc</c> is used instead of
      the disabled allocator. <c>sbmbc_alloc</c> is an exception. If
      <c>sbmbc_alloc</c> is disabled, other allocators will not handle
      small blocks in separate carriers.</p>
    <p>The main idea with the <c>erts_alloc</c> library is to separate
      memory blocks that are used differently into different memory
      areas, and by this achieving less memory fragmentation. By
      putting less effort in finding a good fit for memory blocks that
      are frequently allocated than for those less frequently
      allocated, a performance gain can be achieved.</p>
  </section>

  <section>
    <marker id="alloc_util"></marker>
    <title>The alloc_util framework</title>
    <p>Internally a framework called <c>alloc_util</c> is used for
      implementing allocators. <c>sys_alloc</c>, <c>fix_alloc</c>, and
      <c>mseg_alloc</c> do not use this framework; hence, the
      following does <em>not</em> apply to them.</p>
    <p>An allocator manages multiple areas, called carriers, in which
      memory blocks are placed. A carrier is either placed in a
      separate memory segment (allocated via <c>mseg_alloc</c>), in
      the heap segment (allocated via <c>sys_alloc</c>), or inside
      another carrier (in case it is a carrier created by
      <c>sbmbc_alloc</c>). Multiblock
      carriers are used for storage of several blocks. Singleblock
      carriers are used for storage of one block. Blocks that are
      larger than the value of the singleblock carrier threshold
      (<seealso marker="#M_sbct">sbct</seealso>) parameter are placed
      in singleblock carriers. Blocks that are smaller than the value
      of the <c>sbct</c> parameter are placed in multiblock
      carriers. Blocks that are smaller than the small block multiblock
      carrier threshold (<seealso marker="#M_sbmbct">sbmbct</seealso>)
      will be placed in multiblock carriers only used for small blocks.
      Normally an allocator creates a "main multiblock
      carrier". Main multiblock carriers are never deallocated. The
      size of the main multiblock carrier is determined by the value
      of the <seealso marker="#M_mmbcs">mmbcs</seealso> parameter.</p>
    <p><marker id="mseg_mbc_sizes"></marker>Sizes of multiblock carriers
      allocated via <c>mseg_alloc</c> are
      decided based on the values of the largest multiblock carrier
      size (<seealso marker="#M_lmbcs">lmbcs</seealso>), the smallest
      multiblock carrier size (<seealso marker="#M_smbcs">smbcs</seealso>),
      and the multiblock carrier growth stages
      (<seealso marker="#M_mbcgs">mbcgs</seealso>) parameters. If
      <c>nc</c> is the current number of multiblock carriers (the main
      multiblock carrier excluded) managed by an allocator, the size
      of the next <c>mseg_alloc</c> multiblock carrier allocated by
      this allocator will roughly be
      <c><![CDATA[smbcs+nc*(lmbcs-smbcs)/mbcgs]]></c> when
      <c><![CDATA[nc <= mbcgs]]></c>,
      and <c>lmbcs</c> when <c><![CDATA[nc > mbcgs]]></c>. If the value of the
      <c>sbct</c> parameter should be larger than the value of the
      <c>lmbcs</c> parameter, the allocator may have to create
      multiblock carriers that are larger than the value of the
      <c>lmbcs</c> parameter, though. The size of multiblock carriers
      for small blocks is determined by the small block multiblock
      carrier size (<seealso marker="#M_sbmbcs">sbmbcs</seealso>).
      Singleblock carriers allocated via <c>mseg_alloc</c> are sized
      to whole pages.</p>
    <p>Sizes of carriers allocated via <c>sys_alloc</c> are
      decided based on the value of the <c>sys_alloc</c> carrier size
      (<seealso marker="#Muycs">ycs</seealso>) parameter. The size of
      a carrier is the least number of multiples of the value of the
      <c>ycs</c> parameter that satisfies the request.</p>
    <p>Coalescing of free blocks are always performed immediately.
      Boundary tags (headers and footers) in free blocks are used
      which makes the time complexity for coalescing constant.</p>
    <p><marker id="strategy"></marker>The memory allocation strategy
      used for multiblock carriers by an
      allocator is configurable via the <seealso marker="#M_as">as</seealso>
      parameter. Currently the following strategies are available:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag>Best fit</tag>
      <item>
        <p>Strategy: Find the smallest block that satisfies the
          requested block size.</p>
        <p>Implementation: A balanced binary search tree is
          used. The time complexity is proportional to log N, where
          N is the number of sizes of free blocks.</p>
      </item>
      <tag>Address order best fit</tag>
      <item>
        <p>Strategy: Find the smallest block that satisfies the
          requested block size. If multiple blocks are found, choose
          the one with the lowest address.</p>
        <p>Implementation: A balanced binary search tree is
          used. The time complexity is proportional to log N, where
          N is the number of free blocks.</p>
      </item>
      <tag>Address order first fit</tag>
      <item>
        <p>Strategy: Find the block with the lowest address that satisfies the
          requested block size.</p>
        <p>Implementation: A balanced binary search tree is
          used. The time complexity is proportional to log N, where
          N is the number of free blocks.</p>
      </item>
      <tag>Good fit</tag>
      <item>
        <p>Strategy: Try to find the best fit, but settle for the best fit
          found during a limited search.</p>
        <p>Implementation: The implementation uses segregated free
          lists with a maximum block search depth (in each list) in
          order to find a good fit fast. When the maximum block
          search depth is small (by default 3) this implementation
          has a time complexity that is constant. The maximum block
          search depth is configurable via the
          <seealso marker="#M_mbsd">mbsd</seealso> parameter.</p>
      </item>
      <tag>A fit</tag>
      <item>
        <p>Strategy: Do not search for a fit, inspect only one free
          block to see if it satisfies the request. This strategy is
          only intended to be used for temporary allocations.</p>
        <p>Implementation: Inspect the first block in a free-list.
          If it satisfies the request, it is used; otherwise, a new
          carrier is created. The implementation has a time
          complexity that is constant.</p>
	<p>As of erts version 5.6.1 the emulator will refuse to
	  use this strategy on other allocators than <c>temp_alloc</c>.
	  This since it will only cause problems for other allocators.</p>
      </item>
    </taglist>
  </section>

  <note><p>
    Currently only allocators using the best fit and the address order
    best fit strategies are able to use "small block multi block carriers".
  </p></note>

  <section>
    <marker id="flags"></marker>
    <title>System Flags Effecting erts_alloc</title>
    <warning>
      <p>Only use these flags if you are absolutely sure what you are
        doing. Unsuitable settings may cause serious performance
        degradation and even a system crash at any time during
        operation.</p>
    </warning>
    <p>Memory allocator system flags have the following syntax:
      <c><![CDATA[+M<S><P> <V>]]></c>
      where <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c> is a letter identifying a subsystem,
      <c><![CDATA[<P>]]></c> is a parameter, and <c><![CDATA[<V>]]></c> is the
      value to use. The flags can be passed to the Erlang emulator
      (<seealso marker="erl">erl</seealso>) as command line
      arguments.</p>
    <p>System flags effecting specific allocators have an upper-case
      letter as <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c>. The following letters are used for
      the currently present allocators:</p>
    <list type="bulleted">
      <item><c>B: binary_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>C: sbmbc_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>D: std_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>E: ets_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>F: fix_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>H: eheap_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>L: ll_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>M: mseg_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>R: driver_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>S: sl_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>T: temp_alloc</c></item>
      <item><c>Y: sys_alloc</c></item>
    </list>
    <p>The following flags are available for configuration of
      <c>mseg_alloc</c>:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="MMamcbf"><c><![CDATA[+MMamcbf <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Absolute max cache bad fit (in kilobytes). A segment in the
       memory segment cache is not reused if its size exceeds the
       requested size with more than the value of this
       parameter. Default value is 4096. </item>
      <tag><marker id="MMrmcbf"><c><![CDATA[+MMrmcbf <ratio>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Relative max cache bad fit (in percent). A segment in the
       memory segment cache is not reused if its size exceeds the
       requested size with more than relative max cache bad fit
       percent of the requested size. Default value is 20.</item>
      <tag><marker id="MMmcs"><c><![CDATA[+MMmcs <amount>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Max cached segments. The maximum number of memory segments
       stored in the memory segment cache. Valid range is
       0-30. Default value is 5.</item>
      <tag><marker id="MMcci"><c><![CDATA[+MMcci <time>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Cache check interval (in milliseconds). The memory segment
       cache is checked for segments to destroy at an interval
       determined by this parameter. Default value is 1000.</item>
    </taglist>
    <p>The following flags are available for configuration of
      <c>fix_alloc</c>:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="MFe"><c>+MFe true</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Enable <c>fix_alloc</c>. Note: <c>fix_alloc</c> cannot be disabled.</item>
    </taglist>
    <p>The following flags are available for configuration of
      <c>sys_alloc</c>:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="MYe"><c>+MYe true</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Enable <c>sys_alloc</c>. Note: <c>sys_alloc</c> cannot be disabled.</item>
      <tag><marker id="MYm"><c>+MYm libc</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
      <c>malloc</c> library to use. Currently only
      <c>libc</c> is available. <c>libc</c> enables the standard
      <c>libc</c> malloc implementation. By default <c>libc</c> is used.</item>
      <tag><marker id="MYtt"><c><![CDATA[+MYtt <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Trim threshold size (in kilobytes). This is the maximum amount
       of free memory at the top of the heap (allocated by
      <c>sbrk</c>) that will be kept by <c>malloc</c> (not
       released to the operating system). When the amount of free
       memory at the top of the heap exceeds the trim threshold,
      <c>malloc</c> will release it (by calling
      <c>sbrk</c>). Trim threshold is given in kilobytes. Default
       trim threshold is 128. <em>Note:</em> This flag will
       only have any effect when the emulator has been linked with
       the GNU C library, and uses its <c>malloc</c> implementation.</item>
      <tag><marker id="MYtp"><c><![CDATA[+MYtp <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Top pad size (in kilobytes). This is the amount of extra
       memory that will be allocated by <c>malloc</c> when
      <c>sbrk</c> is called to get more memory from the operating
       system. Default top pad size is 0. <em>Note:</em> This flag
       will only have any effect when the emulator has been linked
       with the GNU C library, and uses its <c>malloc</c>
       implementation.</item>
    </taglist>
    <p>The following flags are available for configuration of allocators
       based on <c>alloc_util</c>. If <c>u</c> is used as subsystem
       identifier (i.e., <c><![CDATA[<S> = u]]></c>) all allocators based on
       <c>alloc_util</c> will be effected. If <c>B</c>, <c>D</c>, <c>E</c>,
       <c>H</c>, <c>L</c>, <c>R</c>, <c>S</c>, or <c>T</c> is used as
       subsystem identifier, only the specific allocator identified will be
       effected:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="M_as"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>as bf|aobf|aoff|gf|af]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Allocation strategy. Valid strategies are <c>bf</c> (best fit),
      <c>aobf</c> (address order best fit), <c>aoff</c> (address order first fit),
      <c>gf</c> (good fit), and <c>af</c> (a fit). See 
      <seealso marker="#strategy">the description of allocation strategies</seealso> in "the <c>alloc_util</c> framework" section.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_asbcst"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>asbcst <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Absolute singleblock carrier shrink threshold (in
       kilobytes). When a block located in an
      <c>mseg_alloc</c> singleblock carrier is shrunk, the carrier
       will be left unchanged if the amount of unused memory is less
       than this threshold; otherwise, the carrier will be shrunk.
       See also <seealso marker="#M_rsbcst">rsbcst</seealso>.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_e"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>e true|false]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Enable allocator <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c>.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_lmbcs"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>lmbcs <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Largest (<c>mseg_alloc</c>) multiblock carrier size (in
       kilobytes).  See <seealso marker="#mseg_mbc_sizes">the description
       on how sizes for mseg_alloc multiblock carriers are decided</seealso>
       in "the <c>alloc_util</c> framework" section.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_mbcgs"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>mbcgs <ratio>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       (<c>mseg_alloc</c>) multiblock carrier growth stages. See
      <seealso marker="#mseg_mbc_sizes">the description on how sizes for
       mseg_alloc multiblock carriers are decided</seealso>
       in "the <c>alloc_util</c> framework" section.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_mbsd"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>mbsd <depth>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Max block search depth. This flag has effect only if the
       good fit strategy has been selected for allocator
      <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c>. When the good fit strategy is used, free
       blocks are placed in segregated free-lists. Each free list
       contains blocks of sizes in a specific range. The max block
       search depth sets a limit on the maximum number of blocks to
       inspect in a free list during a search for suitable block
       satisfying the request.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_mmbcs"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>mmbcs <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Main multiblock carrier size. Sets the size of the main
       multiblock carrier for allocator <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c>. The main
       multiblock carrier is allocated via <c><![CDATA[sys_alloc]]></c> and is
       never deallocated.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_mmmbc"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>mmmbc <amount>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Max <c>mseg_alloc</c> multiblock carriers. Maximum number of
       multiblock carriers allocated via <c>mseg_alloc</c> by
       allocator <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c>. When this limit has been reached,
       new multiblock carriers will be allocated via
      <c>sys_alloc</c>.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_mmsbc"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>mmsbc <amount>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Max <c>mseg_alloc</c> singleblock carriers. Maximum number of
       singleblock carriers allocated via <c>mseg_alloc</c> by
       allocator <c><![CDATA[<S>]]></c>. When this limit has been reached,
       new singleblock carriers will be allocated via
      <c>sys_alloc</c>.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_ramv"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>ramv <bool>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Realloc always moves. When enabled, reallocate operations will
       more or less be translated into an allocate, copy, free sequence.
       This often reduce memory fragmentation, but costs performance.
      </item>
      <tag><marker id="M_rmbcmt"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>rmbcmt <ratio>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Relative multiblock carrier move threshold (in percent). When
       a block located in a multiblock carrier is shrunk,
       the block will be moved if the ratio of the size of the returned
       memory compared to the previous size is more than this threshold;
       otherwise, the block will be shrunk at current location.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_rsbcmt"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>rsbcmt <ratio>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Relative singleblock carrier move threshold (in percent). When
       a block located in a singleblock carrier is shrunk to
       a size smaller than the value of the
      <seealso marker="#M_sbct">sbct</seealso> parameter,
       the block will be left unchanged in the singleblock carrier if
       the ratio of unused memory is less than this threshold;
       otherwise, it will be moved into a multiblock carrier. </item>
      <tag><marker id="M_rsbcst"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>rsbcst <ratio>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Relative singleblock carrier shrink threshold (in
       percent). When a block located in an <c>mseg_alloc</c>
       singleblock carrier is shrunk, the carrier will be left
       unchanged if the ratio of unused memory is less than this
       threshold; otherwise, the carrier will be shrunk.
       See also <seealso marker="#M_asbcst">asbcst</seealso>.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_sbct"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>sbct <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Singleblock carrier threshold. Blocks larger than this
       threshold will be placed in singleblock carriers. Blocks
       smaller than this threshold will be placed in multiblock
       carriers.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_sbmbcs"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>sbmbcs <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
	Small block multiblock carrier size (in bytes). Memory blocks smaller
	than the small block multiblock carrier threshold
	(<seealso marker="#M_sbmbct">sbmbct</seealso>) will be placed in
	multiblock carriers used for small blocks only. This parameter
	determines the size of such carriers.
      </item>
      <tag><marker id="M_sbmbct"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>sbmbct <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
	Small block multiblock carrier threshold (in bytes). Memory blocks
	smaller than this threshold will be placed in multiblock carriers
	used for small blocks only.
      </item>
      <tag><marker id="M_smbcs"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>smbcs <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Smallest (<c>mseg_alloc</c>) multiblock carrier size (in
       kilobytes). See <seealso marker="#mseg_mbc_sizes">the description
       on how sizes for mseg_alloc multiblock carriers are decided</seealso>
       in "the <c>alloc_util</c> framework" section.</item>
      <tag><marker id="M_t"><c><![CDATA[+M<S>t true|false|<amount>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
        <p>Multiple, thread specific instances of the allocator.
           This option will only have any effect on the runtime system
           with SMP support. Default behaviour on the runtime system with
           SMP support (<c>N</c> equals the number of scheduler threads):</p>
       <taglist>
         <tag><c>temp_alloc</c></tag>
	 <item><c>N + 1</c> instances.</item>
         <tag><c>ll_alloc</c></tag>
	 <item><c>1</c> instance.</item>
         <tag>Other allocators</tag>
	 <item><c>N</c> instances when <c>N</c> is less than or equal to
	 <c>16</c>. <c>16</c> instances when <c>N</c> is greater than
	 <c>16</c>.</item>
       </taglist>
       <p><c>temp_alloc</c> will always use <c>N + 1</c> instances when
          this option has been enabled regardless of the amount passed.
          Other allocators will use the same amount of instances as the
          amount passed as long as it isn't greater than <c>N</c>.</p>
      </item>
    </taglist>
    <p>Currently the following flags are available for configuration of
      <c>alloc_util</c>, i.e. all allocators based on <c>alloc_util</c>
      will be effected:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="Muycs"><c><![CDATA[+Muycs <size>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
      <c>sys_alloc</c> carrier size. Carriers allocated via
      <c>sys_alloc</c> will be allocated in sizes which are
       multiples of the <c>sys_alloc</c> carrier size. This is not
       true for main multiblock carriers and carriers allocated
       during a memory shortage, though.</item>
      <tag><marker id="Mummc"><c><![CDATA[+Mummc <amount>]]></c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Max <c>mseg_alloc</c> carriers. Maximum number of carriers
       placed in separate memory segments. When this limit has been
       reached, new carriers will be placed in memory retrieved from
      <c>sys_alloc</c>.</item>
    </taglist>
    <p>Instrumentation flags:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="Mim"><c>+Mim true|false</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       A map over current allocations is kept by the emulator. The
       allocation map can be retrieved via the <c>instrument</c>
       module. <c>+Mim true</c> implies <c>+Mis true</c>.
      <c>+Mim true</c> is the same as
      <seealso marker="erl#instr">-instr</seealso>.</item>
      <tag><marker id="Mis"><c>+Mis true|false</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Status over allocated memory is kept by the emulator. The
       allocation status can be retrieved via the <c>instrument</c>
       module.</item>
      <tag><marker id="Mit"><c>+Mit X</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
       Reserved for future use. Do <em>not</em> use this flag.</item>
    </taglist>
    <note>
      <p>When instrumentation of the emulator is enabled, the emulator
        uses more memory and runs slower.</p>
    </note>
    <p>Other flags:</p>
    <taglist>
      <tag><marker id="Mea"><c>+Mea min|max|r9c|r10b|r11b|config</c></marker></tag>
      <item>
      <taglist>
        <tag><c>min</c></tag>
        <item>
	  Disables all allocators that can be disabled.
	</item>

        <tag><c>max</c></tag>
        <item>
	  Enables all allocators (currently default).
	</item>

        <tag><c>r9c|r10b|r11b</c></tag>
        <item>
	  Configures all allocators as they were configured in respective
	  OTP release. These will eventually be removed.
	</item>

        <tag><c>config</c></tag>
        <item>
	  Disables features that cannot be enabled while creating an
	  allocator configuration with
	  <seealso marker="runtime_tools:erts_alloc_config">erts_alloc_config(3)</seealso>.
	  Note, this option should only be used while running
	  <c>erts_alloc_config</c>, <em>not</em> when using the created
	  configuration.
        </item>
      </taglist>
      </item>
    </taglist>
    <p>Only some default values have been presented
      here.
      <seealso marker="erts:erlang#system_info_allocator">erlang:system_info(allocator)</seealso>,
      and
      <seealso marker="erts:erlang#system_info_allocator_tuple">erlang:system_info({allocator, Alloc})</seealso>
      can be used in order to obtain currently used settings and current
      status of the allocators.</p>
    <note>
      <p>Most of these flags are highly implementation dependent, and they
        may be changed or removed without prior notice.</p>
      <p><c>erts_alloc</c> is not obliged to strictly use the settings that
        have been passed to it (it may even ignore them).</p>
    </note>
    <p><seealso marker="runtime_tools:erts_alloc_config">erts_alloc_config(3)</seealso>
      is a tool that can be used to aid creation of an
      <c>erts_alloc</c> configuration that is suitable for a limited
      number of runtime scenarios.</p>
  </section>

  <section>
    <title>SEE ALSO</title>
    <p><seealso marker="runtime_tools:erts_alloc_config">erts_alloc_config(3)</seealso>,
      <seealso marker="erl">erl(1)</seealso>,
      <seealso marker="tools:instrument">instrument(3)</seealso>,
      <seealso marker="erts:erlang">erlang(3)</seealso></p>
  </section>
</cref>