ncsize

Description

Defines the number of entries in the directory name look-up cache (DNLC). This parameter is used by UFS, NFS, and ZFS to cache elements of path names that have been resolved.

The DNLC also caches negative look-up information, which means it caches a name not found in the cache.

Data Type

Signed integer

Default

(4 x (v.v_proc + maxusers) + 320) + (4 x (v.v_proc + maxusers) + 320) / 100

Range

0 to MAXINT

Units

DNLC entries

Dynamic?

No

Validation

None. Larger values cause the time it takes to unmount a file system to increase as the cache must be flushed of entries for that file system during the unmount process.

When to Change

You can use the kstat -n dnlcstats command to determine when entries have been removed from the DNLC because it was too small. The sum of the pick_heuristic and the pick_last parameters represents otherwise valid entries that were reclaimed because the cache was too small.

Excessive values of ncsize have an immediate impact on the system because the system allocates a set of data structures for the DNLC based on the value of ncsize. By default, a system allocates 64-byte structures for ncsize. The value has a further effect on UFS and NFS, unless ufs_ninode and nfs:nrnode are explicitly set.

Commitment Level

Unstable