Squashfs: Add an option to set dev block size to 4K

This commit adds an option to set the device block size used to 4K.

By default Squashfs sets the device block size (sb_min_blocksize) to 1K
or the smallest block size supported by the block device (if larger).
This, because blocks are packed together and unaligned in Squashfs,
should reduce latency.

This, however, gives poor performance on MTD NAND devices where
the optimal I/O size is 4K (even though the devices can support
smaller block sizes).

Using a 4K device block size may also improve overall I/O
performance for some file access patterns (e.g. sequential
accesses of files in filesystem order) on all media.

Signed-off-by: Phillip Lougher <phillip@squashfs.org.uk>

1 files changed, 22 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/fs/squashfs/Kconfig b/fs/squashfs/Kconfig
index 1360d4f..5586011 100644
--- a/fs/squashfs/Kconfig
+++ b/fs/squashfs/Kconfig
@@ -78,6 +78,28 @@ config SQUASHFS_XZ
 
 	  If unsure, say N.
 
+config SQUASHFS_4K_DEVBLK_SIZE
+	bool "Use 4K device block size?"
+	depends on SQUASHFS
+	help
+	  By default Squashfs sets the dev block size (sb_min_blocksize)
+	  to 1K or the smallest block size supported by the block device
+	  (if larger).  This, because blocks are packed together and
+	  unaligned in Squashfs, should reduce latency.
+
+	  This, however, gives poor performance on MTD NAND devices where
+	  the optimal I/O size is 4K (even though the devices can support
+	  smaller block sizes).
+
+	  Using a 4K device block size may also improve overall I/O
+	  performance for some file access patterns (e.g. sequential
+	  accesses of files in filesystem order) on all media.
+
+	  Setting this option will force Squashfs to use a 4K device block
+	  size by default.
+
+	  If unsure, say N.
+
 config SQUASHFS_EMBEDDED
 	bool "Additional option for memory-constrained systems"
 	depends on SQUASHFS