slv-performance-boost

name	slv-performance-boost
description	Update the kernel (Ubuntu HWE 6.14+), set `amd_pstate=active` (AMD), and apply cpufreq governor=performance, EPP=performance, cpuidle disable, and `scaling_max_freq=cpuinfo_max_freq` so the CPU stays at maximum boost. AMD nodes on kernel < 6.14 require HWE install + reboot.

SLV CPU Performance Boost Skill

Keeps Solana validator / RPC nodes running at peak CPU frequency at all times. Runs alongside SMT disable and IRQ tuning as part of the slv v init / slv r init tuning phase.

What it applies

#	Item	Effect	Reboot
1	apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y	Refresh OS packages and userland	No
2	Install HWE kernel (linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04)	Enables amd_pstate 6.14+ on AMD	Yes (AMD only when kernel < 6.14)
3	GRUB amd_pstate=active processor.max_cstate=0 cpufreq.default_governor=performance	Initializes amd_pstate driver in active mode at boot	Yes (AMD only, first apply)
4	modprobe amd_pstate	Try to load the driver at runtime	No
5	governor=performance	Lock frequency at maximum	No
6	EPP=performance	Push the energy/performance preference toward performance	No
7	boost=enabled / Intel no_turbo=0	Enable Turbo Boost	No
8	cpuidle state*/disable=1	Disable C-states to avoid latency spikes	No
9	scaling_max_freq=cpuinfo_max_freq	Align scaling ceiling with the hardware ceiling	No
10	slv-cpu-boost.service (oneshot)	Re-applies items 5-9 on every boot	No

Related artifacts

• ansible/cmn/boost_performance.yml
• Idempotency marker: /var/lib/slv/.boost_applied
• Persistence script: /usr/local/bin/slv-cpu-boost.sh
• systemd unit: /etc/systemd/system/slv-cpu-boost.service

Options

Variable	Default	Description
amd_pstate_mode	active	active (best performance) or passive

Standalone run

ansible-playbook -i inventory.yml cmn/boost_performance.yml --limit <host>
ansible-playbook -i inventory.yml cmn/boost_performance.yml --limit <host> -e amd_pstate_mode=passive

Kernel update + reboot

When an AMD CPU is detected and uname -r is below 6.14, the playbook installs the HWE kernel, writes the amd_pstate=active GRUB cmdline, and the orchestrator (cmn/optimize_node.yml) detects need_reboot=true and reboots automatically.

Verification

The fastest way is slv check boost:

slv check boost -t validator -n mainnet -p <pubkey>
slv check boost -t rpc -n mainnet -p <pubkey>

This command is a Deno port of the master-api performanceCheckRouter and evaluates every check by category — [OS], [BIOS], [CONTROL_PLANE], [RUNTIME], [INFO] — returning OK / WARN / NG. Exit codes: OK=0, WARN=1, NG=2. When a BIOS blocker is detected, the report prints a friendly hint that lists the BIOS knobs needed to lift the firmware-side ceiling.

Manual verification:

uname -r                                                          # >= 6.14 (mandatory on AMD)
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/amd_pstate/status                     # active
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor         # performance
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/energy_performance_preference  # performance
cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/boost                         # 1
grep 'cpu MHz' /proc/cpuinfo | sort -u                            # near hardware max
systemctl is-active slv-cpu-boost.service                         # active

When BIOS is the blocker

If slv check boost reports a [BIOS] blocker, the OS side is already correctly configured but cpuinfo_max_freq is below the catalog turbo frequency for the CPU model. That means the motherboard firmware / BIOS is capping the hardware ceiling. Typical fixes:

BIOS setting	Recommended value
Determinism Slider	Performance
CPPC / Core Performance Boost	Enabled
Global C-States Control	Disabled
Power Profile	Maximum Performance / Top Performance
P-State / Cool'n'Quiet	Disabled (when amd_pstate=active)

Rollback

sudo systemctl disable --now slv-cpu-boost.service
sudo rm /etc/systemd/system/slv-cpu-boost.service /usr/local/bin/slv-cpu-boost.sh
sudo sed -i 's/ amd_pstate=[^ ]*//; s/ processor.max_cstate=[^ ]*//; s/ cpufreq.default_governor=[^ ]*//' /etc/default/grub
sudo update-grub
sudo rm /var/lib/slv/.boost_applied
sudo reboot