Facebook deploys the Steam Deck's Linux scheduler across its data centers — Valve's low-latency scheduler perfect for managing Meta's workloads at massive data centers

Meta engineers have successfully deployed Valve's low-latency Linux scheduler, SCX-LAVD, originally designed for the Steam Deck, across Facebook's data centers. The scheduler, optimized for gaming responsiveness, has proven to be effective in managing Meta's diverse workloads and strict latency targets in its massive server fleet. SCX-LAVD, built on the sched_ext framework, allows for adaptive scheduling without extensive kernel modifications. Despite challenges in scaling the scheduler to server-class hardware, Meta has made adjustments to enhance performance without the need for manual configuration. The experiment showcases the versatility of open-source software and how innovations in one domain can benefit diverse tech ecosystems.