CentOS - Oct 2005 - intel dual core processors and new kernel packages

I've just got bunch of RHEL4 erratas (looks like U2 is out).  Looking at the
kernel errata (kernel-2.6.9-22.EL), one of the things in list of new features
is "Intel dual core support".

What does this exactly means?  Does it mean if I have dual core pentium
processor and use older kernel that it will use only one core, and I need newer
kernel to use both cores?  Or is it only something cosmetical (like updated
output for /proc/cpuinfo)?  Looking at the bug 167412, it looks more like the
later.  Anybody outthere running Pentium D or Pentium extreme with 2.6.9-11.EL?

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

I can tell you that the Pentium D CPUs work fine with CentOS 3 and
kernel 2.4.21-32.0.1.ELsmp.  Presumably the newer kernels
incorporate more support for these CPUs, possibly activating
additional features not supported by earlier kernels.  But they
work fine with the older kernels.

Bug 147823, <https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=147823>,
seems to describe the problem -- basically, there are/were issues
with hyperthreading and dual-core processors where the machine
would run slowly when hyperthreading was on.  With hyperthreading
off, the machine acted like it had two ``real'' processors and
worked fine.  There's supposed to be a fix in RHEL3 U6 (and
presumably there's a similar bug for RHEL4 and an update for RHEL4
U2).

   Claire

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
  Claire Connelly                              cmc at math.hmc.edu 
  Systems Administrator                          (909) 621-8754   
  Department of Mathematics                 Harvey Mudd College
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 188 bytes
Desc: not available
URL:
<http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/attachments/20051005/fb30ea20/attachment-0002.sig>

Well I tried to run 4.1 on a CeleronD with an Intel SE7221BA1-E board. I
don't have the exact error to hand, but I had to give up on it. Would run
for half an hour or so then panic. 

May give it a try again with this new kernel. Has it been released for
Centos yet?

Cheers
Nick

-----Original Message-----
From: Aleksandar Milivojevic [mailto:alex at milivojevic.org] 
Sent: Thursday, 6 October 2005 12:54 AM
To: CentOS mailing list
Subject: [CentOS] intel dual core processors and new kernel packages

I've just got bunch of RHEL4 erratas (looks like U2 is out).  Looking at the
kernel errata (kernel-2.6.9-22.EL), one of the things in list of new
features
is "Intel dual core support".

What does this exactly means?  Does it mean if I have dual core pentium
processor and use older kernel that it will use only one core, and I need
newer
kernel to use both cores?  Or is it only something cosmetical (like updated
output for /proc/cpuinfo)?  Looking at the bug 167412, it looks more like
the
later.  Anybody outthere running Pentium D or Pentium extreme with
2.6.9-11.EL?

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

_______________________________________________
CentOS mailing list
CentOS at centos.org
http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos



__________ NOD32 1.1246 (20051007) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset.com