SMP Kernel Is Installed Despite Existing Single Processor Motherboard
Support knowledgebase (fhassel_p4)
Applies to
SuSE Linux: Version 8.0
Symptom
Your system is equipped with a Pentium 4 processor. An SMP
kernel -- a kernel with multiprocessor support
(SMP means Symmetric Multiprocessor) -- has been installed during the installation, although
you have
a single-processor system. This is confirmed by the output of uname -a, which shows the
kernel 2.4.18-64GB-SMP.
Cause
Pentium 4 processors are ready for the "Hyper-Threading Technology", which is activated
and usable on XEON processors only. This technology, developed by Intel, enables
simultaneous execution of two programs or threads (similarly to multiprocessor systems), thus
resulting
in a higher performance. In the Hyper-Threading technology, one CPU looks like two logical
processors to the OS and applications.
In SuSE Linux 8.0, the SMP kernel is installed because the Hyper-Threading support is detected
(through the
ht flag set in /proc/cpuinfo).
Solution
Use the SuSE standard kernel for single-processor systems instead of the
installed SMP kernel.
This is particularly advisable if you want to use the application VMware,
which is not compatible with the 64 GB main memory support of the SMP kernel. For
more information, refer to the article "VMware (All Versions): Installing VMware on a Dual-Processor System" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/mwalter_vmware_gsx.html).
We also recommend you use the standard kernel in case of sound problems (see the
article "The System Hangs When the Sound Card Is Activated" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/thallma_restoring_snd80.html)).
Proceed as follows for the installation:
Start YaST2 and change to the dialog
- Software ->
- Install/Remove software
Now you can uninstall the package k_smp, group System/Kernel, and select the package
k_deflt for installation. The boot configuration will be
automatically updated and the new kernel will be used after the system
is rebooted.
See also:
VMware (All Versions): Installing VMware on a Dual-Processor System
Keywords: P4, PENTIUM, 4, SMP, SINGLE, DUAL, PROCESSOR, MAINBOARD, VMWARE, KERNEL, MOTHERBOARD
Categories:
Hardware
, Commercial Applications
SDB-fhassel_p4, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany
- Version: 03. May 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 16. Oct 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)