Topic: Enable dual-processor support

[Jason Judge]

I installed SME 5.1.2 on a single-processor system. I have now plugged in a second processor and would like SME to start using it. Is this possible without reinstalling the system?

I can only see one processor listed in /proc/cpuinfo (PIII 550MHz). The BIOS does, however, inform me that both processors were initialised.

Ta,

-- Jason

[Lloyd Keen]

Jason,
Unfortunately you'll have to backup/reinstall then restore to be able to use the smp kernel. Be careful if you are running Freeswan as I don't believe this can be used on an smp kernel otherwise everything else should be OK. After you re-install you'll have two boot options: e-smith and e-smith-up. e-smith is the smp kernel and e-smith-up is the e-smith Uniprocessor kernel.
Regards Lloyd

[Damien Curtain]

Lloyd Keen wrote:
>
> Jason,
> Unfortunately you'll have to backup/reinstall then restore to
> be able to use the smp kernel. Be careful if you are running

No this isn't true. You can install the smp kernel on your system as it is, all you need to do is install the smp version of the kernel using the rpm on the CD, and update your lilo.conf file and then run lilo.

This has probably been covered a few times so check the previous posts and/or the e-smith faq for more details, if after that you still arent sure of the exact steps post what you know and I or someone will fill in the blanks.

Its quite straight forward, so don't reinstall your machine, thats not necessary.
--
 Damien

[Jason Judge]

Thanks - I'll give this a go. I'll back everything up first, but provided I don't touch the original kernel I should always have a fallback if it doesn't work.

It's a shame SME doesn't provide more options at install time. It's nice keeping install nice and simple, but it does mean maintenance is a lot more difficult later on when more hardware resources need to be added.

Perhaps an additional 'hardware configuration' menu alongside the current 'system configuration' wizard would be a good way to go.

Ta,

-- Jason

[Gary Parker]

Just adding my two-penneth, as it were...but I tried what Damien suggested when I added a 2nd cpu to my system a few months back, just out of laziness really ,and it didn't work very well at all. This is because quite a few of the driver modules need to be compiled with the smp switch set, and as such you need to install an smp kernel modules set. I thought it was all too much hassle and just went down the backup/reinstall/restore route and it worked flawlessly...

Gary

[Jelke van der Meer]

I have a Hewlett Packard NetServer LH3 with ONLY ONE CPU. But everytime i do a clean install of e-smith/SME i have the option of e-smith and e-smith-up to choose from. Just for fun (I don't need the second CPU) i mounted a second CPU in the appropiate socket and selected e-smith-up at boot.
It worked fine without needing any update whatsoever.

[Jason Judge]

Jelke,

I've plugged in a second CPU too. It certainly doesn't cause any problems, but that (I suspect) is because it simply isn't doing anything. The e-smith-up kernel should only use one of the processors, so that would put you in the same boat as me.

Now when you first installed, did you have the second processor plugged in? If not, then the fact that have two kernels to choose from probably means that e-smith (sorry - SME) detected dual-processor capability of the motherboard. I would be interested to know if this is the case.

-- Jason

[Jelke van der Meer]

Jason Judge wrote:
>
>> Now when you first installed, did you have the second
> processor plugged in? If not, then the fact that have two
> kernels to choose from probably means that e-smith (sorry -
> SME) detected dual-processor capability of the motherboard. I
> would be interested to know if this is the case.
>
Yes Jason That is the case. That's also what I've tried to make clear.
So your above conclusion is correct!!

Jelke

[Steve Bush]

I have several servers running with the dual processor kernel using Freeswan, one of which actually has two processors installed.

[Jason Judge]

Hmmm. I tried this and it didn't work.

I'm using a Compaq Prosignia 740 with dual PIII 550. After reinstalling from scratch, I'm still finding only one processor and only one boot option.

The BIOS and Compaq diagnosis programs show both processors working correctly.

[Jason Judge]

Hmmm. I tried this and it didn't work.

I'm using a Compaq Prosignia 740 with dual PIII 550. After reinstalling from scratch, I'm still finding only one processor and only one boot option.

The BIOS and Compaq diagnosis programs show both processors working correctly.

JJ

[ed sharpe]

I just installed  SME on a dual proc system but there was only one present...
actually I have booted with  both Mitel and Mitel up and both work.
ed sharpe
Jason Judge wrote:
>
> Jelke,
>
> I've plugged in a second CPU too. It certainly doesn't cause
> any problems, but that (I suspect) is because it simply isn't
> doing anything. The e-smith-up kernel should only use one of
> the processors, so that would put you in the same boat as me.
>
> Now when you first installed, did you have the second
> processor plugged in? If not, then the fact that have two
> kernels to choose from probably means that e-smith (sorry -
> SME) detected dual-processor capability of the motherboard. I
> would be interested to know if this is the case.
>
> -- Jason

[ed sharpe]

I just installed  SME on a dual proc system but there was only one present...
actually I have booted with  both Mitel and Mitel up and both work.
ed sharpe
Jason Judge wrote:
>
> Jelke,
>
> I've plugged in a second CPU too. It certainly doesn't cause
> any problems, but that (I suspect) is because it simply isn't
> doing anything. The e-smith-up kernel should only use one of
> the processors, so that would put you in the same boat as me.
>
> Now when you first installed, did you have the second
> processor plugged in? If not, then the fact that have two
> kernels to choose from probably means that e-smith (sorry -
> SME) detected dual-processor capability of the motherboard. I
> would be interested to know if this is the case.
>
> -- Jason

[Jason Judge]

I'm sure if the install process detected the second processor on my system it would work. The problem is that it wasn't detecting the dual-processor system. I have read other people getting multi-processor support when only one processor was plugged in, and that sounds correct. My problem is the other way around.

-- JJ

[ed sharpe]

oh ok! i get it

!
ed!Jason Judge wrote:
>
> I'm sure if the install process detected the second processor
> on my system it would work. The problem is that it wasn't
> detecting the dual-processor system. I have read other people
> getting multi-processor support when only one processor was
> plugged in, and that sounds correct. My problem is the other
> way around.
>
> -- JJ

[Jason Judge]

Perhaps SME 5.5 would be better at detecting processor boards? I know basic RH7.2 does it properly, it's just the SME install that probably needs something updating. If the install process had an option to _force_ dual processor support then I am sure it would work fine.

When I finally get 5.5 downloaded (six attempts so far, and getting timeouts after about 250M) I'll give it a go.

Ta,

JJ