Topic: Xeon 2.8GHz with Hyperthreading

[Jason Graver]

The server I'm testing SME 5.6 on has a single XEON 2.8GHz processor in it. Since the XEON's with Hyperthreading appear to some OS's as two processors (when in fact there is only one), which option of SME 5.6 do I use: the single processor version or the multiprocessor one? SME detects the Hyperthreading as a second CPU and installed the SMP kernal with it. Any ideas? Would there be performance increase if I use the SMP kernal? Would there be any stability concerns if i used the SMP kernal?

[Gordon Rowell]

Jason Graver wrote:
>
> The server I'm testing SME 5.6 on has a single XEON 2.8GHz
> processor in it. Since the XEON's with Hyperthreading appear
> to some OS's as two processors (when in fact there is only
> one), which option of SME 5.6 do I use: the single processor
> version or the multiprocessor one? SME detects the
> Hyperthreading as a second CPU and installed the SMP kernal
> with it.

The 5.6 installer detected it as SMP capable - that's why it installed the SMP kernel[1].

> Any ideas? Would there be performance increase if I
> use the SMP kernal?

Typically, yes.

> Would there be any stability concerns if  i used the SMP kernal?

Not with decent hardware (likely if you have such a CPU). The SMP kernel is designed for such CPUs.

Gordon

[1] actually, that's not strictly true - the motherboard chipset may also cause the SMP kernel to be installed on some motherboards which clearly only have one CPU slot/socket.