On 6 Feb, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I've been eyeing some multi-processor motherboards. After checking several web > sites, I've come across a factiod that only Intel supports "dual mode". So, > what is "dual mode"? And does one need "dual mode" to run Debian under SMP > kernel option? Or can one use non-Intel processors? >
I think this refers to the fact that these motherboards will work with either one or two CPUs installed, but only when using Intel CPUs. When using non-Intel CPUs, only one will work. This is due to the fact that Intel has some proprietary interest in the multiprocessor specification and refuses to license it to competitors; my guess is that something in the spec is patented, because the competitors haven't bothered to reverse engineer it, instead coming up with their own specification for multi-CPU support. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear of a motherboard (or chipset!) that supports the other spec. Bottom line: if you want to run multiple CPUs, you need to use Intel. I do not know if Linux supports the other multiple CPU hardware spec, but since there are no products available, the support would be purely academic anyway. As for what actually does work with Linux, anything that says Intel MultiProcessor Spec v1.1 or v1.4 should work. There is a web page at http://www.uk.linux.org/SMP/title.html which explains what does work. -- Stephen Ryan Debian GNU/Linux Mathematics graduate student, Dartmouth College -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
