You are not logged in.

#1 2010-05-02 05:33:30

Cheifchimp
Member
From: Queensland Australia
Registered: 2009-05-07
Posts: 69

[dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

Is there a boot time parameter to override the default 32 bit kernels setting of less than 1GB RAM, if so how can I set it?

Offline

#2 2010-05-02 05:46:18

Coacher
Guest

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

Default  ARCH kernel configured without this option. To enable it you have to build you own kernel. This feature called PAE (Physical Address Extension)

#3 2010-05-02 06:07:56

Cheifchimp
Member
From: Queensland Australia
Registered: 2009-05-07
Posts: 69

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

I was hoping that I could avoid building a kernel

Offline

#4 2010-05-02 06:43:06

Coacher
Guest

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

It is not very difficult procedure using ABS.
See
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Cus … n_with_ABS
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Kernel_Compilation
If you are new to building your own kernel, use ARCH config as basis for your own.
Good luck!

#5 2010-05-02 11:14:35

karol
Archivist
Registered: 2009-05-06
Posts: 25,440

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

Ummm, that's news to me. I'm running a stock kernel on a 32-bit machine that happens to be white. And has only 512 MB RAM.
I thought PAE is for 4GB+ RAM.
I've heard sth about hi-mem but never investigated.

What are your concerns, Cheifchimp? Have you tried the stock kernel? What went wrong?

Offline

#6 2010-05-02 12:40:57

Coacher
Guest

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

See also
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=93673
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=82742

2karol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension
Yes, its for 4GB+. I havent read carefully original post. There shouldnot be any 1GB limitation

Last edited by Coacher (2010-05-02 12:44:58)

#7 2010-05-02 12:48:10

karol
Archivist
Registered: 2009-05-06
Posts: 25,440

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

I hope this thread will have a happy ending :-)

Cheifchimp, how much RAM do you have? Less than 1GB or more than 4GB?

Offline

#8 2010-05-03 01:53:12

Cheifchimp
Member
From: Queensland Australia
Registered: 2009-05-07
Posts: 69

Re: [dumb question] kernel parameter to specify 1 -4 GB ram

the kernel has 3 ram settings:
Less than 1GB - any ram over 880ish MB is used as highmem
1GB to 4GB - flat memory space
Gteater than 4GB - not sure.

My Thinkpad R32 has 1GB, my eServer has 2GB.

I have been building custom kernels since I ran RedHat 5.2 but since 2.6.10ish I have had problems getting the configuration right. I had to abandon Debian Sarge due to being unable to build a working kernel to support all parts of my system.

The stock kernel works well enough but seems slower than I expect for a dual Xeon 2.8GHz with 2GB ram.

The options are multiplying and the descriptions (t seems to me) are becoming less informative, this may just be a matter of 25 years on anti-depressants eroding my concentration & comprehension.

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB