kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

Vamp898 · 2009-06-10 07:42:02

Why does the kernel26 of i686 does not compile with the BIGMEM for 64GB? My Notebook have 4GB and now i have to compile my own kernel cause the Arch kernel supports only up to 3GB in case of kernel configuration.

Heller_Barde · 2009-06-10 10:13:35

iirc this was discussed already some time in the past. the conclusion was something like this: BIGMEM seems to slow down memory access significantly enough to warrant it to be disabled and everyone with >4GB ram can just use 64-bit archlinux which supports >4GB ram anyway.
but that was just off the top of my head

cheers
Barde

Vamp898 · 2009-06-11 22:21:16

yeah but 64bit Arch is a world for hisself xD

Heller_Barde · 2009-06-11 22:39:50

it seems like you either have to go down the rabbithole or compile your kernel yourself

psssst... *whispers* i heard arch64 is pretty stable and usable by now *whispers*

fukawi2 · 2009-06-11 22:56:19

http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=59410
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=58680
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=47366
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=40631
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=39581
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=34988

FallenWizard · 2009-06-11 23:24:37

My two cents: PAE is garbage, use Arch64

"yeah but 64bit Arch is a world for hisself xD"

Not really, Java and Flash will run without problems on Arch64.

Mr.Elendig · 2009-06-12 06:50:46

You can also run a 64bit kernel with a 32 bit userland if you are really paranoid about stuff lik w(h)ine

Falcata · 2009-08-09 15:57:21

I'd be using x86_64 arch still if it had better compatability for the programs I want to run. If you're looking to run things like Java, Second Life, etc., x86_64 will give you issues. In second life, for example, streaming music and video doesn't work because the necessary lib32 packages for gstreamer do not exist.

JGC · 2009-08-09 18:11:47

You can always install an x86_64 version of kernel26 and use that one instead of the i686 version of kernel26. You will have full support for all memory installed in your box if your chipset supports it, and you will still have a 32bit userspace.
I think Fedora had this on the roadmap: every CPU that can run a 64bit kernel should get it installed by default. Userspace architecture is up to the user.
FYI: I run an amd64 kernel with 32bit userspace on all our webservers with only 2GB of memory. The 8GB boxes have amd64 userspace also.

Exopaladin · 2009-08-11 02:52:55

x86_64 kernel with a 32bit userland is a nice idea, but you're screwed if you then have the desire/need to use anything that has to build a kernel module. Had that issue myself when I wanted to install OSS or VMWare (can't remember which but both would suffer from the problem).

Conversely, the opposite problem of not being able to compile 32bit apps without a chroot is what keeps me from running a 64bit userland.

Edit: Well, that and the half-assed nature of Arch's multilib support in general.

Last edited by Exopaladin (2009-08-11 04:04:00)

R00KIE · 2009-08-11 11:13:10

Exopaladin wrote:

x86_64 kernel with a 32bit userland is a nice idea, but you're screwed if you then have the desire/need to use anything that has to build a kernel module. Had that issue myself when I wanted to install OSS or VMWare (can't remember which but both would suffer from the problem).
Conversely, the opposite problem of not being able to compile 32bit apps without a chroot is what keeps me from running a 64bit userland.
Edit: Well, that and the half-assed nature of Arch's multilib support in general.

Arch is supposed to be a "pure" system, no multilib stuff. Although I admit that some things might crap themselves because of that.

On the stability and usability of Arch64, I am using it now and I have no complains, it is almost as painless as the 32bit flavor but I don't play games for now so I can't comment on that (no 3d in oss drivers yet ).

hgabreu · 2009-10-28 13:42:02

My biggest issue with x86_64 is that there's no working java plugin for the browser.
This means you can't run any applet or java web start application. That's a no-go at my company.

Themaister · 2009-10-28 14:57:50

? Java plugin has worked here for a long time with in Firefox at least with x86_64.

fukawi2 · 2009-10-28 21:43:21

hgabreu wrote:

My biggest issue with x86_64 is that there's no working java plugin for the browser.
This means you can't run any applet or java web start application. That's a no-go at my company.

fukawi2@phil-desktop ~  $ pacsearch jre
jre
fukawi2@phil-desktop ~  $ uname -m
x86_64

sand_man · 2009-10-28 22:03:45

That was hardly worth bumping an old thread for.

hgabreu · 2009-10-29 17:06:28

Sorry for re-opening this thread, you're right sand_man.
But since I already did it, let's close this subject.

I'm was a Debian user for the last years and have tried many times to make jre plugin work on amd64.
I've tried different jre's and browser's and it never worked correctly.
I switched to Archlinux this week and just assumed that it was a java 64bits problem, not Debian's.
http://bugs.sun.com/view_bug.do?bug_id=4802695
When Themaister said it worked for him. I didn't believe and download Arch x86_64 immediately.
I've just tested it now and I'm very surprised it works!

Thanks a lot, I'm very happy to know this.
Again, sorry to bother.

sand_man · 2009-10-29 20:17:34

Good to hear

Arch Linux

#1 2009-06-10 07:42:02

kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#2 2009-06-10 10:13:35

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#3 2009-06-11 22:21:16

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#4 2009-06-11 22:39:50

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#5 2009-06-11 22:56:19

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#6 2009-06-11 23:24:37

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#7 2009-06-12 06:50:46

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#8 2009-08-09 15:57:21

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#9 2009-08-09 18:11:47

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#10 2009-08-11 02:52:55

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#11 2009-08-11 11:13:10

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#12 2009-10-28 13:42:02

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#13 2009-10-28 14:57:50

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#14 2009-10-28 21:43:21

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#15 2009-10-28 22:03:45

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#16 2009-10-29 17:06:28

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

#17 2009-10-29 20:17:34

Re: kernel26 i686 BIGMEM

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