SMP Kernel Is Installed Despite Existing Single Processor Motherboard

Support knowledgebase (fhassel_p4)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Version 8.0

Symptom

Your system is equipped with a Pentium 4 processor. An SMP kernel -- a kernel with multiprocessor support (SMP means Symmetric Multiprocessor) -- has been installed during the installation, although you have a single-processor system. This is confirmed by the output of uname -a, which shows the kernel 2.4.18-64GB-SMP.

Cause

Pentium 4 processors are ready for the "Hyper-Threading Technology", which is activated and usable on XEON processors only. This technology, developed by Intel, enables simultaneous execution of two programs or threads (similarly to multiprocessor systems), thus resulting in a higher performance. In the Hyper-Threading technology, one CPU looks like two logical processors to the OS and applications.

In SuSE Linux 8.0, the SMP kernel is installed because the Hyper-Threading support is detected (through the ht flag set in /proc/cpuinfo).

Solution

Use the SuSE standard kernel for single-processor systems instead of the installed SMP kernel.

This is particularly advisable if you want to use the application VMware, which is not compatible with the 64 GB main memory support of the SMP kernel. For more information, refer to the article "VMware (All Versions): Installing VMware on a Dual-Processor System" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/mwalter_vmware_gsx.html).

We also recommend you use the standard kernel in case of sound problems (see the article "The System Hangs When the Sound Card Is Activated" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/thallma_restoring_snd80.html)).

Proceed as follows for the installation:

Start YaST2 and change to the dialog

Now you can uninstall the package k_smp, group System/Kernel, and select the package k_deflt for installation. The boot configuration will be automatically updated and the new kernel will be used after the system is rebooted.


See also:
o VMware (All Versions): Installing VMware on a Dual-Processor System

Keywords: P4, PENTIUM, 4, SMP, SINGLE, DUAL, PROCESSOR, MAINBOARD, VMWARE, KERNEL, MOTHERBOARD

Categories: Hardware , Commercial Applications

SDB-fhassel_p4, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 03. May 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 16. Oct 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)