[H-GEN] Stable RH Linux Kernel with SMP support

[Laurence J. Rietberg]

David,
 
> On Fri, Nov 06, 1998 at 03:43:33PM +1000, Frank Brand wrote:
> > Laurence J. Rietberg wrote:
> > > 
> > > Dear list,
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Stable kernels with version numbers 2.0.x lock up after a very short time,
> > > from what seems to be lack of SMP support for the dual processors.
> > > 
> > > Currently I am running a test kernel 2.1.117, which doesn't crash
> > > overnight, but on the other hand, doesn't seem terribly robust.
> > > 
> > > Do you know if there is a stable kernel which has SMP support?  (Presumably
> > > the source tree is on one of the Australian mirrors, though I'm not sure of
> > > this.)
> > > 
> > My understanding is that the stable kernels wont support SMP but that
> > the development kernels do BUT support of SMP in the bleeding edge
> > kernels is generally a work in progress. Even Linus himself admits that
> > you really should wait for kernel 2.2 before you even think that SMP
> > might be stable. 
> 
> 2.0.xx support SMP systems. As in two cpus will be used, but the kernel has
> only two locks (iirc) and can only run on one processor. The trick with SMP
> machines is to keep on the bleeding edge, till you find something that doesn't
> fall over, and you grab it by the neck in a big noose, use cattle prods to
> stop it wriggling, and then find the biggest metal stake you can find, and pin
> it to the machine.
> 
> You get the idea :) Keep upgrading those kernels till you find something
> stable.

I had a good report on 2.1.125 from one response I received.  This email
also pointed out that 2.1.126 was less stable on their system, but 2.1.126
with all the 2.1.127 prepatches one can find should give a stable SMP
system (Acknowledgement: Andrew Shugg, SAGE-AU).  Also, Andrew pointed out
that SMP really is still in its development phase, and mentioned that he
knew someone who was receiving kernel patches from Linus himself in aid of
his SMP system.

Thankyou for your advice re. finding the right kernel.  Presently, I'll
give 2.1.125 a shot and see how that goes.  

What are your thoughts on upgrading to RH 5.2?

Laurence (a.k.a. bigdog)