[CentOS] Kernel or kernel-smp ?

Robert

kerplop at sbcglobal.net
Sun Aug 21 15:13:59 UTC 2005


Since this is National Kernel Day, I have a question. No, 2 questions:
I'm running an Asus A7N8X Deluxe ver 2 m/b with an AMD processor:

    [root at mavis ~]# cat /proc/cpuinfo
    processor       : 0
    vendor_id       : AuthenticAMD
    cpu family      : 6
    model           : 10
    model name      : AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
    stepping        : 0
    cpu MHz         : 1912.933
    cache size      : 512 KB
    fdiv_bug        : no
    hlt_bug         : no
    f00f_bug        : no
    coma_bug        : no
    fpu             : yes
    fpu_exception   : yes
    cpuid level     : 1
    wp              : yes
    flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge
    mca cmov patpse36 mmx fxsr sse syscall mmxext 3dnowext 3dnow
    bogomips        : 3776.51

For some reason, Anaconda thinks I need an smp kernel.  This is a 
wrong-headed notion that showed up in FC1 and continued to FC2, FC3 and 
CentOS 4.  It always installs both kernels, making -smp the default 
which I have to change to non-smp for ntpd to work right (Gives 
off-the-chart jitter, never syncs, etc).  I have read in one place or 
another that:
1. It's O.K. to run an smp kernel on a single-processor machine
2. The installer picks the smp kernel if the cpu flag "ht" is set -- 
which mine isn't.

So, can anyone explain why, on a fresh bare-metal install I'm blessed 
with an smp kernel?  Also, is the statement about an smp kernel running 
O.K. on a single processor machine pure hogwash or is there something 
goofy about my m/b and/or processor? 
Of course, once there is an -smp kernel installed "yum update kernel*" 
keeps the string of luck going.
-- 
It is Sun Aug 21 09:48:33 CDT 2005 ratnow. The next Next-Step will
begin in 2526087 seconds at 3:30 P.M. on Monday 9/19/2005
at the Golden Gristle ratcheer: http://snipurl.com/ag20
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