[CentOS] Kernel panic on Dell 1850

I'm attempting to upgrade to kernel-smp-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL (x86_64) on a 
Dell 1850.  The new kernel is panicing on reboot.  When comparing 
against the current working kernel, I just noticed that we're currently 
running the "UP" kernel:

[root at polaris root]# uname -srvp
Linux 2.4.21-27.0.2.EL #1 SMP Wed Jan 19 11:49:43 CST 2005 x86_64

First question... why is the kernel version reporting as SMP when this 
is the UP kernel package?  I thought it might have something to do with 
HT, but no, it's seeing both processors:

[root at polaris root]# cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep proc
processor       : 0
processor       : 1
processor       : 2
processor       : 3

Second question... has anyone else experienced problems with 
kernel-smp-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL on x86_64?  I installed the newer kernel 
and it paniced on reboot.  I'm offsite without console, so I'll be 
going in tomorrow to take a closer look.  Just FYI, here is the 
information on each kernel we're working with:

[root at polaris root]# rpm -qi kernel
Name        : kernel                       Relocations: (not 
relocatable)
Version     : 2.4.21                            Vendor: CentOS
Release     : 27.0.2.EL                     Build Date: Wed 19 Jan 2005 
12:56:58 PM EST
Install Date: Fri 08 Apr 2005 05:44:16 AM EDT      Build Host: head
Group       : System Environment/Kernel     Source RPM: 
kernel-2.4.21-27.0.2.EL.src.rpm
Size        : 33381631                         License: GPLv2
Signature   : DSA/SHA1, Thu 20 Jan 2005 10:52:57 AM EST, Key ID 
7049e44d025e513b
Summary     : The Linux kernel (the core of the Linux operating system)
Description :
The kernel package contains the Linux kernel (vmlinuz), the core of your
CentOS operating system.  The kernel handles the basic functions
of the operating system:  memory allocation, process allocation, device
input and output, etc.

[root at polaris root]# rpm -qi kernel-smp
Name        : kernel-smp                   Relocations: (not 
relocatable)
Version     : 2.4.21                            Vendor: CentOS-3
Release     : 27.0.4.EL                     Build Date: Fri 22 Apr 2005 
06:47:22 PM EDT
Install Date: Wed 11 May 2005 10:16:23 AM EDT      Build Host: tru64
Group       : System Environment/Kernel     Source RPM: 
kernel-2.4.21-27.0.4.EL.src.rpm
Size        : 26669758                         License: GPLv2
Signature   : DSA/SHA1, Fri 22 Apr 2005 07:12:58 PM EDT, Key ID 
7049e44d025e513b
Packager    : Pasi Pirhonen <upi at iki.fi> - http://iki.fi/upi/
Summary     : The Linux kernel compiled for SMP machines.
Description :
This package includes a SMP version of the Linux kernel. It is
required only on machines with two or more CPUs.

Install the kernel-smp package if your machine uses two or more CPUs.


Thanks in advance,

--
Jason Dixon
DixonGroup Consulting
http://www.dixongroup.net