Advice for putting second CPU in my dual server

hamish · 07-08-2006, 06:08 AM

Hello

I have a dual CPU mothebroard (pentium 3) with one CPU in it at the moment. The server is running Debian 3.1

i have bought about CPU (same speed) for the space CPU socket and would like to install it.

I have three questions:

1. To get the second CPU working correctly, what do I need to do? Is it just a case of plugging it in and enabling multiple CPUs in the kernel?

2. If I put the CPU in, but do not have mulitple CPU enabled, will the server still boot up correctly, and just ignore the second CPU? At the moment, the server kernel is only configured for 1 CPU and it is in a data centre 700 miles from me. Therefore, I don't want to have a boot error if the kernel is not correctly configured.

3. Benchmarking. I would like to benchmark my system before I put in the second CPU, so that I can see my speed increases. Can you suggest some ways to do this.

Thanks
Hamish

musicman_ace · 07-09-2006, 03:43 PM

1. Enable SMP support for 2 processors in the kernel. If they support HyperThreading, I think you might want the number to be 4?

2. A Uni-processor kernel will only see one processor even if two are installed. One wonders why you wouldn't be making these kernel changes while you are at the location since you have to install the kernel?

3. Collecting info from Top or using one of the GUI system monitors for 10min every hour and then averaging those will get you somewhat of a benchmark. It depends on if your system is fully utilizing the first CPU. If that one doesn't ever hit 50%, I don't see why you'd need to add a 2nd CPU, but thats just me.

hamish · 09-16-2006, 04:35 AM

Hey

I successfully installed it. Works much quicker

Thanks

H

musicman_ace · 09-16-2006, 06:58 AM

One other thing. You should keep a failsafe kernel on the system that supports only 1 processor. This is just in case something terrible happens. Usually I just called it unikernel-version

Master_Simon · 10-04-2006, 10:22 AM

Hi all
I have an old Compaq Proliant P200-Pro server with two cpus, although not that fast it does have a 5x9.1gig SCSI array and 750 megs of RAM, as I've no intention of running X on it i figure that this is not an issue, my preferred flavour of linux is SUSE, I would like to put one of the later versions on it, for no other reason than i sort of know my way around, I would like to set it up as the first poster suggested but none of the silly streaming thing, I got much newer boxes that are for playing.

My first question is, can anyone tell me how to install my SCSI cards, I have a Compaq SCSI card fitted (type escapes me but it begins with a 2 and is one of the later compaq types), it's a mega one with loads of memory, and is an upgrade to the internal one, my issue is, when installing SUSE 7.1 it prompts you to load modules as required, the later versions dont offer this, so the machine then fails to find the disks, can't work this out at all.

Second, at what point does the SMP need to be enabled, is it an install config selection of is this run after all is installed, i don't recall being prompted with this option.

All replies gratefully received.

Simes

musicman_ace · 10-04-2006, 02:52 PM

Boot a live CD and get the output of lspci and lsmod so you can figure out which kernel module your scsi card uses.
As I stated, once your system is installed with a uniprocessor enabled kernel, then create a second kernel for SMP, but don't worry about SMP during installation. The steps for compiling a kernel are well documented and littered throughout the internet. Google for it and you'll come up with the instructions. If you can't find a better guide, this idiot http://adamcarnahan.com/linux/KernelCompile.html has a guide.