Linux and Dual CPU's

[deoblo1]

I am running dual Pentium III's and by defualt the smp kernel is installed. However when I view kde system gaurd, I notice that only one CPU is being used. Is there a way to tell a program to run on CPU1 insted of CPU0. Because at the current time, CPU1 is unused. Oh yeah it's Suse 8.2 Pro.

[Kasracer]

recompile kernel with multi cpu support

[deoblo1]

is't that what the smp kernel is? the smp kernel to my understanding is for multi cpu support

[VisionIT]

Yep... SMP (Symetric Multi-Processing)

Whack "Linux SMP" into google, and it shows thousands of results.

kasracer... why does he need to recompile the kernel?

[Lightning]

The kernel needs to be re-compiled because most PCs have only 1 processor, so the multi-proc option has no use. So default it is turned off.

[mastermind94]

yea i have a IBM IntelliStation with Dual PII and i cant get dual processor either.. i dont know much about linux. [still learning] so how do i compile the kernel with SMP?

[Lightning]

If you're using RedHat, there is in the "start menu" somewhere a option think think Kernel tuning or Kernel options It might be in there somewhere, and that tool can recompile the kernel

[mastermind94]

i'm on ***** linux (mandrake)
there are options for kernel is Linuxconf but, none says "recompile"... i'll check it out when i get out of this office..
thx

[deoblo1]

Originally posted by VisionIT
Yep... SMP (Symetric Multi-Processing)

Whack "Linux SMP" into google, and it shows thousands of results.

kasracer... why does he need to recompile the kernel?

If the kernel is already set up for multi-processing, why do we have to recompile? Why does't this os just use both cpu's then like it should, like a normal os should. All of the documents just give info about programming for multi cpu's. it shows i have both of them, it shows the specs on the other one, it just does't use it. I guess you can say i am hoping linux would act like windows for once, and use both cpu's insted of know the other one is there, and just not use it.

[Kasracer]

Originally posted by VisionIT
kasracer... why does he need to recompile the kernel?

I'm still new with Linux but I had to compile my Gentoo kernel 4 times within 2 days trying to get the ***** to work. Turns out gcc 3.2.3 was being the gays.

Anyway, there were options to turn on smp kernel or whatever, but under the CPU menu in the kernel config you had to select to use them both.

Dunno how it is on other Linux distros though.

Just wanna say Mandrake really sucks and RedHat 9 blows chunks.