Installing linux on a dual cpu box - what do I need to know?

[Shag]

I'm getting ready to install Linux on a dual cpu box I have assembled. I don't have much experience with Linux, so I plan to use Mandrake 7.2 for this box. Is there anything special I need to do to make sure Linux recognizes both cpus? Anything else I should be wary of with a dual cpu box?

Any help/advice would be apprecaited.

[ph34r]

You just need a SMP capable kernel - you should get it during install, but if not, then you will need to recompile the kernel.

[Shag]

When you say I should get it during install, do you mean that it should automatically do it? Or, do I have to select it manually?

Once installed, how can I verify that it recognizes both cpus?

[ph34r]

Redhat (which Mandrake is based on) always gave me a smp kernel by default - I imagine that Mandrake will do the same. To make sure it is using both CPU's, try looking at top or gkrellm's output.

[Q-Gdoxl]

Actually neither mandrake 7.2 or red hat 7 dected my dual cpu's. :(

[Shag]

Doh! So, what exactly did you have to do to get it to recognize the other cpu?

[iDxMan]

Originally posted by Shag:
Doh! So, what exactly did you have to do to get it to recognize the other cpu?

As mentioned above, if the default kernel was not compiled with SMP support you must go re-compile the kernel with this feature enabled.

Look under the NHF's for compiling help.


-r

[BobC2]

I installd on my dual 600 with Mandrake 7.2 and it detected both and woerks fine. Much easier install than Win/98 on same pc, as a matter of fact.

BobC