Re: [Vectorlinux-devel] 64-bit Linux and Kernel 2.6.16

[Tony B. <tb...@gm...>]

On 3/22/06, Sriram Durbha <sri...@gm...> wrote:
>
>
>
> On 3/22/06, Tony Brijeski <tb...@gm...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Kanotix and Kanotix 64 are live cd's that you can install - they were
> > originally based on Knoppix.  I still think the LiveCD with install opt=
ion
> > is the way to go in the future.
> >
> >
> >
> I am so glad you also think like this. unfortunately when i had put this
> idea forth it was in a different thread and did not get enough momentum.
> however, thanks to uel's work, now every one is realizing the benefits of
> liveCD with install option.  also some how our liveCD experience is reall=
y
> not comparable to many others, though our core OS is mileas ahead of othe=
r
> offerings.
> But since this is our first liveCD , we can come across several areas of
> improvement.
>


I've always been a fan of Live CD's.  Thats why I created the first few liv=
e
cd's for VL.  They were as much a selfish venture as they were to allow
people to have a portable VL.  Uel took it one step further by working on
the install portion and that is exactly what was needed.  I would imagine
with the next generation of the kernel - 2.8.x, most of the current VL
userbase will not be able to run it anyway.  Lots are having issues with th=
e
2.6 kernel as it is.  2.8.x will no doubt be optimized and built around the
64-bit platform even though the kernel is a multiarch thing.

as for my thoughts on 64bit.  for a long time to come,  most people will
> still buy 32 bit systems for home/soho use.  but most new systems might b=
e
> multi-core. say after 3 years from now, i would suspect most new machines
> will still be 32 bit but multi core.  For most desktop applications[
> photoshop, media encodeers not included ] 32 bit cpus are more than enoug=
h.
> and the address space too. infact apple did some research and found that
> graphics performance actually slowed down if they made a complete switch =
to
> 64 bit arch.!!
>

Everywhere up here in Canada is selling 64-bit systems as standard right
now.

Intel is the only ones that are staying with 32-bit for now and since apple
is using them, it makes marketing sense for them to say 64-bit isn't as
good.  As far as gaming performance, it has everything to do with the
drivers and nvidia is still having some issues with their drivers but they
are improving.  They do have the EM64T which are basically just P4's that
are cloning AMD64 instruction set.

64-bit AMD's have been here for 3 years already and with Vista just around
the corner, 64-bit will be the standard by years end.

No doubt 32-bit will be around for a while but it will not be the standard.

so we can happily tag along with slack for some time to come.  but ofcourse
> if we do want to make a 64 bit os it would be cool :) ;
> cheers
> ram
>

I have a feeling Slackware will die unless it goes to 64-bit.  Most of the
userbase that has the savvy to run a stock slackware setup will most likely
also be the folks that build their own systems and will be going to 64-bit
soon if not already like myself.  All the reading I have done on 64-bit
distros mainly pointed to SuSE as the best choice.  While it may be easier
than running debian, it was nowhere near as responsive.  Having a 64-bit CP=
U
and seeing what it can do has spoiled me.  I still run SOHO on 2 boxes at
home(wife's laptop - p3-500 and kids desktop - p3 1G) and it runs great.  I
also have it still on my new box as it is completely setup for everything I
need it to do and won't be getting rid of it anytime soon.

The same thing happened when P4 and AthlonXP came out - folks were happy
with their P3's and Athlon's but once they saw the difference and PC vendor=
s
starting only shipping the new CPU's, they were forced to go with them.


To give you an idea of how debian 64-bit linux runs on my humble 64-bit
system, I would liken it to how regular VL with icewm ran on my AthlonXP
2400+ - very quick and almost instant response.  A big difference from SuSE
64-bit.

My main hard drive on my 64-bit system is now about to die and I will be
replacing it with a sata drive which is at least 200GB in size so I will
have lots of "devel" and "play" space.  It will also free up my slave drive
which has SOHO on it for other uses.