32 bit Ubuntu on 12GB Opteron?

Asked by km

We want to run a 32 bit Ubuntu kernel on a 12GB dual processor Opteron server (Sun V20Z). The box is going to serve remote desktops (Sunray) and there are some driver issues that dictate a 32 bit kernel.

Is this possible and still make use of the 12GB (with 4GB limits per address space)?

We tried booting the standard desktop Gutsy 32 bit distribution disk, and the boot fails falling into an initramfs prompt. Do we need a different distribution disk?

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Aside from the 32 bit issue, is a desktop or server distribution appropriate? It needs to serve full featured remote desktop , but will mainly be a client for other services.

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Jim J (morlockhq) said :
#1

There is a server version of Ubuntu available, if I recall. You may be able to install it from the alternate install CD.

I am not sure how much memory that it can address, however.

My understanding is that the 2.6 Kernel of Linux supports Physical Address Extensions as long as the underlying hardware is PAE enabled. More about PAE here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extension

So you may be able to use 32 bit Ubuntu (I would recommend a server install) and then recompile the kernel to turn on the PAE support.

If this is beyond you, I bet you can get some help from Canonical Support on a per incident or per project basis. Canonical's Support listings can be found here: http://canonical.com/services

They also offer custom engineering.

I hope this helps

Jim

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