SMP, long time to boot.

acidreign · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:35 pm Post subject: SMP, long time to boot.

Long time reader, few time poster.

Wonder if anyone has had any problems with this setup.

Dual XP 2000+
Tyan MP760 Motherboard
1GB DDR Corsaire ram.

Problem 1)

After the lilo kernel selection screen, "Uncompressing Linux", is slower than when it ran on my pentium 133. I can literally walk to the kitchen, put the the tea on, get a cup out, get the milk out and come back in, and its just about done. (a good 40 seconds).

Problem 2)

Turning the machine off. This one is a doozy. As long as i use software, or the remove the "Jug plug" Standard connector at the back of the PSU, the machine will reboot normally next time i attempt to boot it.

When i use the button on the front of the machine, it will require a BIOS reset to bring the board back from its "dead state". Luckily the gentoo machine doesnt go down often so both problems are not that critical but It would be good if they could be solved. or at least know that someone else is having the problem.

Thanks in advance.

(BTW, psu isn't the problem)

ctford0 · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 10:01 pm Post subject:

I don't think this is a common SMP problem. I have a gigabyte board with Dual 2000+'s and I can literally type reboot and 45 seconds later can login with ssh.... Plus my board is running RAID, which adds to the boot time to detect the array. Don't know what your problem could be.

Chris

ronmon · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:01 am Post subject:

It could be kernel configuration. APM should be off, enhanced real time clock (in Character Devices) should be on. Check everything else for sanity and build a conservative kernel.

If that doesn't do it I would think hardware. In fact, that's what I think it is already, but it's easier to build a new kernel.

Time to double check your BIOS settings and possibly re-seat everything on your motherboard.

As a long time SMP'er, I can tell you that they do not normally boot slowly. Quite the contrary.

Dragon561 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 25 Oct 2002 Posts: 112

Just a tidbit of info. The only the athlon mps can run together, not the xps.

ronmon · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2003 3:06 pm Post subject:

That's a good point, Dragon. I didn't catch that detail in the initial post, but it's easy to fix. Since XP's cost about half as much as MP's, I bought a pair of new XP1800+'s and patched the L5 bridges with the defogger repair kit method. It's quite simple, works like a charm and can save you a bundle.