Hi,
The push-back from upstream is that they're unconvinced anyone is
actually using i386 for MPI.
For example, MPI is configured to use PMIx but its thought that doesn't
work on 32-bit, but no bugs have been reported.
Either we increase our 32-bit testing regime, or realistically consider
it marginal and dying.
Currently I'm favouring accepting a move to 64-bit OpenMPI as a fait
accompli as part of code cleanups for 5.X (post Bookworm), and Debian
moving to MPICH on at least 32-bit archs - I'd favour OpenMPI on 64-bit
archs for better incoming-code-and-compatability support.
I'd like to hear the case otherwise.
Best regards
Alastair
On 07/02/2023 20:22, Kingsley G. Morse Jr. wrote:
Hi Alastair,
Thanks for relaying OpenMPI's upstream
maintainer's interest in our opinions on
maintaining 32 bit support.
My humble comments are
1.) 32 bit hardware can be more secure because
it's so old it predates back doors known as
Intel's Management Engine[1] and
AMD's Platform Secure Processor[2]
2.) and I'm OK with reporting bugs.
Thanks again,
Kingsley
[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Management_Engine#Security_vulnerabilities
[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Platform_Security_Processor#Reported_vulnerabilities
On 02/07/2023 09:54, Alastair McKinstry wrote:
Hi
I've been pinged by the upstream maintainer of OpenMPI Jefff Squyres as
to our opinions on maintaining 32-bit support.
See a thread here: https://github.com/open-mpi/ompi/pull/11282
Until now I've asked for OMPI to hold off going to 64-bit only; saying we
can help with the maintenance burden with our testing infrastructure.
But we're not well suited to run multi-node test jobs.
If 32-bit support is dropped in OMPI we can switch to MPICH as the default
on those archs instead, but the core problem remains: how much can we
support and test on 32-bit?
(Note: We're at OpenMPI 4.1.4 now for Bookworm; no change planned)
Comments please,
Alastair McKinstry
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Alastair McKinstry,
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--
Alastair McKinstry,
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