If the kernel is aware of multiple CPU's (compiled with SMP support) it will load balance applications and threads across CPU's, even if the application isn't explictly SMP aware. So if you are doing a massive calculation in a spread sheet, in a dual cpu machine, the load is shared to both CPU's so that things like the mouse still are functional. In a single CPU system, the mouse would become jerky and unresponsive.
In the future, (kernel 2.6+) CPU affinity will be introduced, this will allow people to bind processes to specific CPU's, not really useful for LTSP but great for scientific computing. So to answer your question, the kernel handles all the process/cpu balancing for most general applications so that they don't have to worry about it. It benefits to have a multi-threaded application because then the cpu has more "pieces" of the program, and it becomes easier to allocate them around to resources. --Donald On Wed, 12 Jun 2002, Joey Officer wrote: > Regarding this matter, I was reading over the SMP FAQ/HOW-TO and one of the > things that was talked about was not being able to automagically thread user > space programs. I'm not a programmer, but I would assume that most of the > applications that the general public uses is not optimized for SMP machines. > The linux kernel is/can be, but concerning the X server, is XFree86 > optimized for use in a multiprocessor machine to allow for the extra work? > Also, how about the office applications, are they written for use in a > multi-user enviroment. I guess what I'm really asking, is there a > performance increase when using a multiprocessor machine? Is the code > optimized to use both processors? > > joey > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jim > Wildman > Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 8:31 AM > To: Romain Surleau > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Ltsp-discuss] Dual CPU > > > The installation/boot process should detect the dual cpu's and just > work. You will probably be given the choice (by Grub) of 2 kernels to > boot, one with 'smp' and one without. Take the smp one, that's for > multiprocessors. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Jim Wildman, CISSP [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.rossberry.com > > On Wed, 12 Jun 2002, Romain Surleau wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > I have now tested ltsp on a few stations with happyness, and would > > like to install it completely in my department. > > My question is : is there something special to do if my server has > > two CPUs ? Is it a good idea to do this on that machine (dual PIII > > 550 Mhz) ? > > > > Thanks. > > Romain Surleau > > Centre de Langues - Université de Bourgogne > > http://nemo.u-bourgogne.fr/ > > > > > > _______________________________________________________________ > > > > Sponsored by: > > ThinkGeek at http://www.ThinkGeek.com/ > > _____________________________________________________________________ > > Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss > > For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net > > > > > _______________________________________________________________ > > Sponsored by: > ThinkGeek at http://www.ThinkGeek.com/ > _____________________________________________________________________ > Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss > For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net > > > > _______________________________________________________________ > > Sponsored by: > ThinkGeek at http://www.ThinkGeek.com/ > _____________________________________________________________________ > Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss > For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net > -- Donald Z. Cowart -- System Administrator Children's Oncology Group -- Research Data Center 104 N. Main Street, Gainesville, Fl 32601 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (G)AIM: slackfive ---- CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this electronic message is legally privileged and confidential and intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity(ies) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this email or any of it's components is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender. ---- _______________________________________________________________ Sponsored by: ThinkGeek at http://www.ThinkGeek.com/ _____________________________________________________________________ Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net
