AMD's Hammer Has Got Linux Backing Nailed: SuSe et al.

[AGodspeed]

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-847712.html

Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices said Thursday that it expects the next major public update for the Linux operating system to include support for the company's x86-64 technology--the basis for its next generation of processors, known as the Hammer family.

The Linux updates for x86-64 support will come from SuSE, one of the top Linux developers and distributors, AMD said. SuSE has submitted updates for x84-64 to the Linux community, and AMD expects that the updates will become part of the upcoming Linux 2.6 kernel. The kernel is constructed by several top programmers, including Linux inventor Linus Torvalds, and is the foundation of the open-source operating system.

But Linux support will be critical for AMD's next Hammer chip, Sledgehammer, to gain traction with corporations that buy large numbers of servers. Increasing sales to corporations has been a major goal for AMD. Taking advantage of Linux, which has been enjoying a surge in popularity in the server arena, could be one way to do so.

The 3rd paragraph is the most vital for SledgeHammer's existence obviously. ClawHammer will run all of today's 32-bit OS's just fine, so desktop acceptance in the mainstream won't be the problem. However, WinXP-64 support will be a problem...

 

[NFS4]

I hope that AMD gets their at together and gets Microsoft support.

B/C I am NOT using Linux:disgust:

 

[AGodspeed]

<< I hope that AMD gets their at together and gets Microsoft support.

B/C I am NOT using Linux:disgust: >>

AMD just needs MS support for 64-bit land (WinXP-64). ClawHammer is going to run current 32-bit MS OS's (like WinXP) just fine. I don't know about the distant 64-bit future though.

 

[vash]

AMD needs to buddy up with MS as much as Intel has. AMD needs to release the 64bit plugin to VSS and then you'll see more people adopting the 64bit code.

vash

 

[Armitage]

Anybody else find it disapointing that they are targeting the 2.6 kernel series?
If the path to 2.4 is any indication, 2.6 won't be stable until a year after hammer is released.

 

[Armitage]

<< AMD needs to buddy up with MS as much as Intel has. AMD needs to release the 64bit plugin to VSS and then you'll see more people adopting the 64bit code.
vash >>



What AMD should really invest in is the gcc development community. If gcc developed really kick-a$$ optimization for AMD chips, alot of the linux community might swing that way. As it is, intel may be picking up some market share due to the impressive performance of their compiler.

 

[Rand]

<<

<< AMD needs to buddy up with MS as much as Intel has. AMD needs to release the 64bit plugin to VSS and then you'll see more people adopting the 64bit code.
vash >>



What AMD should really invest in is the gcc development community. If gcc developed really kick-a$$ optimization for AMD chips, alot of the linux community might swing that way. As it is, intel may be picking up some market share due to the impressive performance of their compiler. >>



I completely agree, compiler development for AMD processors is alckluster to say the least. Proper optimizations would likely yield huge dividends just as it has so many times in the past for Intel.

 

[Athlon4all]

<< I hope that AMD gets their at together and gets Microsoft support.

B/C I am NOT using Linux:disgust: >>

Totally agree. Hopefully they will get MS support.

 

[smp]

Let the AMD + Linux VS. MS + Intel battle begin!!!

Why is XP support sketchy? Is it because Intel is in bed with MS ??? I'm actually just asking because I don't know .. not because I'm trying to start flames.

 

[staticfly]

64bit xp is in the works, its alpha stage now. Ouch.

Then again, most major bugs win winxp probably won't change when going to 32bit.

They don't have to redesign the os, just "port" it to 64 bit. It will probably be done by the time the hammer comes out in september/november.

 

[Armitage]

<< 64bit xp is in the works, its alpha stage now. Ouch.

Then again, most major bugs win winxp probably won't change when going to 32bit.

They don't have to redesign the os, just "port" it to 64 bit. It will probably be done by the time the hammer comes out in september/november. >>



Linkage?

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< Anybody else find it disapointing that they are targeting the 2.6 kernel series?
If the path to 2.4 is any indication, 2.6 won't be stable until a year after hammer is released. >>



And thats if they can get it released by then!

 

[AGodspeed]

The ZDNET article mentions that they just might support x86-64 in version 2.4 instead of 2.6 depending on the timing so...

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< The ZDNET article mentions that they just might support x86-64 in version 2.4 instead of 2.6 depending on the timing so... >>



I would hope so! 2.4 took what? A year atleast? Wasnt it pushed back a few times? It seems kind of silly to postpone releases like Linus, MS, and others have done. But if they dont push them back and release without all the pretty features that everyone wants we get to hear a bunch of complaints *sigh*

Anyhow, MS will port Windows Whatever to this platform. I dont think anyone should doubt that. Then gamers can be happy so they can blow up another nazi or whatever it is they do.

 

[vash]

<< What AMD should really invest in is the gcc development community. If gcc developed really kick-a$$ optimization for AMD chips, alot of the linux community might swing that way. As it is, intel may be picking up some market share due to the impressive performance of their compiler. >>

As much as I do agree that investing time into GCC would be a good idea, they should really be focusing on the operating system that has more applications written for it AND where its compiler plugins would reach onto more desktops.

Linux is a fine and dandy OS for server and workstation use, but lets face facts: most users don't run Linux, nor will they ever run Linux. Microsoft still owns the desktop works (in the server world, its very different) and this is where AMD's chip can do the most good. Sure, the chip is 64bit, but its new architecture will show good gains on existing applications, so its a worthwhile thing for everyone to use.

A great GCC compiler will do wonders for the *nix community, but that community is a smaller community than the one running Win9x/ME/2k/XP. Even the more technically smart community (read: *nix), cannot argue with the desktop penetration of Microsoft's products.

vash

 

[Armitage]

<<

<< What AMD should really invest in is the gcc development community. If gcc developed really kick-a$$ optimization for AMD chips, alot of the linux community might swing that way. As it is, intel may be picking up some market share due to the impressive performance of their compiler. >>

As much as I do agree that investing time into GCC would be a good idea, they should really be focusing on the operating system that has more applications written for it AND where its compiler plugins would reach onto more desktops.

Linux is a fine and dandy OS for server and workstation use, but lets face facts: most users don't run Linux, nor will they ever run Linux. Microsoft still owns the desktop works (in the server world, its very different) and this is where AMD's chip can do the most good. Sure, the chip is 64bit, but its new architecture will show good gains on existing applications, so its a worthwhile thing for everyone to use.

A great GCC compiler will do wonders for the *nix community, but that community is a smaller community than the one running Win9x/ME/2k/XP. Even the more technically smart community (read: *nix), cannot argue with the desktop penetration of Microsoft's products.

vash >>




Sure, I'm just being selfish
Of course gcc is available for windows also.