Running Linux on x86-64
von
Bo Thorsen
SuSE Labs
Bo Thorsen works on the port of binutils and gcc to x86-64 for SuSE. He holds a masters degree in Computer Science from University of Southern Denmark and is an experienced public speaker about various Linux related topics.
Linux has now almost completely been ported to the upcoming x86-64
architecture from AMD, code-named "Hammer". As recently demonstrated in public,
the prototype Hammer systems are now running a native SuSE Linux. The
talk will be based on my experiences as a member of the team that ported
Linux to the x86-64.
The structure of the talk will be twofold. The first part will
concentrate on the new
hardware. This part will give an overview of what the chips have in
them, what is on a Hammer motherboard, how the bus/memory architecture
is structured, how 1, 2 or 4-processor systems are built, etc. The second
part will deal with running Linux on the system. This will include
the benefits of this system to users compared to present
systems, the port of the system, and writing applications for
the new architecture.
I have asked AMD for permission to do the talk on a prototype Hammer
system, but they have not been able to make any promises to date.