smb kernel support

[Mario Vukelic]

On Thu, 2006-11-16 at 17:07 +0100, Joris Dobbelsteen wrote: 
> Skip the links to packages.ubuntu.com, they are completely useless in
> this respect. They absolutely don't answer my question: no single
> indication of capabilities in any way. 

This is certainly true in some cases, but not all. See, e.g.,
http://packages.ubuntu.com/dapper/base/linux-image-2.6.15-27-686 which
clearly says (emphasis mine):

"This package contains the Linux kernel image for version 2.6.15 on
Pentium Pro/Celeron/Pentium II/Pentium III/Pentium IV _with_ _SMP_
_support_, the corresponding System.map file, and the modules built by
the packager."

If you find descriptions missing vital information, a bug report in
Launchpad would surely be warranted.

> That means for 2.6 the 686-smp refers to 686 

In Breezy the multiprocessor support was in a separate -686-smp package,
and uniprocessor kernels were -686. To support Breezy->Dapper upgrades,
there are still 686-smp metapackages in Dapper, but they actually depend
on the same kernel package. E.g.,

linux-686-smp (metapackage) always depends on linux-image-686 which in
turn currently depends on linux-image-2.6.15-27-686.

At the same time, linux-686 (metapackage, without explicit "smp")
depends on the same linux-image-686 and therefore
linux-image-2.6.15-27-686.

> and the k7-smp refers to
> k7.
> I guess there is little need to load the k7 kernel (don't like it to be
> non-standard on upgrades)

Sorry, I have no idea about k7 as I don't use that.

> It basically boils down:
> Installer puts 386 kernel to work.
> For uniprocessors this might be recommended, as its probably the best
> tested (most widely deployed?).

I have no totally hard data but my guess would be that 686 is more
widely installed than 386. Popularity Contest might be helpful here:
http://popcon.ubuntu.com/

> You should install 686 kernel to get SMP support.
> (I don't care about optimizations as much, you get performance from
> smart algorithms. I need reliability.)

Yes, but -386 is only uniproc, -686 also contains multiproc which I thought was your intent.

Kind regards, Mario