Difference between revisions of "Different kernel flavors (UP, SMP, ENTERPRISE, ENTNOSPLIT)"

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(RHEL6-based kernels)
 
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OpenVZ project releases several different precompiled kernels for each version. Which kernel to choose depends on what hardware do you have. The table below describes the cases when it is better to use each of these kernels.
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OpenVZ project releases several different precompiled kernels for each version. Which kernel to choose depends on what hardware you have. The table below describes the cases when it is better to use each of these kernels.
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 +
== RHEL6-based kernels ==
 +
 
 +
RHEL6 kernels come in single flavor only which is SMP and PAE (for 32bit) enabled. This is because nowadays it's hard to find machines with single core CPUs and less than 4GB RAM.
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{{Note|RHEL6 kernels no longer support enterprise versions of 32bit kernels with 4/4GB split, which limits 32bit version.}}
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== RHEL5-based kernels ==
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Kernel flavors list'''
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|+'''i686 kernel flavors list'''
 
! Kernel type !! Description !! Hardware !! Use case
 
! Kernel type !! Description !! Hardware !! Use case
 
|-
 
|-
! UP
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! i686 UP
 
| uniprocessor
 
| uniprocessor
 
| up to 4GB of RAM
 
| up to 4GB of RAM
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
! SMP
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! i686 SMP
 
| symmetric multiprocessor
 
| symmetric multiprocessor
 
| up to 4 GB of RAM
 
| up to 4 GB of RAM
| 10-20 VPSs
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| 10-20 [[Container]]s
 
|-
 
|-
! entnosplit/PAE
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! i686 entnosplit/PAE
 
| SMP + PAE support
 
| SMP + PAE support
 
| up to 64 GB of RAM
 
| up to 64 GB of RAM
| 10-30 VPSs
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| 10-30 [[Container]]s
 
|-
 
|-
! enterprise
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! i686 enterprise/ent
 
| SMP + PAE support + 4/4GB split
 
| SMP + PAE support + 4/4GB split
 
| up to 64 GB of RAM
 
| up to 64 GB of RAM
| >20-30 VPSs
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| >20 [[Container]]s
 
|}
 
|}
  
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{{Note|Use <tt>rpm -ihv</tt> command for ovzkernel RPM installation. Please do not use the <tt>rpm -Uhv</tt> command to install the kernel, otherwise all the previously installed kernels may be removed from your system.}}
 
{{Note|Use <tt>rpm -ihv</tt> command for ovzkernel RPM installation. Please do not use the <tt>rpm -Uhv</tt> command to install the kernel, otherwise all the previously installed kernels may be removed from your system.}}
  
{{Note|When using a <b>64-bit</b> processor <b>and</b> operating system, you need only select the SMP or non-SMP version. 64-bit linux can access the entire 64Gb of ram in ZONE_NORMAL (low memory).  PAE and 4GB/4GB splitting are only needed for 32-bit OS, and so are not necessary and are disabled by default in 64-bit kernels.}}
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{{Note|When using a <b>64-bit</b> processor <b>and</b> operating system, you need only select the SMP or non-SMP version. With the Redhat repos this will be ''ovzkernel.x86_64''. 64-bit linux can access the entire RAM in ZONE_NORMAL (low memory).  PAE and 4GB/4GB splitting is only needed for 32-bit OS, and so are not necessary and are disabled by default in 64-bit kernels.}}
  
New RHEL5 based kernel uses different flavors naming. I.e.
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New RHEL5 based kernel uses different flavors naming:
* UP kernel is no longer provided  
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* '''UP''' kernel is no longer provided  
* SMP kernel comes without any flavor (like old UP)
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* '''SMP''' kernel comes without any flavor (like old UP)
* entnosplit kernel comes as PAE  
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* '''entnosplit''' kernel comes as '''PAE '''
* enterprise kernel comes as ent
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* '''enterprise''' kernel comes as '''ent'''
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* '''ovzkernel.x86_64''' for 64-bit
  
 
[[Category: Kernel]]
 
[[Category: Kernel]]
[[Category: Need Categorization]]
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[[Category: Installation]]

Latest revision as of 19:50, 2 December 2012

OpenVZ project releases several different precompiled kernels for each version. Which kernel to choose depends on what hardware you have. The table below describes the cases when it is better to use each of these kernels.

RHEL6-based kernels[edit]

RHEL6 kernels come in single flavor only which is SMP and PAE (for 32bit) enabled. This is because nowadays it's hard to find machines with single core CPUs and less than 4GB RAM.

Yellowpin.svg Note: RHEL6 kernels no longer support enterprise versions of 32bit kernels with 4/4GB split, which limits 32bit version.

RHEL5-based kernels[edit]

i686 kernel flavors list
Kernel type Description Hardware Use case
i686 UP uniprocessor up to 4GB of RAM
i686 SMP symmetric multiprocessor up to 4 GB of RAM 10-20 Containers
i686 entnosplit/PAE SMP + PAE support up to 64 GB of RAM 10-30 Containers
i686 enterprise/ent SMP + PAE support + 4/4GB split up to 64 GB of RAM >20 Containers


These kernels are optimized for these types of hardware configurations and usage scenarios, so choosing the right kernel can help to boost performance by about 5 to 15 per cent.

Yellowpin.svg Note: Use rpm -ihv command for ovzkernel RPM installation. Please do not use the rpm -Uhv command to install the kernel, otherwise all the previously installed kernels may be removed from your system.
Yellowpin.svg Note: When using a 64-bit processor and operating system, you need only select the SMP or non-SMP version. With the Redhat repos this will be ovzkernel.x86_64. 64-bit linux can access the entire RAM in ZONE_NORMAL (low memory). PAE and 4GB/4GB splitting is only needed for 32-bit OS, and so are not necessary and are disabled by default in 64-bit kernels.

New RHEL5 based kernel uses different flavors naming:

  • UP kernel is no longer provided
  • SMP kernel comes without any flavor (like old UP)
  • entnosplit kernel comes as PAE
  • enterprise kernel comes as ent
  • ovzkernel.x86_64 for 64-bit