February 11, 2010
Ubuntu desktop x86 issue: 3Gb RAM only, no PAE support
Upgraded RAM to 4Gb, just noticed that only 3Gb is used by Ubuntu 8.10 x86 desktop, because it has Ubuntu Desktop kernel (the default one) which has no PAE support.
We see in this desktop open-source Ubuntu world the same ugly issue as when using Windows XP: either use much more stable 32-bit (x86) applications and face the inability of using whole 4Gb RAM or go into experimenting with 64-bit apps and have your whole >=4GB RAM used.
So, if you want to use 4Gb RAM or more in your 32bit Ubuntu - you have 2 options:
* either install "server kernel" (which is not optimized for desktop usage and it has issues with third party drivers and the server kernel, especifically, nvidia video adapter drivers), or
* rebuild desktop kernel by yourself (and do it on any kernel update which happens some each month or two).
Welcome to the open-source: Ubuntu have all their own branch of kernel, but do not support PAE there.
I'll try to switch to server kernel and see what happen.
PS I'm thinking of switching workstation from ubuntu to centos or fedora core 12 (btw, it has Gnome by default now!).
We see in this desktop open-source Ubuntu world the same ugly issue as when using Windows XP: either use much more stable 32-bit (x86) applications and face the inability of using whole 4Gb RAM or go into experimenting with 64-bit apps and have your whole >=4GB RAM used.
So, if you want to use 4Gb RAM or more in your 32bit Ubuntu - you have 2 options:
* either install "server kernel" (which is not optimized for desktop usage and it has issues with third party drivers and the server kernel, especifically, nvidia video adapter drivers), or
* rebuild desktop kernel by yourself (and do it on any kernel update which happens some each month or two).
Welcome to the open-source: Ubuntu have all their own branch of kernel, but do not support PAE there.
I'll try to switch to server kernel and see what happen.
PS I'm thinking of switching workstation from ubuntu to centos or fedora core 12 (btw, it has Gnome by default now!).
Comments:
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I was always wandered why XP uses only 3GB of 4GB installed. Could you explain?
Using 64-bit distribution is the same level option as both you mentioned. For me recompiling kernel for PAE support is an area of expirement, but 64-bit just works.
When using custom kernel it is not necessary to rebuild with every update.
Using 64-bit distribution is the same level option as both you mentioned. For me recompiling kernel for PAE support is an area of expirement, but 64-bit just works.
When using custom kernel it is not necessary to rebuild with every update.
# posted by 
: 7:19 AM, February 12, 2010
: 7:19 AM, February 12, 2010
Did you read about 32bit addressing issues in PAE article at wikipedia I posted the link to?
As for 64bit, I heard about Adobe Flash which does not "just work" as well as some other surprises ;-) maybe I'm wrong? Do you use 64bit?
BTW, yesterday tried FC12 and liked it very much as they switched to gnome from a buggy kde4 ;-)
As for 64bit, I heard about Adobe Flash which does not "just work" as well as some other surprises ;-) maybe I'm wrong? Do you use 64bit?
BTW, yesterday tried FC12 and liked it very much as they switched to gnome from a buggy kde4 ;-)
Tellary,
on your question about RAM limits on windows:
this article has such point of view that 32bit windows nt4+ (2000 and up) os can actually work with memory of more than 4Gb ram, but MS syntetically limited it to 4Gb to move users to 64bit architecture. Maybe, to help selling 64bit processors and so on.
this ms kb article is about PAE mechanisms and ram limits
and this also ms kb article is about enabling >3gb support in windows 2000 and 2003 server.
And I have very simple question to you: is it possible to run 32bit compiled apps in 64bit os (linux/windows)?
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on your question about RAM limits on windows:
this article has such point of view that 32bit windows nt4+ (2000 and up) os can actually work with memory of more than 4Gb ram, but MS syntetically limited it to 4Gb to move users to 64bit architecture. Maybe, to help selling 64bit processors and so on.
this ms kb article is about PAE mechanisms and ram limits
and this also ms kb article is about enabling >3gb support in windows 2000 and 2003 server.
And I have very simple question to you: is it possible to run 32bit compiled apps in 64bit os (linux/windows)?
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