This came from USERBLUE_ONLINE Digest for Tuesday, March 11, 2003. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: 32bit processor I am installing Oracle 9i on H50 with AIX 433-10. Is 433-10 capable of 64 bit or how do I turn on the 64 bit processor? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: 32bit processor System Environments Move cursor to desired item and press Enter. Stop the System Assign the Console Change / Show Date and Time Manage Language Environment Change / Show Characteristics of Operating System Change / Show Number of Licensed Users Manage AIX Floating User Licenses for this Server Broadcast Message to all Users Manage System Logs Change / Show Characteristics of System Dump Internet and Documentation Services Change System User Interface Change/Show Default Documentation Language Enable 64-bit Application Environment <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Manage Remote Reboot Facility ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: 32bit processor I do not have that option ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: 32bit processor The H50 is not capable of using the 64-bit kernel. That is why you are not seeing the option to enable the 64-bit kernel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: 32bit processor You can run Oracle 9i using a 64bit application environment even though your kernel is running 32bit. Here is the document that IBM sent me on this very issue. However, I'm not sure about the H50 hardware. Perhaps this will help determine something for you. This document provides general information about 64-bit mode on AIX Version 4.3.3 to 5.1.0. - Filesets needed - Hardware required - Kernel extensions vs. 64-bit kernel - 32-bit and 64-bit performance comparisons ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Filesets needed The bos.64bit is the Base Operating System 64-bit runtime fileset. If bos.64bit is not installed, you do not have the /etc/methods/cfg64 file. Without the /etc/methods/cfg64 file, you will not have the option of enabling or disabling the 64-bit environment via SMIT, which updates the inittab with the load64bit line (simply adding this line does not enable the 64-bit environment). The command lslpp -l bos.64bit will reveal if this fileset is installed. The bos.64bit fileset is on the 4.3.x media, however, installing it does not ensure that you will be able to run 64-bit software. With the bos.64bit fileset installed on non 64-bit hardware, you should be able to compile your 64-bit software; however, you will not be able to run 64-bit programs on your 32-bit hardware. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hardware required You must have 64-bit hardware to run 64-bit applications. At AIX levels 4.3.2 and 4.3.3, to determine whether your system has 32-bit or 64-bit hardware architecture: 1. Log in as root. 2. At the command line, enter: bootinfo -y This produces the output of either 32 or 64, depending on whether the hardware architecture is 32-bit or 64-bit. In addition, if you enter lsattr -El proc0, at any version of AIX, the output of the command should return the type of processor for your server. The types of 64-bit processors are as follows: o PowerPC=5FRS64 o PowerPC=5FRS64 II o PowerPC=5FRS64 III o PowerPC=5FPower3 o PowerPC=5FPower3 II --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kernel extensions vs. 64-bit kernel To determine if the 64-bit kernel extension is loaded, from the command line enter: genkex |grep 64 You should see information similar to the following: 149bf58 a3ec /usr/lib/drivers/syscalls64.ext NOTE: Having the driver extensions, does not mean that the kernel is a 64-bit kernel. A 64-Bit Kernel became available at 5.1 oslevel. The driver extensions just allows the 64-bit application to be compiled by a 32-bit kernel. If the 32-bit kernel has a 64-bit processor, the syscalls64.ext will allow the 64-bit application to execute. Yet at 5.1, a 64-bit kernel and a 64-bit processor has better performance with 64-bit applications. To truly change the kernel to 64-bit, you need to be at the 5.1 oslevel. The means to change to a 64-bit kernel are: From 32-bit to 64-bit: ln -sf /usr/lib/boot/unix=5F64 /unix ln -sf /usr/lib/boot/unix=5F64 /usr/lib/boot/unix lslv -m hd5 bosboot -ad /dev/ipldevice shutdown -Fr To change the kernel back to 32-bit: From 64-bit to 32-bit: ln -sf /usr/lib/boot/unix=5Fmp /unix ln -sf /usr/lib/boot/unix=5Fmp /usr/lib/boot/unix lslv -m hd5 bosboot -ad /dev/ipldevice shutdown -Fr --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32-bit and 64-bit performance comparisons To examine the benefits and drawbacks of going from 32-bit to 64-bit mode and further effects on the system, consult the following, AIX 64-bit Performance in Focus, which is available at IBM Redbooks. In most cases, running 32-bit applications on 64-bit hardware is not a problem, because 64-bit hardware can run both 64-bit and 32-bit software. However, 32-bit hardware cannot run 64-bit software. To find out if any performance issues exist for applications that are running on the system, such as Lotus Notes and Oracle, refer to those application's user guides for their recommended running environment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: 64bit processing If I want to run an application using 64-bit - does the processor need to be 64-bit.