You know the operating system that supports dual-core and multi-channel CPUs

The operating system (English, keyboard-based system, or OS) is a program that manages computer hardware and software resources and is also the kernel and cornerstone of a computer system. Operating systems have such basic services as managing and configuring memory, prioritizing the supply and demand of system resources, controlling input and output devices, operating networks, and managing file systems.

Operating system is the management of computer system of all the hardware resources, including software resources and data resources, control program operation, improve Man-machine interface, provide support for other application software, so that all resources of computer system to maximize the role, to provide users with convenient, effective and friendly service interface. Operating system is a huge management control program, roughly including 5 aspects of management functions: process and processor management, job management, storage management, equipment management, file management. At present, the common operating systems on microcomputers are DOS, powering, UNIX, XENIX, LINUX, Windows, NetWare and so on. But all operating systems have four basic features of concurrency, sharing, virtualization, and uncertainty.

The operating system is very diverse, and the OS installed by different machines can be from simple to complex, from the embedded system of the handset to the large operating system of the supercomputer. Many OS makers also have inconsistent definitions of the OS, such as some OS-integrated graphical user interfaces, while some OS use only text interfaces and view the graphical interface as an unnecessary application.

Operating system theory is a long and active branch in computer science, while the design and implementation of operating system is the foundation and kernel of software industry.

Before discussing this issue, you must first understand the difference between the dual-core processor and the processor's multipath symmetry:

In short, the dual core is the integration of two computing cores on a silicon crystal element, thereby increasing the computational power; multi-core is the integration of multiple computing cores onto a silicon wafer. In fact, dual-core and multi-core processors are not new concepts. IBM, Hewlett-Packard Company at the end of last century, put forward the concept of dual-core processor, and launched the corresponding products. such as IBM's power processor, HP's P A-8 8 0 0 processors. At the end of last year, Sun also launched the 8-kernel SPARC UltraSPARC T1 processor. Currently, dual-core technology has been widely used in X86 processors, such as the latest Intel and AMD processors are dual-core. At the same time, many OEM vendors have also launched a dual-core X86 processor-based servers, desktops and notebook products. In the 2006, dual-core products became the mainstream of the market has become a fact.

Multiple-symmetric (SMP) is a system of two CPUs with the same model and capable of supporting SMP technology. The full name of SMP is "symmetric multiprocessing" (symmetrical multi-processing), which refers to pooling a set of processors (multiple CPUs) on a single computer, sharing the memory subsystem between CPUs, and the bus structure. It is a widely used parallel technology in the relative asymmetric and multi processing technology. In this architecture, with multiple processors running a single copy of the operating system, and sharing memory and other resources of a computer, the system distributes the task queues symmetrically across multiple CPUs, greatly improving the data processing capabilities of the entire system. All processors have equal access to memory, I/O, and external interrupts. In symmetric multiprocessing systems, system resources are shared by all CPUs in the system, and workloads can be distributed evenly over all available processors. What we call the dual CPU system is actually the most common form of symmetric multi-processor system, which is often used in the mainstream X86 server and graphics workstation field.

The simplest argument, dual core = 1 CPU two cores, dual = two symmetrical CPU (this CPU can also be a dual-core CPU), but the use of a dual-core CPU is not considered to constitute a dual-circuit system, there are still some differences between the two.

The big question for most users is that if I buy a dual-core server system or a dual-channel server system, what operating system do I need to install to support this kind of server?

Today is the answer to this puzzle.

First, although dual-core is a hot technology in the last 2 years, but the operating system for dual-core support is very easy to solve, because the dual-core is different from 64 bits, it and the operating system is not connected, we usually download things, while chatting, while listening to music is a multitasking process, The dual core can be understood to be optimized for doing multiple tasks at the same time, the better explanation, of course, is that as long as the operating system supports multitasking, the dual core works, and our day-to-day operating systems support multitasking, from classic Windows 98 to the current mainstream of Windows XP, Users do not even need to install a server version of the operating system to support the dual-core processor, only DOS this classic single task operating system can not support dual-core. So, rather than what operating systems are needed to support a dual core, it's better to have a relationship. The motherboard supports dual-core processors more practical.

Well, why there are many online reports that XX software developers to support the Intel, AMD dual-core operating system, in fact, this argument is ambiguous, because AMD and Intel dual-core processors are 64-bit, in the previous operating system can not run in 64-bit mode, can only run 32-bit compatibility mode , software developers are launching new operating systems to support 64-bit processors, and, of course, do not rule out that developers will improve the efficiency of multitasking to better support dual-core technology.

Then there is the problem of multiple roads. To support dual-and multiple-path servers, you must install the appropriate operating system. For example, if you install Windows Professional, you will not be able to obtain dual SMP support, you must choose Windows Server, and of course choose Windows Advanced Server, But the price is more expensive.

If the wording is more complex, you can see the table below is very clear:

If it is Linux to do the operating system, then the situation is more complex, because Linux is open source, by different software developers have several versions, so different versions of different developers can support the number of SMP is different, the specific situation can be purchased when the sales staff, in addition, the need to specifically note that, Linux in the purchase of a server version of the time there is a separate similar to the license (authentication), users can choose according to the number of processors in their own server to buy the corresponding license, generally based on the physical CPU as the standard, but after the launch of dual-core, license calculation method is also some controversy , some software developers insist on charging a dual-core processor at a price of two CPUs.

While dual core does not require good operating system support, as with SMP systems, choosing an efficient OS is a better way to perform the server's performance, so whether you're buying a dual-core server or a dual-server, the choice of the operating system is also important.