Hp 64-Bit Linux Workstation Family; Amd-64 Technology; Intel's Extended Memory 64 Technology; X86_64 Technology - HP xw3400 User Manual

HP 64-bit Linux Workstation Family

HP now supports AMD64-based workstations to complement HP's existing three 64-bit capable
workstations based on Intel's EM64T technology. Supporting advanced features such as two full
performance PCI-express x16 graphics cards, and up to four graphics displays, and NVIDIA's SLI
graphics acceleration capability, the AMD64-based workstations from HP deliver new leadership
fucntionality. Of course, 64-bit Red Hat Enterprise Linux is available across HP's workstation product
line (both Intel and AMD platforms... both 32-bit and 64-bit). HP's lineup of Intel and AMD products
on Red Hat Linux provides HP customers with a very broad 64-bit Linux workstation product offering.

AMD-64 Technology

AMD created the 64-bit extensions to the x86 architecture, coined x86_64, and supports it across the
Opteron processor family. AMD has defined these extensions to be a logical superset of the x86
architecture and thus 32-bit applications will still run on a 64-bit OS. This provides a very good
compatibility story that other 64-bit architectures have not enjoyed.

Intel's Extended Memory 64 Technology

EM64T, Intel's Extended Memory 64 Technology, is an enhancement to Intel's IA32 architecture that
allows the processor to run newly compiled 64-bit code and access larger amounts of memory.
EM64T is derived from and compatible with the AMD64 extensions that AMD has already made to
the x86 architecture (x86_64). This enables all user-level 64-bit programs compiled for AMD64 to
also run on EM64T, and programs compiled on EM64T will also run on AMD64 provided the code
was not compiled with special Intel or AMD options. EM64T is supported across all the Intel-based HP
Workstations, which includes the HP xw4300, xw6400, and xw8400 Workstations.

x86_64 Technology

These x86_64 extensions include extended memory addressability by way of 64-bit pointers, 64-bit
general purpose registers and 128-bit XMM registers, eight additional general purpose registers, and
double precision integer support. A new extended IA-32 mode will allow 32-bit and 64-bit
applications to run simultaneously on the same 64-bit OS.

Linux OS Support for 64-Bit

Red Hat has added OS support for 64-bit processors from Intel and AMD in the Red Hat Enterprise
Linux WS 3, Update 2 (RHEL WS 3), and subsequent RHEL 3 updates. RHEL 4 (all updates) also
supports 64-bit. There is both a 64-bit and 32-bit version of the OS, and only the 64-bit version is
capable of running 64-bit code. None of Red Hat's previous OS versions have 64-bit support for the
Intel and AMD x86_64 processors. The 64-bit RHEL 3 box-set from Red Hat can be purchased from
HP with the workstation. The HP Installer Kit for Linux should be ordered or downloaded from the HP
support Web site (www.hp.com/go/workstationsupport) to complement Red Hat's 64-bit box-set. The
Installer Kit provides the needed graphics drivers and other HP content. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
64-bit is the only preinstalled Linux OS that is available for all the current HP workstations.
The other Linux distributions are also supporting 64-bit versions. Other 64-bit certifications like
Mandrakelinux 10.0 will be posted on HP's Linux website. To see the certifications for Red Hat and
other Linux distributions, go to www.hp.com/linux and select "Certified and supported matrices."
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