> Ben Collins wrote: > > > >The problem is specific to any arch where the userspace and kernel run > >different bitness. Like sparc64, where userland is 32bit (same for > >ppc64, mips64 and some other arch's atleast for a short time). > > > >Ioctl's from userspace have to be translated in this case from 32bit to > >64bit. Those translations have to be done by someone, and no one has > >tried it yet.
I'm showing my ignorance here, but I'd really like to know: Is it so bad to just run a 32 bit kernel on on a sparc64 box? I know that with the solaris kernel you're actually going to lose performance in more cases where you'll gain it by booting the 64-bit kernel. Of course everyone runs the solaris 64-bit kernel on ultrasparc, and the decreases (if any) aren't likely to be perceptible anyways. I currently run the 64-bit Linux kernel on my 10 or so ultrasparc boxes running debian, but am I actually gaining anything? I realize the instruction set expanded with ultrasparc, so let's for argument's sake compare 32 and 64-bit kernels compiled with the v9 instruction set on ultrasparc. Sorry if this is something basic that I should know. -- Nate Campi http://www.campin.net "The secret source of humour itself is not joy, but sorrow. There is no humour in heaven." - Samuel Clemens