Re: What is the truth about Linux 2.4's RAM limitations?

Timur Tabi
2001-07-10T17:01:46Z

Jesse Pollard wrote:

>>So what are the limits without using PAE? Here I'm still having a little
>>problem finding definitive answers but ...
>>
>3 GB. Final answers are in the FAQ, and have been discussed before. You can
>also look in the Intel 80x86 CPU specifications.
>
>The only way to exceed current limits is via some form of segment register usage
>which will require a different compiler and a replacement of the memory
>architecture of x86 Linux implementation.
>

Are you talking about using 48-bit pointers?

(48-bit pointers, aka 16:32 pointers, on x86 are basically "far 32-bit
pointers". That is, each pointer is stored as a 48-bit value, where 16
bits are for the selector/segment, and 32 bits are for the offset.

--
Timur Tabi
Interactive Silicon