[NMLUG] Using SMP kernel with single CPU?

[mike at garfias.org (Mike Garfias)]

Steve Browne spoke forth with the blessed manuscript:
> I don't see anything on "hyperthreading" re the Athlon XP.

AMD's do not support hyperthreading.

 
> I've been running dual P3s for a long time, but I'm seriously
> considering whether SMP is worth it for my system (not a network
> server) given that SMP severly limits the choice of motherboards for
> an upgrade/update.

SMP systems are wonderful, both as desktops as servers.  You don't need a
server to recognize the benefits of the 2nd CPU (I love building kernels in
under 3 mins).  

> However I've geared my Mandrake 10 installation to the "Enterprise"
> kernel, which is SMP, and would hate to have to reinstall it all.

So?  And SMP kernel will run just fine on a single proc.  I'd be more
concerned that it be compiled with AMD optimizations.  

Why don't you build your own custom (and 2.6) kernel?  You'll get exactly what
you need, without all the extra crap.

How do you gear an install to a specific kernel?  That just doesn't make any
sense at all.  You build the kernel to match your hardware, and the tasks that
your system is performing.  Not the other way around.