1. Introduction

Linux works on SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processors) machines. SMP support was introduced with kernel version 2.0, and has improved steadily ever since. The kernel locking granularity is much finer in 2.2.x than in 2.0.x, which enables better performance when processes are accessing the kernel!

HOWTO maintained by David Mentré ( David.Mentre@irisa.fr). The latest edition of this HOWTO can be found at

• http://www.irisa.fr/prive/mentre/smp-howto/ (France)
• http://www.phy.duke.edu/brahma/smp-faq/ (USA)

If you want to contribute to this HOWTO, I would prefer a diff against the SGML version of this document, but any remarks (in plain text) will be greatly appreciated. If you send me an email about this HOWTO, please include a tag like [Linux SMP HOWTO] in the Subject: field of your e-mail. It helps me to automatically sort mails (and you will have a faster reply ;)).

This HOWTO is an improvement of a first draft made by Chris Pirih.

All information contained in this HOWTO is provided "as is." All warranties, expressed, implied or statutory, concerning the accuracy of the information of the suitability for any particular use are hereby specifically disclaimed. While every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this HOWTO, the authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.