Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:15:25 +0100 From: Matthew Seaman <m.seaman@infracaninophile.co.uk> To: Doug Hardie <bc979@lafn.org> Cc: FreeBSD Questions <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Version Selection Message-ID: <4FD59B0D.9030802@infracaninophile.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <CE498537-EAB7-4245-AF7A-FEC60663C48F@lafn.org> References: <CE498537-EAB7-4245-AF7A-FEC60663C48F@lafn.org>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
This is an OpenPGP/MIME signed message (RFC 2440 and 3156)
--------------enig33492C126E3906D0579C15C1
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
On 11/06/2012 07:20, Doug Hardie wrote:
> I have a number of servers that I am about to upgrade to FreeBSD 9.0.
> The processors all have the ability to run i386 or amd64. The
> machines all have 2 GB memory which is more than adequate for their
> intended use. Some of these are replacing very old equipment that is
> being retired and did not have the ability to run amd64 so everything
> has been i386 till now. The question is what are the advantages or
> disadvantages of switching to amd64? I have tested all the various
> applications on amd64 and they work fine. Is there going to be any
> benefit down the road in a few years to being on amd64? If so, now
> would be the time to switch.
In my experience I find that amd64 is the way to go. As in: the only
reason to use i386 is if there is some software that requires i386 and
that you can't either replace with an amd64 compatible alternative, run
in 32bit mode using lib32 shlibs etc. or just do without entirely.
The principle reasoning behind this is that amd64 is essentially a
super-set of i386: just about anything you can do on i386, you can do on
amd64, but not necessarily vice-versa. There are some differences in
performance and memory usage, but these are usually minor and in
practice mostly in favour of amd64. Although you're only using 2GB RAM
now, amd64 does give you the possibility of expanding that to >4GB
should that become a requirement in future.
Cheers,
Matthew
--=20
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil. 7 Priory Courtyard
Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey Ramsgate
JID: matthew@infracaninophile.co.uk Kent, CT11 9PW
--------------enig33492C126E3906D0579C15C1
Content-Type: application/pgp-signature; name="signature.asc"
Content-Description: OpenPGP digital signature
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="signature.asc"
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG/MacGPG2 v2.0.16 (Darwin)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/
iEYEARECAAYFAk/VmxMACgkQ8Mjk52CukIyI4gCdHGmLNPX54bvn4dG2f0KuYeHZ
+X4An2l02ofm22mabp6CI3oBv+bYZaNx
=LHxI
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
--------------enig33492C126E3906D0579C15C1--
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?4FD59B0D.9030802>