[NTLUG:Discuss] > 960 meg ram -- HIMEM kernel option -vs- 64bit Linux OS...

[Richard Geoffrion]

What *IS* the deal with having more than XX amount of RAM in a linux 
server?   You can have 2 gig but it won't use more than 960 Meg unless 
you turn on the HIMEM option...in which case there will be 
incompatibilities.  --OR-- you can just load up a 64bit Kernel (Ubuntu 
64, SLAMD64..etc) and then you won't have those 32bit memory 
limitations---but you'll have other compatibility issues..


So which is it?  Do I stick with say... Slackware 10.2-current (a 32 bit 
OS) and compile in the HIMEM option or do I take the plunge and go to a 
64bit OS (www.slamd64.com) where I might have 'other' issues?

What ARE the respective issues?

-- 
Richard