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Published on KernelTrap (http://kerneltrap.org)

Quote: In A Few Years We'll Feel Some Sort Of Crunch

By Jeremy
Created Jun 28 2008 - 14:43

"This reduces native kernel max memory support from around 127 TB to around 120 TB. We also limit the Xen hypervisor to ~7 TB of physical memory - is that wise in the long run? Sure, current CPUs support 40 physical bits [1 TB] for now so it's all theoretical at this moment. My guess is that CPU makers will first extend the physical lines all the way up to 46-47 bits before they are willing to touch the logical model and extend the virtual space beyond 48 bits (47 bits of that available to kernel-space in practice - i.e. 128 TB). So eventually, in a few years, we'll feel some sort of crunch when the # of physical lines approaches the # of logical bits - just like when 32-bit felt a crunch when physical lines went to 31 and beyond."

— Ingo Molnar, in a June 25th, 2008 message [1] on the Linux Kernel mailing list.


Source URL:
http://kerneltrap.org/Quote/In_A_Few_Years_Well_Feel_Some_Sort_Of_Crunch