Redhat 2.1 AS Memory Limit?

Linux and Unix-Like Ubuntu
1

I have a customer with an HP DL380 G4 server running Redhat 2.1 AS that has 4GB memory installed. They want to upgrade in the server to the maximum of 12GB using (6) 2GB DIMMs. I can do this for them, but I read somewhere that Redhat 2.1 has an upper memory limit. Or you need a kernel patch to use memory above a certain range. Does anyone out there know the details of these restrictions?

Here is the Redhat release and kernel info from the server:

# cat /etc/redhat-release
Red Hat Linux Advanced Server release 2.1AS (Pensacola)
# uname -a
Linux server003.mydomain.net 2.4.9-e.57smp #1 SMP Thu Dec 2 20:51:12 EST 2004 i686 unknown

Thanks!

2

Hmm...

Nobody has answered - so take this with a grain of salt. I have vague memories of compiling a RH 2.1 AS kernel with a "bigmem" switch set on to allow the use of more than 4GB.

So, yes, without playing compile-the-kernel, going beyond 4GB is potentially a waste.

3

Here's the official answer that I received from Redhat Support: