[ThunderRd]

I'll post this here and if we come up with any ideas or solutions I'll ask Aedan to move the thread to the folding page.

My Xubuntu machine, like my 2 Ubuntu servers, runs a 2.6.26.8 kernel patched with Ingo Molnar's RealTime patch, and all 3 boxes fold with the SMP client problem-free.

I had a little free time on the weekend so I did some experimenting with the latest stable source[2.6.29.3, patched in the same way.] Using the same .config file as I used to build the other kernel I created .debs for the image and headers.

Everything installed fine, and seemed to work fine with the exception of folding - the new kernel does not utilize both cores on an Opteron-185. It uses one core to 100% while the other simply idles. Reinstalling the client did nothing. Booting into the old kernel, folding runs fine again.

I noticed that while setting up menuconfig there are a fair number of new options[some experimental]. I did not change any of the default settings on these, simply importing the .config file from the old kernel into the new build.

I know that the question is a bit esoteric, but what is the consensus on where to begin to look [in the kernel configuration] for what is preventing full core utilization, perhaps something related to SMP task scheduling or the like? Or am I overlooking something else?

Also, is there anyone out there who could either confirm or deny what I've experienced by building a kernel on 2.6.29.3 and trying the SMP client? I'm wondering if there's a bug. There are some reports on the forum of folks having trouble with 2.6.28, which is the standard distribution kernel in 9.04 Jaunty [the current Ubuntu/Xubuntu release].

I may have just proven my own argument for rolling release distros rather than scheduled release [read:rushed?] distros like Ubuntu.