Installation of 2.1.3 - Only 3 of 4 cores recognized?
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The computer I am using for pfSense is an AMD Quad-Core with 8 GB DDR-3 and a 1 TB WD Green hdd.
I watched a YouTube video installation of pfSense 2.0.1 in which there was a choice point in the setup for either mono-core or multi-core.
There was no such choice in 2.1.3 installation but I did notice as the installation streamed that apparently only 3 of my 4 cores were recognized by pfSense installation.
Did I miss something? Time to panic? Should I discuss this with my shrink? What to do?
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How are you determining this?
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How are you determining this?
As I said in my original post, only 3 of the cores are mentioned in the lines of installation that stream during the installation process:
I did notice as the installation streamed that apparently only 3 of my 4 cores were recognized by pfSense installation.
My question is whether or not this newer version of pf sense (2.1.3) automatically sets up for all 4 cores or am I missing something during setup so that the entire 4-core processor is used by the program after setup.
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Not sure what lines you're talking about, but note that four cores would be numbered 0-3, not 1-4, in case that might have confused you. There is nothing you have to do (or can do, for that matter) to get pfSense to recognize and use all your cores; it will use whatever processors your system claims it has. The dashboard should tell you exactly how many cores/threads/… pfSense recognizes ("CPU type" field); alternatively, log in via SSH and do "top -SHP".
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As razzfazz mentioned the numbering probably confused you. At bootup CPU #0 is already running but you'll see messages stating that CPU #1, #2, and #3 have been launched once it starts them up. That's four total.
Another way to check, aside from the dashboard CPU output, would be to check this command:
$ sysctl hw.ncpu hw.ncpu: 4 -
At bootup CPU #0 is already running but you'll see messages stating that CPU #1, #2, and #3 have been launched once it starts them up.
That could very well be the reason for my unnecessary angst. I of course know that in switch and router ports, and most electronic configurations, the numbering always starts at 0. So that may very well be what I missed, i.e. that the CPU already running is a given and hence by default the O Core.
Actually the confusion arose from with 2.1.3 being a newer version, autodetect eliminated the need for the multiprocessor choice point that was in the older versions.
Thanks to all. Sorry if the question appeared unduly foolish. You fellows are very patient; and I do appreciate your help. :)
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Since 2.0 (I think) there hasn't been a choice of single or multiprocessor kernels. Not because there's some auto-detecttion but because the SMP kernel (multi CPU) is now able to run on single core systems so it's used by default.
Steve
