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= Make 64-bit the primary arch for 64-bit PowerPC hardware =
= Make 64-bit the primary arch for 64-bit PowerPC hardware =
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== Summary ==
== Summary ==
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Provide a means for Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware to have 64-bit as the primary architecture, which would enable users to better exploit their 64-bit PowerPC hardware and avoid restrictions associated with 32-bit applications.
Provide a means for Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware to have 64-bit as the primary architecture, which would enable users to better exploit their 64-bit PowerPC hardware and avoid restrictions associated with 32-bit applications.


== Owner ==
== Owner ==
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* Name: [[User:maynardj| Maynard Johnson]]
* Name: [[User:maynardj| Maynard Johnson]]
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* email: <maynardj@us.ibm.com>
* email: <maynardj@us.ibm.com>


== Current status ==
== Current status ==
* Targeted release: [[Releases/{{FedoraVersion||next}} | {{FedoraVersion|long|next}} ]]  
* Targeted release: [[Releases/11 | Fedora 11 ]]  
* Last updated: (February 12, 2009)
* Last updated: 2009-02-12
* Percentage of completion: XX%
* Percentage of completion: n/a?
 
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== Detailed Description ==
== Detailed Description ==
<!-- Expand on the summary, if appropriate.  A couple sentences suffices to explain the goal, but the more details you can provide the better. -->
Currently, 32-bit ppc is the default architecture, whether Fedora is installed on 32-bit or 64-bit PowerPC hardware.  This leads to difficulties with software development, integration and installation when trying to use 64-bit programs on 64-bit hardware.  Making 64-bit the default arch on 64-bit hardware is the simplest way to resolve these issues.  This change in primary arch should also be accompanied with changing the default target for the compiler to be 64-bit (i.e., '-m64').  
Currently, 32-bit ppc is the default architecture, whether Fedora is installed on 32-bit or 64-bit PowerPC hardware.  This leads to difficulties with software development, integration and installation when trying to use 64-bit programs on 64-bit hardware.  Making 64-bit the default arch on 64-bit hardware is the simplest way to resolve these issues.  This change in primary arch should also be accompanied with changing the default target for the compiler to be 64-bit (i.e., '-m64').  


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== Benefit to Fedora ==
== Benefit to Fedora ==
<!-- What is the benefit to the platform?  If this is a major capability update, what has changed?  If this is a new feature, what capabilities does it bring? Why will Fedora become a better distribution or project because of this feature?-->
Users who install Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware will have a much more natural and smooth experience between their software and hardware, leading to higher satisfaction.
Users who install Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware will have a much more natural and smooth experience between their software and hardware, leading to higher satisfaction.


== Scope ==
== Scope ==
<!-- What work do the developers have to accomplish to complete the feature in time for release?  Is it a large change affecting many parts of the distribution or is it a very isolated change? What are those changes?-->
The scope of this change request is system-wide.  I believe that, currently, ppc32 and ppc64 packages are built in separate buildroots.  What I believe needs to be done to support this feature is:
The scope of this change request is system-wide.  I believe that, currently, ppc32 and ppc64 packages are built in separate buildroots.  What I believe needs to be done to support this feature is:
 
# a pure ppc64 repo
1) a pure ppc64 repo
# support in anaconda to do the right installation
 
# support in yum
2) support in anaconda to do the right installation
# support in the repo compose scripts to do the multilib stuff properly
 
3) support in yum
 
4) support in the repo compose scripts to do the multilib stuff properly
 


== How To Test ==
== How To Test ==
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need to be installed, config files edited, etc.?
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working like it's supposed to?
3. What are the expected results of those actions?
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Special hardware:  64-bit PowerPC hardware is needed
Special hardware:  64-bit PowerPC hardware is needed
 
# Install the ppc64 build on a 64-bit PowerPC system, installing all base packages (i.e., the ppc64 packages).
 
# Perform standard tests.
1. Install the ppc64 build on a 64-bit PowerPC system, installing all base packages (i.e., the ppc64 packages).
# Ensure that C and C++ compilation of test programs results in 64-bit executables.
 
# Install secondary arch packages (i.e., 32-bit ppc).
2. Perform standard tests.
# Ensure that C and C++ compilation using -m32 is successful.
 
# Run some popular 32-bit applications (from previous Fedora releases) to verify good bi-arch support.
3. Ensure that C and C++ compilation of test programs results in 64-bit executables.
 
4. Install secondary arch packages (i.e., 32-bit ppc).
 
5. Ensure that C and C++ compilation using -m32 is successful.
 
6. Run some popular 32-bit applications (from previous Fedora releases) to verify good bi-arch support.


== User Experience ==
== User Experience ==
<!-- If this feature is noticeable by its target audience, how will their experiences change as a result?  Describe what they will see or notice. -->
Software developers who install Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware will notice that they don't have to bend over backwards to get their software to build 64-bit.  The default 64-bit execution environment will also be appreicated.
Software developers who install Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware will notice that they don't have to bend over backwards to get their software to build 64-bit.  The default 64-bit execution environment will also be appreicated.


== Dependencies ==
== Dependencies ==
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* Since this request is a system-wide change to the build process for PowerPC, there are no known dependencies.
 
Since this request is a system-wide change to the build process for PowerPC, there are no known dependencies.


== Contingency Plan ==
== Contingency Plan ==
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* None necessary, revert to previous release behaviour.


None necessary, revert to previous release behaviour.
== Documentation ==
== Documentation ==
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* None
 
None


== Release Notes ==
== Release Notes ==
<!-- The Fedora Release Notes inform end-users about what is new in the release.  Examples of past release notes are here: http://docs.fedoraproject.org/release-notes/ -->
* Users installing or upgrading to Fedora 11 on 64-bit PowerPC hardware should note that the primary architecture is now ppc64.  Package installation will default to ppc64, and compilation of C/C++ source code using Fedora-supplied compilers will default to 64-bit.
<!-- The release notes also help users know how to deal with platform changes such as ABIs/APIs, configuration or data file formats, or upgrade concerns.  If there are any such changes involved in this feature, indicate them here.  You can also link to upstream documentation if it satisfies this need.  This information forms the basis of the release notes edited by the documentation team and shipped with the release. -->
 
Users installing or upgrading to Fedora 11 on 64-bit PowerPC hardware should note that the primary architecture is now ppc64.  Package installation will default to ppc64, and compilation of C/C++ source code using Fedora-supplied compilers will default to 64-bit.


== Comments and Discussion ==
== Comments and Discussion ==
* See [[Talk:Features/PPC64_as_primary]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->
* See [[Talk:Features/PPC64_as_primary]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->


 
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Latest revision as of 15:50, 23 February 2009

Make 64-bit the primary arch for 64-bit PowerPC hardware

Summary

Provide a means for Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware to have 64-bit as the primary architecture, which would enable users to better exploit their 64-bit PowerPC hardware and avoid restrictions associated with 32-bit applications.

Owner

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora 11
  • Last updated: 2009-02-12
  • Percentage of completion: n/a?

Detailed Description

Currently, 32-bit ppc is the default architecture, whether Fedora is installed on 32-bit or 64-bit PowerPC hardware. This leads to difficulties with software development, integration and installation when trying to use 64-bit programs on 64-bit hardware. Making 64-bit the default arch on 64-bit hardware is the simplest way to resolve these issues. This change in primary arch should also be accompanied with changing the default target for the compiler to be 64-bit (i.e., '-m64').

Ideally, this change should not prevent ppc32 software developed on earlier Fedora releases from being executed on Fedora 11. In theory, that implies a full complement of 32-bit runtime libraries to be made available in separate 32-bit packages (the inverse of what is provided today on Fedora). In practice, a reasonable approach may be to focus on providing just a subset of 32-bit libraries -- i.e., the most commonly used libraries.

Benefit to Fedora

Users who install Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware will have a much more natural and smooth experience between their software and hardware, leading to higher satisfaction.

Scope

The scope of this change request is system-wide. I believe that, currently, ppc32 and ppc64 packages are built in separate buildroots. What I believe needs to be done to support this feature is:

  1. a pure ppc64 repo
  2. support in anaconda to do the right installation
  3. support in yum
  4. support in the repo compose scripts to do the multilib stuff properly

How To Test

Special hardware: 64-bit PowerPC hardware is needed

  1. Install the ppc64 build on a 64-bit PowerPC system, installing all base packages (i.e., the ppc64 packages).
  2. Perform standard tests.
  3. Ensure that C and C++ compilation of test programs results in 64-bit executables.
  4. Install secondary arch packages (i.e., 32-bit ppc).
  5. Ensure that C and C++ compilation using -m32 is successful.
  6. Run some popular 32-bit applications (from previous Fedora releases) to verify good bi-arch support.

User Experience

Software developers who install Fedora on 64-bit PowerPC hardware will notice that they don't have to bend over backwards to get their software to build 64-bit. The default 64-bit execution environment will also be appreicated.

Dependencies

  • Since this request is a system-wide change to the build process for PowerPC, there are no known dependencies.

Contingency Plan

  • None necessary, revert to previous release behaviour.

Documentation

  • None

Release Notes

  • Users installing or upgrading to Fedora 11 on 64-bit PowerPC hardware should note that the primary architecture is now ppc64. Package installation will default to ppc64, and compilation of C/C++ source code using Fedora-supplied compilers will default to 64-bit.

Comments and Discussion

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