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 OD-90228                         SUGGESTION                       "PRIDE"-IF
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 JUN 16, 1997                   RELEASE  1.2.0                        PAGE  1

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       *            MI-10045 SMP SUPPORT FOR WARP 4 CLIENT            *
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 REQUIRED DATE- OPEN          USER PRIORITY WEIGHT-  24    RANKING-  0006
 DATE RECEIVED- MAY 28, 1997  REQUEST STANDING  - REVIEW   AS OF- JUN 16, 1997
                              TYPE- MOD/IMP

 DESCRIPTION-

        I believe that symmetric multiprocessing support for at least
        two processors is imperative for the future competetiveness of
        the OS/2 client.  While many have "stated" that this will be
        released as part of "Warp 4.1" in the coming weeks, the fact is
        that the best information from inside IBM is that the issue is
        still undecided.  Please do not assume that IBM is already
        going to do this only to have it at the top of your list after
        "Warp 4.1" is released.  IBM must do this now, if they have any
        intention of fighting off Windows NT in the high-end workstation
        market.  As single processor speed increases stagnate,
        multiprocessing scalability wil be the key to future performance
        gains.

        Attributes:

        HIGH Value
        Desired next FIXPACK

        Submitted by:

        Timothy K. Nelson
        Santa Barbara, CA, USA
        nelson@charm.physics.ucsb.edu

        SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT:

        Warp 4 client SMP capability.  Today's large programs, many
        running concurrently, require more power then even a PPro
        can deliver if system speed is to remain acceptable.  As
        dual CPU motherboards become more popular there are more
        businesses and even home users who will take advantage of
        this extra power.  Currently NT is the only widely used OS
        supporting SMP.  OS/2 v2.11 had this capability at a time
        when dual CPU machines were less common.  Please bring back
        this capability now.

        Submitted by:

        John M. Ingros
        Punxsutawney, PA, USA
        Law Offices of John M. Ingros
        ingros@penn.com

        SMP support is essential.  In a multi-tasking environment
        the ability to take advantage of today's low cost SMP
        machines is essential.  Any scientific or business
        environment NEEDS this feature.  I have personally used
        WinNT machines with SMP and the difference is astounding
        (for NT).  Imagine what OS/2's performance would be like?

        Submitted by:

        Peter Reilly
        Radnor, PA, USA
        Milliman & Robertson
        pkreilly@op.net

        I did not see SMP on the client as a listing on your OS/2
        Product Priority List.  I know of one person that has left OS/2
        for NT due to a lack of SMP on the client, and I know of two
        others looking for SMP (myself and another).  If the current
        rumor of SMP on the client in Warp 4.1 does not prove to be
        true, and there is no clear indication that the Warp client
        will have SMP in the next 4-6 months, OS/2 will have lost at
        least one more vocal supporter.  Thanks for listening, and I
        hope you will consider the suggestion of SMP for your list.
        Take care.

        Gerry Ellington
        ellingtg@mail.cvn.net

        I applaud the wish list, and the rankings, but nowhere do I
        find a request for multi-processor support.  I feel this
        should be the base version of OS/2.  NT has that support
        now, and I had hoped to see it in Warp 4, but no such luck.
        When I ask if it will be supported, and when, I get vague
        answers.  Multiprocessor motherboards are now a commodity
        item.  The best OS should support them.

        - wmanyet@ibm.net

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