MS 2003 enterprise edition support dual 8 core processor!!!

[YAQUB_1]

Hi All,

I have check the H/W requirement for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition ==> "133-MHz or faster processor for x86-based PCs; 733-MHz for Itanium-based PCs; up to eight processors supported on either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version"

But my question is eight processors meaning physical eight processor or logical eight processor.

[Rune J. Winje]

This may answer your question:

"The number of physical hyperthreading-enabled processors or the number of physical multicore processors is incorrectly reported in Windows XP and in Windows Server 2003"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932370

Microsoft's definition of processor for the licensing is one physical processor. A physical processor can contain a single core, dual core or multicore/quad-core. Hyperthreading (splitting one core into two logical processors) can also be used.

However note that most applications may have problems utilizing more processors. Generally there is benefit up to ca 4 (logical) processors that most apps can use, then the benefit of adding more cpu's actually diminish. Notable exceptions of course for software that has been designed for massive parallel processing. Generally then it may be better to dedicate cpu's to virtual machines for example - something the Windows 2003 R2 license also opens up for, with 1 physical Windows where you can additionally install 4 virtual Windows servers on the same physical server and license. This is only new for R2.

With quad core processors, and taking software limitations into account, I think hyperthreading generally should be switched off. (A Bios setting)


Cheers,
Rune