[mapserver-users] 64 bit Windows OS

[Bruce Cheney]

Thank you Tamas and Frank.  I believe that effectively answers my
questions.  We are running C#, ASP.Net on a Win64 machine so the setup
requires (or would best be suited for) a 64bit version. In the stated
situation the 32 bit version does not work. So we may leave the machine
in 64 bit and set the site to 32 bit in IIS or venture down the path of
building all the libraries for 64 bit. If we switch the site to 32bit we
may then be able to use the extra RAM through the OS as overflow.

In venturing down the 64 bit path I am most concerned about all the
supporting libraries being converted/compiled for 64bit. If this is
laborious as you say then I also would assume it means it requires
enough knowledge to get all the ducks lined up correctly.  This path may
be one for me to venture down during a significantly large development
cycle - if ever.

With the direction of all new hardware being 64 bit will the standard
distribution of mapserver become also 64 bit?  Unless in a majority of
situations it just doesn't make any difference. 


Bruce Cheney
Gateway Mapping, Inc
www.gatewaymapping.com
801.221.7656

-----Original Message-----
From: mapserver-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:mapserver-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Frank
Warmerdam
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 6:27 PM
To: Bruce Cheney
Cc: mapserver-users at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: Re: [mapserver-users] 64 bit Windows OS

Bruce Cheney wrote:
>  
> What are the current plans for supporting 64 bit Windows OS? 
> Already doing it and I missed it?
> What would be reasons for not actively pursuing this?  
> Are some of the supporting binaries to difficult to convert over or 
> MapServer itself?
> Is it the challenge of maintaining two paths 32 bit and 64 bit?

Bruce,

I believe MapServer and it's supporting libraries can already be
somewhat laborously built for Win64.  There is no fundamental problem
with the software that would make it incompatible.

> The reasons I am asking are:
> 
> Hardware and OS are coming this way now - 64 bit. We must go to some 
> effort to downgrade to 32 bit.  The 64 bit obviously supports more
RAM.
> More RAM = more concurrent users.  And there are probably other good 
> reasons that I am at a loss to remember.
> 
> Thanks for any wisdom you might have in this regards.

Honestly, a single instance of mapserver will not often make effective
use of more than 2GB of in process memory except for special activities
(like render super-tile sized images).  You will however get significant
benefit from having alot of RAM on a 64bit system even if you only have
32bit mapserver's since the operating system can effectively cache more
material from disk.

Best regards,
-- 
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------
---------------------------------------+------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam,
warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | Geospatial Programmer for Rent

_______________________________________________
mapserver-users mailing list
mapserver-users at lists.osgeo.org
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/mapserver-users