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Miscellaneous => Hardware & Software Corner => Topic started by: Vortex on November 06, 2012, 05:31:58 AM

Title: Scientific Linux
Post by: Vortex on November 06, 2012, 05:31:58 AM
Any one who tried Scientific Linux ( SL ) ? It's another distribution based on Redhat Enterprise Linux like CentOS and Oracle Linux. SL is maintained by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and European Organization for Nuclear Research ( CERN ) :

https://www.scientificlinux.org/
Title: Re: Scientific Linux
Post by: Gunther on November 06, 2012, 06:37:57 AM
Hi Vortex,

thank you for that interesting link.  :t

But I've a few remarks. They have not only an i386, but also a x86_64 distribution. Here is one important question: Is the gcc the system compiler? If so, things are a bit tricky and complicated.

The 64 bit gcc has serious problems with REAL 4 floating point numbers; the entire calculation crashes and leads to false results. It has to do with a wrong design decision by the transition from 32 to 64 bit operating systems. For a detailed discussion of that behaviour you could check the following thread: http://masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=881.0 (http://masm32.com/board/index.php?topic=881.0). The example inside the above thread is easy enough so that compiler builders can understand the point.

It is possible that other popular compilers are showing the same buggy behaviour, but that's not tested. I've had the hope that other forum members which have VC or the Intel compiler running could help a bit. But bad luck, there are a few downloads, but no response so far. So, the only statement which I can make is: other popular compilers have probably the same bug and the gcc doesn't stand alone.

Anyway, the gcc is the compiler that I'm using under Windows and Linux (64 bit). So, my addressee for the bug report should be one of the gcc maintainers. But who is it? They have a gcc steering committee http://gcc.gnu.org/steering.html (http://gcc.gnu.org/steering.html) and a lot of different mailing lists http://gcc.gnu.org/lists.html (http://gcc.gnu.org/lists.html). Can anyone give an advice?

Gunther     
Title: Re: Scientific Linux
Post by: Vortex on November 06, 2012, 08:01:49 AM
Hi Gunther,

CentOS is a clone of RHEL and it comes with the gcc compiler. Scientific Linux originating from RHEL is probably providing the same compiler. As you know, gcc the standard Linux compiler.
Title: Re: Scientific Linux
Post by: Gunther on November 06, 2012, 08:15:20 AM
Hi Vortex,

Quote from: Vortex on November 06, 2012, 08:01:49 AM
CentOS is a clone of RHEL and it comes with the gcc compiler. Scientific Linux originating from RHEL is probably providing the same compiler. As you know, gcc the standard Linux compiler.

that was my assumption. Thank you for the background information.

Gunther
Title: Re: Scientific Linux
Post by: Farabi on November 06, 2012, 07:24:32 PM
I hope they had the USB Flash Drive version of it. The title looks promising.
Title: Re: Scientific Linux
Post by: Vortex on November 07, 2012, 06:41:17 AM
Hi Onan,

I was able to install CentOS from hard disc. Configuring grub4dos and copying the installation files to a FAT32 partition should work for you too.