Having read and understand most, if not all of the Linux author's comments over the years on this subject, I think some have taken these snippets "out of context". In many societies that has been the case, and its no different here (referring to context).James C wrote: ... .Just wanted both sides presented.
In reality, the tests that have been conducted over the years (not just those the we, ourselves, here in Puppyland has done) show that there is NO NEGATIVE RESULTS! The benefit for those machines which have the PAE hardware is that they can address ALL RAM that can be loaded on those PCs and the users will never have to change the OS in any adding of RAM he would desire.
The Linux author NEVER said "don't use it" as some in the forum have tried to deduce. in fact, if you go back over time you see that he provided Linux with this ability as CPUs moved from 32bit to 64bit and as RAM became cheaper and larger in size.
Linus Tovalds has shown us the way for 32bit systems.
Puppy benefits in that it does something VERY UNIQUE to 32bit Puppy design. PUPPY will actually make that RAM addressable and USES!!! that RAM when the system is booted when he embraces the portions not used for system operation into the Puppy filesystem. This improves all kinds of speed benefits in overall system operation.
PAE in Puppy 32bit distro operations is a significant benefit to anyone of us who has a system that exploits it. Negative system operations have not been reported in Puppyland. Also, in the larger picture of those who have performed system tests. Test results have been done multiple times publicly (see Google) and privately (among CPU vendor's internal reports). This technology in LInux works!
Hope this clarifies. And hope others understand what Linus Tovalds meant if you go back and take in context what he meant instead of trying to take a single statement and derail a positive effort. Puppy users have already tested this. It works in our favor.
Lastly, I agree with Tovalds that he shouldn't waste anymore time trying to extend 32bit life. 64bit is here and we should use it...if possible. His plate if full as he continues to have Linux address the current and planned changes that are afoot in the Computer Systems and Pheripheral vendors and Operating Systems Arena.
I will make no further comments on this subject in this thread. I feel its the wrong place of the PAE discussion. I only offer this to the thread's author as I thought it would be of help to him (and us) in understanding. I did NOT request him to change directions, simply to have an understanding which could help all of us. I also mentioned about a statement describing platform expectations. The Puppy Forum Community have a thread that has shown all of us that PAE, in fact, works and works well to our benefit. It also includes test results from many in the community.
I have no agenda as I try to help. Puppy continues to operate as a best of breed version of Linux for what it provides us.
Here to help