Running Linux kernel v2.6 on a Compaq Proliant 5000

The trouble is that the memory size is not reported correctly by the bios.
To fix that, you've got to tell the kernel the exact memory configuration.
This is done by giving some kernelparameters.
If you're using lilo as your bootloader, add this to your lilo.conf: 

append="memmap=exactmap memmap=640k@0 memmap=2047M@1M"

This is an example for machines with 2GB memory.
If you've got more or less than 2 gig of memory,
adapt the second value to your memory size - 1.
E.g. if you've got 512MB memory,
the line should be 
append="memmap=exactmap memmap=640k@0 memmap=511M@1M"

You can also specify the parameters at boot-time, at the boot prompt just
enter you kernel image name followed by the parameters without the 'append=' and without quotes.
If you've got more than 1GB of memory, make sure you've set 
CONFIG_HIGHMEM4G=y
CONFIG_HIGHMEM=y
when compiling a new kernel.


dmesg output of my machine (kernel 2.6.8.1)
My Kernel config for kernel 2.6.15.1



Mail your comments or suggestion for improvement to
Tobias 'grondhal' Hain th@g23.org
I'll publish it here (if you agree)