As Published In July/August 2003

Optimizing Linux on Intel

By David A. Kelly

Just because Linux is open source and runs on a wide variety of platforms doesn't mean your applications can't be optimized for a specific platform. If you're going to be running your business-critical applications on an Intel-based server, why not optimize them for an Intel server?

If the compiler folks in Intel's Product Division group have any say about it, that's just the way that large enterprises and ISVs should be thinking. While everyone knows Intel's a giant in the hardware business, few people know about its software business. "We have fifteen years of experience building compilers for Intel microprocessors," says Chuck Piper, compiler product marketing manager at Intel. "Most organizations (both ISVs and enterprises) using Linux tend to use the standard GCC compiler when creating applications—it's free and it works on multiple platforms. However, some organizations are finding there's significant value in paying a little extra for a compiler that can optimize for the target hardware platform." Intel's C++ and Fortran compilers for Linux allow organizations to gain increased performance and take advantage of the latest Intel features, while still maintaining compatibility with GCC.

For example, developers may want to take advantage of the latest features in Intel's microprocessors, such as extensions for streaming media that make graphics and video applications perform significantly better, or they may want to take advantage of Intel's Hyper-Threading feature in the Pentium 4 that speeds up processing by mimicking a dual-processor architecture. Or they may want to take advantage of the high-performance optimization features in the compilers, such as Interprocedural Optimization or Profile-Guided Optimization. "Oracle said it invested in Intel compilers because of the performance enhancement and cross-product support," says Piper. "A few percentage points in database performance can provide a competitive advantage and cause customers to switch." A compiler is typically just a small element of a large transaction-oriented system such as Oracle9i Database, but it has an important impact on an application's core performance.

David A. Kelly ( davekelly@attbi.com) is a business, technology, and travel writer who lives in West Newton, Massachusetts.