Subject: Floating point errors with Redhat linux kernel 2.2.14-5.0smp

From: "David F. Green" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2000 12:46:58 -0400

Dear CCLers,

I'd just like to warn anyone using RedHat Linux with kernel version
2.2.14-5.0smp
(the version which ships with RedHat 6.2).  We have discovered that
occasional
errors in floating point calculations, resulting in a NaN, can occur in
random way
when using this kernel.  Upgrading to 2.2.14-12smp fixes the problem.
The problem
may be related to occasional system crashes on heavily loaded systems
running
this version of the kernel reported on the RedHat website.  I would
strongly suggest
that anyone using 2.2.14-5.0smp upgrades to 2.2.14-12smp.  If you are
running
RedHat 6.2, and have not made any updates, you will be using
2.2.14-5.0.  If you
have anymore questions about this, feel free to email me.

--
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David F. Green
Department of Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Ave., Rm. 6-133
Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

E-mail: [email-masked]
Phone:  (617) 258-6229
Fax:    (617) 253-7030
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