Running 32-bit XMail on x64 Windows

[Michal A. Valasek]

Hello,

after few years I'm returning to world of XMail server. I'm trying to
setup new mail server on x64 edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 (there is
no 32-bit edition and all future server versions are going to be 64-bit
only).

First of all, there is one catch IMHO worth mentioning in readme: If you
are using x64 Windows, the registry settings must be placed in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\GNU\XMail, not in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\GNU\XMail (due to 32-to-64 WoW registry
redirection).

Also, I'd like to see native x64 build of XMail. The only mail I found
in my XMail Archive is similar request from 2006, to which Davide
responded "My main box is an Alienware dual 256, but it is running
Linux. Sources are available and compilers too so..."

Is someone able to do the x64 build? I'm pure scripting and managed code
developer and I never wrote single C/C++ program in my life, so even
though I have the source and the compiler, I'm unable to make it. Also I
expect that there are changes to be done and that's not my cup of tea.
So I'd just like to know if someone with *some* experience can try to
build the x64 version.

--
Michal A. Valasek, Altairis Chief Software Architect, Microsoft ASP.NET
MVP
Contacts: michal.valasek@... | [phone] | PGP 0xC4F3579D
Projects: www.altairis.cz | www.rider.cz | www.aspnet.cz

Never appeal to a man's "better nature." He may not have one.
Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage. (Lazarus Long)


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[Davide Libenzi]

On Thu, 22 Oct 2009, Michal A. Valasek wrote:

> Hello,
>
> after few years I'm returning to world of XMail server. I'm trying to
> setup new mail server on x64 edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 (there is
> no 32-bit edition and all future server versions are going to be 64-bit
> only).

Yes, but they'll still support 32on64, no?



> First of all, there is one catch IMHO worth mentioning in readme: If you
> are using x64 Windows, the registry settings must be placed in
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\GNU\XMail, not in
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\GNU\XMail (due to 32-to-64 WoW registry
> redirection).

Thank you, I updated the documentaion.



> Also, I'd like to see native x64 build of XMail. The only mail I found
> in my XMail Archive is similar request from 2006, to which Davide
> responded "My main box is an Alienware dual 256, but it is running
> Linux. Sources are available and compilers too so..."

Thing is, a 64bit binary will use a lot more memory than a 32bit one,
mainly because all pointers are double the size. If an application does
not need a VM space bigger than 2GB (and XMail doesn't, unless you're
handling yahoo.com with a singel machine), it's better off using a 32bit
binary.
I will try to look into building a 64bit eventually ...



- Davide


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[Michal A. Valasek]

> > after few years I'm returning to world of XMail server. I'm trying
to
> > setup new mail server on x64 edition of Windows Server 2008 R2
(there is
> > no 32-bit edition and all future server versions are going to be
64-bit
> > only).
>
> Yes, but they'll still support 32on64, no?

Until further notice yes. I suppose they'll drop the support eventually
(like 16->32 bit), but it would take many years, since there are lots of
32-bit apps floating around.

> Thing is, a 64bit binary will use a lot more memory than a 32bit one,
> mainly because all pointers are double the size. If an application
does
> not need a VM space bigger than 2GB (and XMail doesn't, unless you're
> handling yahoo.com with a singel machine), it's better off using a
32bit
> binary.
> I will try to look into building a 64bit eventually ...

As I wrote before, I'm managed code guy, so I don't have much knowledge
about if it makes sense, do it's up to you. The "common sense" says
that's good to run app in native architecture, but it's probably no big
deal.

--
Altair

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