With the ongoing development of version 3.7 of the Linux kernel is code included for AArch64, the 64bit ARM architecture. The 64bit support is especially interesting for energy-efficient servers that have to run on ARMv8 processors.
Catalin Marinas, developer at ARM, recommended in July the first proposals for adding AArch64 support. Now kernel 3.6 out the door, the AArch64 code to be included in Linux kernel 3.7. Because of this, should this kernel enable ARMv8-based processors in a 64bit address space to use, where the border to 256TB. There will also be an end to the limitation of the addressable memory of 4GB in 32bit. In addition, can 64bit-applications run faster than their 32bit counterparts, thanks to new instructions.
Support for AArch64-support in the next Linux kernel is good news for serverbouwers that ARM-based servers ARMv8 processors may wish to release. ARM servers know usually have a lower power consumption than servers that x86 processors use, but the current ARMv7 architecture, for certain memory intensive applications are not suitable, as a result of the 32bit limitations.
The ARMv8 architecture is, especially in the Linux world is seen as a game changer in the development of energy-efficient server systems. Such processors, from various manufacturers, in the coming months and at the beginning of 2013 expected to hit the market.