(Answer) (Category) Linux on PowerPC FAQ-O-Matic : (Category) Hardware Compatibility :
Is multiprocessing supported ?
In short, YES. In both MkLinux and linuxppc you can get kernels that will make use of multiple processors. I know that LinuxPPC doesn't support kernel level threads yet. I don't know about MkLinux. So, in order to make use of multiple cpus, you must have multiple processes ready to execute.
For LinuxPPC, you must download the kernel source and compile your own kernel with SMP enabled.
tobey@purdue.edu
For LinuxPPC, it's best to use Openfireware + Quik to boot instead of BootX. Otherwise, processer one will get "stuck." If you really want to use BootX, it's suggested that you boot linux from a cold boot (start with your machine completely turned off), although this never worked for me.
dadams@jhu.edu
MkLinux does a very good job of SMP, but enabling it is a pain. You must rebuild the Mach kernel and then play some games to fool it into picking up the MP library. All this because the source is propietary and you have to get the system built with just the object. 
  I don't know whether LinxPPC has improved their support for SMP any.

rafemorffi@aol.com
Yes, LinuxPPC does support MultiProcessor PPC systems. I have a Dual 9600/200MP and it is great. The hoops one has to jump through are a little annoying, though.
Easiest: DL the multiprocessor kernel and related files at this site- ftp://borg.mit.edu/pub/linux/linuxppc/kernels/multiprocessor/
The kernel is 2.2.12 and should be fine for most people. The instructions for its installation (Not my instructions, I just followed them) can be found here- http://lists.linuxppc.org/listarcs/linuxppc-user/199912/msg01069.html
The trick I had to do was get a version of MacOS _OTHER_ than 9. With MacOS 9, 1 processor gets stuck and you will therefore see only one penguin at bootup. I had a copy of 8.5 lying around but I understand that anything from 7.5.x through 8.6 will work successfully. Please update this FAQ if you get another version of MacOS to work with SMP. I also am using BootX 1.2.2. You can get that from http://www.linuxppc.org/ybin/doc/yaboot-faq.html
That is all there is to it. Once you are done, you will have 2 georgeous penguins staring at ya in all their glory at bootup! (or maybe even 4!)
rmscomp@ij.net
Yup, but only two on PowerMac machines. As I understand it, you compile the kernel with SMP, but also have to recompile programs to support it well?
regalpenguin@earthlink.net
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