Can't run nodejs 4.6 on Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS with Geode AMD CPU

[ilkeraktuna]

• Version: 4.6 LTS
• Platform: Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS with Geode AMD CPU
• Subsystem:

Hi,

When I install the binary from nodejs.org on my Ubuntu system with Geode AMD CPU, it installs fine. But when I run "node" or "npm" commands , I get "Illegal Instruction" error.

root@router:# uname -a
Linux router 3.2.0-57-generic #87-Ubuntu SMP Tue Nov 12 21:38:12 UTC 2013 i586 i586 i386 GNU/Linux
root@router:# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 5
model : 10
model name : Geode(TM) Integrated Processor by AMD PCS
stepping : 2
microcode : 0x8b
cpu MHz : 498.026
cache size : 128 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu de pse tsc msr cx8 pge cmov clflush mmx mmxext 3dnowext 3dnow up
bogomips : 996.05
clflush size : 32
cache_alignment : 32
address sizes : 32 bits physical, 32 bits virtual
power management:

[ilkeraktuna]

If I install binaries from Ubuntu Repos, they work fine. But they are very old releases (below)
So I need working 4.6 binary.

root@router:# apt-cache madison nodejs
nodejs | 0.10.47-1nodesource1precise1 | https://deb.nodesource.com/node_0.10/ precise/main i386 Packages
nodejs | 0.6.12dfsg1-1ubuntu1 | http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe i386 Packages
nodejs | 0.6.12dfsg1-1ubuntu1 | http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe i386 Packages
nodejs | 0.6.12dfsg1-1ubuntu1 | http://tr.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe i386 Packages
nodejs | 0.6.12dfsg1-1ubuntu1 | http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe Sources
nodejs | 0.6.12dfsg1-1ubuntu1 | http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe Sources
nodejs | 0.10.47-1nodesource1precise1 | https://deb.nodesource.com/node_0.10/ precise/main Sources

[MylesBorins]

@ilkeraktuna are you installing from source or the tar balls from the website?

is v4.5.1 working?

[ilkeraktuna]

none of the binaries on website work for me.
if I can install, it gives "illegal instruction"
So far I only could run v0.10.47 and v0.6.12 from Ubuntu repos.

[ilkeraktuna]

I try the binaries.
Because I don't have required g++ or clang++ version to build from source.

Btw, I checked on my system and see that running nodejs is from this package:
nodejs_0.10.47-1nodesource1~precise1_i386.deb

So I found a similar one (i386) from here:
https://deb.nodesource.com/node_4.x/pool/main/n/nodejs/

But it didn't also work.

[mscdex]

IIRC V8 dropped support for i586 and older some time back? I know V8's x86 support has required SSE2 since 2014 and AFAIK all Geode CPUs do not support SSE2 (and only some support original SSE).

[ilkeraktuna]

so what do you recommend for me ?
I can't change my CPU.
And old nodejs (v.0.10.x) does not work for my required scenario.

[mscdex]

You're out of luck then. node v0.10.x was the last branch to use a version of V8 that did not include the SSE2 requirement.

[ilkeraktuna]

that's really bad.
Wouldn't it be possible to patch it so that it does not require SSE2 ?

[mscdex]

If you're familiar enough with the V8 code base and you have the time to spend doing it (non-trivial IMHO), then sure. However maintaining that patch going forward as V8 continues to make improvements and other changes is likely to be non-trivial. I doubt node core would be interested in maintaining/floating a patch like that though, so you'd probably be on your own there.

[ilkeraktuna]

I am not a coder. I was assuming it would be an easy patch and someone would help me on that.
Other than that, I have no solution..

Btw, I am not interested in maintaining that patch. I would only use it with a static build for a specific use.

[sxa]

I have a Geode in a Viglen MPC-L and since 0.10 is going out of support in the next few weeks I've got the same issue (although I'm not running any SSL stuff so at least I won't be exposed from an OpenSSL perspective!) I should probably just switch the system running it to a raspberry pi really, but if you're looking for a way forward V8 does have an 'x87' architecture target which might work (I think I last tried it somewhere on the 0.12 codebase and got it running).

If you edit the valid_arch values in configure to include 'x87' which should exclude the SSE instructions then you can run configure with:

./configure --dest-cpu=x87 --with-intl=none
make

but when I tried that on the V6 codebase just now it got in a mess at the final link step. (I wouldn't recommend compiling it directly on the Geode or you'll be there for hours) I should warn you that even if you can get it to run, the resulting build when I did it was very slow, which is why I've so far stuck to 0.10 on mine ...) You may also run into trouble with the version of libstdc++ being quite backlevel on Ubuntu 12.04 too if you get it to build.

[ilkeraktuna]

@sxa555
Thanks. But I didn't really understand. What do you mean by "edit the valid_arch values in configure to include 'x87'" ?

Also, I don't have anyother choice but build it on Geode if I'm gonna build. Because currently I don't have any other build environments. I'm "ok" with waiting for hours though (if it will solve my problem)

Is there any possibility that you could build it for me ?
Because "configure" gives me "g++ and clang++ does not meet required versions"

[bnoordhuis]

Sorry, you are on your own. V8 has a x87 back-end but it's not supported by node. You could try hacking the configure script to enable it but I can't guarantee it actually builds and runs. Good luck.