Running Omniscope on 64-bit Installations

64-bit avoids the 32-bit Windows memory addressing bottleneck

Benefits of running 64-bit software

Using 64-bit software avoids the 32-bit Windows memory addressing bottleneck, allowing far higher record counts. PCs running 32-bit Windows can only allocate for Java/Omniscope use a little over 1 GB of system memory, limiting Omniscope file size to a little over a million records. PCs running 64-bit Windows, 64-bit Java, and 64-bit Omniscope are limited only by the amount of memory physically present. It is now quite easy now to purchase PCs at consumer prices with 12 GB or more of memory, although the PC must have a 64-bit Windows operating system installed for this to be of use. Most new installations of Windows 7 are 64-bit.

Making the most of 64-bit

Beginning with Omniscope 2.4, a 64-bit installer is now provided for those with a 64-bit operating systems/Java installs  who are interested in taking advantage of the benefits of 64-bit Omniscope. From the download page you can now select "Windows: 64-bit" under the section entitled "Also available for". This version can only be installed on a 64-bit Windows operating system. If you have a 32-bit operating system you can only install the 32-bit version of Omniscope. If you have a 64-bit operating system, you can choose between the 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Omniscope, but can only have one version installed at a time, and you must de-activate and re-activate when you change (see below).

Current Limitations of 64-bit Omniscope

If you are using the 64-bit version of Omniscope, the following are currently unavailable:

• The Web view
• Google Maps within the Map view

All core data manipulations remain available, such as formulas and all the other views. We are awaiting key 64-bit additions to Java and hope to remove the above limitations in a forthcoming version.

If you have 64-bit Windows and you choose to install the 32-bit version of Omniscope by choosing the default Windows - Full installer from the download page, these temporary limitations won't be present, but equally you will not benefit from the ability to manage more RAM and increased record counts.

Switching between 32-bit and 64-bit Omniscope

If you have 64-bit Windows, you can choose either 32-bit or 64-bit and change at any time by reinstalling either version.  However, you must first deactivate your license before reinstalling, then activate again afterwards.

More detail on 32 versus 64-bit operation

Operating systems and programs both come in two versions; 32-bit (each instruction processed is 32 bits long) and 64-bit (each instruction processed is 64-bits long). Most processors are 64-bit capable now, and most powerful servers have already been converted to 64-bit because of its superior speed and higher memory-addressing limits. Vista is available for the desktop in both 32-bit and 64-bit, and the trend is to convert 32-bit desktop computers to 64-bit as they are replaced over the next few years. Windows XP, 2003 Server, Vista and Windows 7 are all available in 64-bit versions at no extra cost. The 32-bit version of Omniscope (which can be installed on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows) is restricted by the 32-bit Windows-imposed memory limit, effectively limiting the typical Omniscope file size to about 1.2 million records because Windows/Java is unable to provide Omniscope with access to more than about 1 GB of installed RAM. Running 64-bit Omniscope on 64-bit Windows/Java platforms removes this limit (like using longer telephone numbers permits more numbers to be issued) and allows Omniscope data sets to scale up to the limits of the RAM installed on the machine.

The 64-bit version of Omniscope provides far greater capabilities in terms of data volume than the 32-bit version, but requires a 64-bit processor (almost all now are) and a 64-bit version of Windows (x64 version of XP, 2003, Vista or Windows 7 64-bit) and also the 64-bit version of Java (installed along with Omniscope 64-bit from the full installer). The 64-bit Omniscope installer is a different installer, but it installs to the same location, and there is no additional licensing implication of running on 64-bit systems. However, existing licenses should be de-activated before, and re-activated after, switching between the 32-bit and 64-bit installation. If you are installing Omniscope on a machine running a 64-bit version of Windows, for example, you will not escape the addressing memory limit in the default 32-bit Java unless you also install and run the 64-bit version of Java bundled as a PVM with 64-bit Omniscope. To switch between 32-bit and 64-bit Omniscope on a 64-bit Windows PC, you must de-activate your license (if you have one), re-install Omniscope using whichever installer you choose, then re-activate your license if your are outside the free trial period.

Customising 64-bit RAM memory allocation

By default, the 64-bit version of Omniscope limits Omniscope to 75% of physical RAM memory. If you wish to increase or decrease this, please see Customising Omniscope memory allocation.