file size > 2gb

Hi,
I try to generate a big file with a kernel 2.4.2, and I can do it, but when I do ls -l, rm file, o something else with the file, I receive

# ls -l
ls: filename: Value too large for defined data type

I reboot with my old kernel, 2.2.18, and I can ls the file, renove it, etc... I can see that the created file is bigger than 2gb (the last I generate was 2.7 gb). what happen? why I cannot ls the file with 2.4 and I can with 2.2?

I need files bigger than 2 gb, what can I do?
thanks.