Messages in this thread |  | | Date | Tue, 07 Nov 2000 17:01:57 -0700 | From | "Jeff V. Merkey" <> | Subject | Re: Installing kernel 2.4 |
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Jeff Garzik wrote: > > Jeff Merkey wrote: > > here are tests for all this in the feature flags for intel and > > non-intel CPUs like AMD -- including MTRR settings. All of this could > > be dynamic. Here's some code that does this, and it's similiar to > > NetWare. It detexts CPU type, feature flags, special instructions, > > etc. All of this on x86 could be dynamically detected. > > Jeff, I think you miss the point that 100% dynamic detection comes with > a penalty over the current system. > > Using CONFIG_M586 enables us to compile with Pentium-specific > instructions, and eliminate any code specific to 386's or 486's. This > includes inlining Pentium-specific code into drivers and the core kernel > where possible, for the maximum possible performance. Your scheme > doesn't work because of all the inlined code, nor does it support > maximum performance code on all processors without massive code bloat... > > You do bring up a good point though. Users compile their own kernels to > get the advantages I describe above. Vendors, on the other hand, must > compile one-size-fits-all generic kernels. Your expertise and > assistance would definitely benefit this case. >
We need a format that allow multiple executable segments to be combined in a single executable and the loader have enough smarts to grab the right one based on architecture. two options:
1. extend gcc to support this or rearragne linux into segments based on code type 2. Use PE.
Jeff
> One change I would like to make in 2.5.x along these lines -- the Alpha > AXP port allow one to define either CONFIG_ALPHA_GENERIC -- support all > processors/machines -- or CONFIG_ALPHA_$MYMACHINE. It would be nice to > follow that model for x86 too. Currently, when I select CONFIG_M586, I > get code for 686, etc. There is no way to simply say "Pentium and > nothing else". > > Jeff > > -- > Jeff Garzik | "When I do this, my computer freezes." > Building 1024 | -user > MandrakeSoft | "Don't do that." > | -level 1 - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
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