Messages in this thread | | | Subject | Re: [patch-2.3.46-p2] P6 microcode update support | Date | Fri, 18 Feb 2000 13:32:21 -0300 | From | Horst von Brand <> |
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"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@transmeta.com> said: > Horst von Brand wrote: > > > ... right, and the process is almost certainly CPL 0 only, so it needs > > > to be in kernel space anyhow.
> > What still worries me a bit is that intel places strict restrictions on > > this. On the other hand, this is kernel bloat IMVHO: It is functionality > > that should be used during boot (if at all), and then jettisoned.
> Loadable kernel modules are a beautiful thing.
Very true.
> The restrictions Intel place on this makes this probably a bad idea in > case of the P6. Another issue is that, of course, other processors > might have other constraints on how this operation is performed.
To download firmware into the CPU is conceptually redefining the CPU, so this should happen (and intel says so!) _before_ the OS starts. In any case, the whole CPU detection and bug workaround habilitation should be done afterwards in all cases. That is why I advocate doing this f.ex. from lilo, not from the OS. -- Horst von Brand vonbrand@sleipnir.valparaiso.cl Casilla 9G, Viña del Mar, Chile +56 32 672616
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