Re: 2.6.16-rc5 huge memory detection regression

[Martin MOKREJŠ]

Hi Andrew,

Andrew Morton wrote:
> Martin MOKREJ__ <mmokrejs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >  I just tested 2.6.16-rc5 kernel on MSI 9136 dual Xeon server 
> > motherboard with 16 GB of memory and the kernel detects only 8 GB of 
> > RAM instead. 2.6.15 kernel detected properly 16 GB. I haven't tested 
> > any kernel revisions in between these two, but could if you point me 
> > in a specific direction. Attaching diff(1) output of dmesg(1) outputs.
> > Please Cc: me in replies. Thanks!
> > Martin
> >
> >
> > [boot-2.6.15_to_16-rc5.diff  text/plain (12156 bytes)]
>
>
> The diff is useful.
>
>
> > --- tmp/boot-2.6.15.txt	2006-03-07 11:45:48.015509048 +0100
> > +++ tmp/boot-2.6.16-rc5.txt	2006-03-07 11:45:48.029506920 +0100
> > @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
> > -Linux version 2.6.15 (root@phylo) (gcc version 3.4.5 (Gentoo 3.4.5-r1, ssp-3.4.5-1.0, pie-8.7.9)) #1 SMP Mon Mar 6 20:20:06 MET 2006
> > +Linux version 2.6.16-rc5 (root@phylo) (gcc version 3.4.5 (Gentoo 3.4.5-r1, ssp-3.4.5-1.0, pie-8.7.9)) #1 SMP Mon Mar 6 19:58:24 MET 2006
> >  BIOS-provided physical RAM map:
> >   BIOS-e820: 0000000000000000 - 000000000009a800 (usable)
> >   BIOS-e820: 000000000009a800 - 00000000000a0000 (reserved)
> > @@ -12,16 +12,16 @@
> >   BIOS-e820: 00000000fee00000 - 00000000fee01000 (reserved)
> >   BIOS-e820: 00000000ff800000 - 00000000ffc00000 (reserved)
> >   BIOS-e820: 00000000fffffc00 - 0000000100000000 (reserved)
> > - BIOS-e820: 0000000100000000 - 0000000430000000 (usable)
> > -16256MB HIGHMEM available.
> > + BIOS-e820: 0000000100000000 - 0000000230000000 (usable)
> > +8064MB HIGHMEM available.
>
>
> These numbers are what the BIOS is telling the kernel about your machine. 
> Was the BIOS changed?

No, it hasn't since we got the motherboard. Yes, it is 1.20 instead 
of 1.50. The MSI web is such a crap I couldn't first of all get the 
file at all and once found on a local reseller's page the zip file 
contains no Changelog, so I have no clue what happened between 1.20 
and 1.50 BIOS revision.

> If not, you might need to wiggle those DIMMs or something.

It is really something else, 16GB can be seen under 2.6.15, 
2.6.15-rc1 (if I remember right my previous kernel version).
I can reproduce just by booting with "wrong" kernel version.
Any other recommendation? Except flashing and praying?
I haven't touched the BIOS setting either, I worked completely remotely.

Martin
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