Re: [RFC PATCH 02/12] PAT 64b: Basic PAT implementation

From: H. Peter Anvin
Date: Fri Dec 14 2007 - 14:58:11 EST


Andi Kleen wrote:
I do know we need to use the low 4 pat mappings to avoid most of the PAT
errata issues.

They don't really matter. These are all very old systems who have run fine for many years without PAT. It is no problem to let them
continue to do so and just disable PAT for them. So just clear pat bit in
CPU initialization for any CPUs with non trivial erratas in this
area.

PAT is only really needed on modern boxes.

How many mapping types do we actually need? The only ones which are likely to be used in practice are WB, UC, WC, which still leaves a spare. (Any intended users of WP or WT?)

-hpa
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