Re: [PATCH] NMI trap revised (was Re: NMI errors in 2.0.30??)
H. Peter Anvin (hpa@transmeta.com)
9 May 1997 22:50:06 GMT
Followup to: <33759b5c.401501@mail.cybernex.net>
By author: tenthumbs@cybernex.net
In newsgroup: linux.dev.kernel
>
> On Fri, 9 May 1997 22:21:41 +0200 (MET DST), you wrote:
>
> > This is not a point. The BIOS setup is done by you with your hands. You
> > can decide to enable/disable the NMIs and enable/disable Parity or ECC
> > checks. Since this configuration is alredy done by the BIOS, which tests
> > the machine before booting it, you should be confident that when the "Now
> > booting the kernel" message is displayed, the machine is reasonably set
> > up. No kernel initialization is needed, and forcing some initialization
> > not done at BIOS stage can be very dangerous (See my PATCH3 e-mail
> > about NMI tests with non-NMI memory).
> >
>
> Again, this is only true if the BIOS completely understands the
> current hardware. I wouldn't bet the mortgage money on that. There
> are plenty of BIOSes that are just plain buggy.
>
Nevertheless, it is wrong of the kernel to assume the user want
something else, especially since this may very well break systems with
non-parity RAM installed. Kernel command line option, fine, but not
unilateral change...
-hpa
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