Re: Problems with to large of a kernel
H. Peter Anvin (hpa@transmeta.com)
2 Dec 1998 06:33:21 GMT
Followup to: <Pine.LNX.3.95.981201144105.6994A-100000@chaos.analogic.com>
By author: "Richard B. Johnson" <root@chaos.analogic.com>
In newsgroup: linux.dev.kernel
>
> BzImage kernels use the BIOS INT 0x15 'memory copy' function to put
> the kernel at its final resting place of offset 1 megabyte which
> is unreachable in the 16-bit segment:offset world. Since this function
> is enabled and tested by the BIOS as part of the memory check, it is
> not too likely that it is broken. There was a problem with stuck
> A-20 bits in early '386 machines that used the keyboard controller
> to enable it. Basically, you had to wait a few microseconds to have
> it take affect, since the keyboard controller is really its own CPU
> with embeded software that takes time to do its thing. A BIOS would
> certainly "know" the time to wait, so it would be embeded in the
> INT 0x15 code. The problem occurs when a user program tries to enable
> the bit and expects an instant response.
>
Ah, yes; if the INT 15h memory copy function wasn't so bloody broken
it might actually be usable. *Sigh* It was of course too much IQ
required for anyone to have defined an A20 on/off BIOS function.
-hpa
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