Re: PCI card initialisation at boot

[Matt Domsch <Matt_Domsch@dell.com>]

On Sun, Nov 11, 2007 at 04:46:44PM +0000, Alan Cox wrote:
> Linux by default uses the BIOS resource assignments. It doesn't know
> where those came from other than "the BIOS".

Slightly tangential, but I'm starting to hear requests to have the OS
re-assign resources when it might make better sense.  For example, if
you have a graphics card with a 1GB memory allocation, the BIOS may
assign it into address ranges below 4GB because it doesn't know
if the OS will be 32-bit or 64-bit capable.  But, it would be
beneficial to have it located above 4GB, and to fill in the (new) hole
below 4GB with RAM.  Linux right now doesn't have a way to do this.
It will assign resources for cards that the BIOS left unassigned, but
won't intentionally move resources.


-- 
Matt Domsch
Linux Technology Strategist, Dell Office of the CTO
linux.dell.com & www.dell.com/linux