From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Len Brown Subject: Re: [PATCH] restore _OS object to "Linux" for ia64 Date: 13 Sep 2004 15:22:30 -0400 Sender: acpi-devel-admin-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org Message-ID: <1095103349.2512.16.camel@d845pe> References: <1095100068.20631.30.camel@tdi> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: In-Reply-To: <1095100068.20631.30.camel@tdi> Errors-To: acpi-devel-admin-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org List-Unsubscribe: , List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , List-Archive: To: Alex Williamson Cc: linux-ia64-u79uwXL29TY76Z2rM5mHXA@public.gmane.org, ACPI Developers List-Id: linux-acpi@vger.kernel.org On Mon, 2004-09-13 at 14:27, Alex Williamson wrote: > A recent change to ACPI made the _OS object falsely report the OS as > "Microsoft Windows NT". This seems like a slippery slope, and I'd > rather not go down it for ia64. I think all of the ia64 OEMs are > involved enough with Linux that this isn't necessary and the change > limits the options should ACPI firmware need to make an OS specific work > around. The patch below will make all ia64 boxes report a default _OS > of "Linux". While I share your pride in Linux, there are a couple of reasons why we do not make _OS return "Linux". _OS is a deprecated interface -- it has been replaced by the more flexible _OSI. So with _OS we're talking about past, not future systems. And there is a total population of 0 systems in the installed base that check for _OS ="Linux" in their firmware. On the other hand, there are zillions of systems that check for Windows with _OS, and the !Windows path through the firmware is effectivly unvalidated. While this is really important on i386, it may not be important for ia64. However, unless you can show me an existing system that checks for _OS=Linux, then it only adds risk w/o reward to make this change, even if just on ia64. New systems should be using _OSI. thanks, -Len ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by: YOU BE THE JUDGE. Be one of 170 Project Admins to receive an Apple iPod Mini FREE for your judgement on who ports your project to Linux PPC the best. Sponsored by IBM. Deadline: Sept. 13. Go here: http://sf.net/ppc_contest.php