Re: [PATCH] ACPI: add driver for SMBus Control Method Interface

Matthew Garrett
2009-07-15T14:01:02Z

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 05:43:22PM +0800, ykzhao wrote:
> On Wed, 2009-07-15 at 14:02 +0800, Crane Cai wrote:
> > This driver supports the SMBus Control Method Interface. It needs BIOS declare
> > ACPI control methods via SMBus Control Method Interface Spec.
> It seems that SM bus control is realized in BIOS. And OS can use the
> given control method interface to access it.
> Will this controller be accessed directly directly BIOS?
> If it can be accessed by BIOS, how to resolve the conflict between BIOS
> and OS?

It's being accessed via ACPI methods, so the vendors have the
opportunity to implement proper locking.

> In fact we see the conflict on some boxes. The SMbus controller will be
> accessed by BIOS. If the corresponding driver is loaded for the SMBUS
> controller, there exists the potential risk. In such case we will hide
> the SMbus controller or not load the device driver for it.

I don't think that's a risk in this case.

--
Matthew Garrett | mjg59@srcf.ucam.org