[parisc-linux] Re: [Fwd: Parisc - Linux on a HP-UX C8000 machine]

[parisc-linux] Re: [Fwd: Parisc - Linux on a HP-UX C8000 machine]

[Roel Teuwen]

Hello Daniel,

> > I read that you are the owner of the HP-UX C8000 machine in the
> > machine list of the PA_RISC Linux website. In our institute we have
> > the same machine and would like to install a Linux on this machine. We
> > tried the Debian 3.1, the gentoo and the Ubuntu HPPA version but
> > without any success.

As you can read on the hardware database website
(http://www.parisc-linux.org/hardware/index.html), the hardware
database just contains links from certain hardware models to specific
devices to help the developers.

It is not a list of supported hardware. For that you will be better
off following the link on the same page :
http://www.parisc-linux.org/hardware/supported.html and
http://www.pateam.org/list.html

> > Is it possible to get some help of you?

I see at least a few problems with my C8000 running linux. First of
all, I did not yet have any time to test it. Secondly, my C8000
contains PA8900 processors which I don't think anyone has tried yet.
I've added the machine to the hardware database with the plan of
sending a success/error report to the pateam site and parisc-linux
maillist later.

By the way, apparently the HWDB doesn't recognize most of the hardware
in this machine to map it to useful entries. (PA8800 and PA8900 are
missing for example). I have CC'd the parisc-linux mailing list in the
hope that someone might know why.

> > Which distribution did you use and which parameters did you set while
> > booting? Does the graphical user interface works in your installation?

I was planning on using Debian but I don't expect the graphical
interface (I suppose you mean X) to work at all. (even the console
might not, no tests yet :-) )

> > I hope you can help us.

Not really, sorry. Someone on the mailinglist might know more or be
interested in hearing about any specific problems you have
encountered.

Best regards,

Roel

> > Thanks, Daniel
> >
> >
> >
> > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> >
> > MPI of Molecular Plant Physiology
> >
> >
> >
> > Dipl. Inf. (FH)
> >
> > Daniel Weicht
> >
> > Bioinformatics Group
> >
> >
> >
> > Max-Planck-Institut f=FCr Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie
> >
> > Wissenschaftspark Golm
> >
> > Am M=FChlenberg 1
> >
> > 14476 Potsdam-Golm
> >
> > Germany
> >
> >
> >
> > e-mail:  weicht@mpimp-golm.mpg.de
> >
> > web:  http://www.mpimp-golm.mpg.de
> >
> > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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Re: [parisc-linux] Re: [Fwd: Parisc - Linux on a HP-UX C8000 machine]

[Grant Grundler]

Roel,
thanks for forwarding.

On Fri, Feb 10, 2006 at 01:51:16AM +0100, Roel Teuwen wrote:
...
> I see at least a few problems with my C8000 running linux. First of
> all, I did not yet have any time to test it. Secondly, my C8000
> contains PA8900 processors which I don't think anyone has tried yet.

I've been trying some rp3440's with pa8800 processors over
the past 18 monthes and we still have problems with the L2
cache. I'm very slowly making some forward progress on it
but it's nowhere near debugged.

We do think it's related to the use of non-equivalent aliasing
by the parisc-linux kernel. HPUX doesn't do that.

So right now don't expect more than a single socket to work
and still see occasion segfaults.
If more than one CPU socket is enabled, the box will HPMC
with any substatial load that inolves lots of context switching.


> I've added the machine to the hardware database with the plan of
> sending a success/error report to the pateam site and parisc-linux
> maillist later.

thanks!

> By the way, apparently the HWDB doesn't recognize most of the hardware
> in this machine to map it to useful entries. (PA8800 and PA8900 are
> missing for example). I have CC'd the parisc-linux mailing list in the
> hope that someone might know why.

We probably need to clone the new entries from arch/parisc/kernel/hardware.c
to the php/mysql code that drives the HWDB.
Any volunteers?

> I was planning on using Debian but I don't expect the graphical
> interface (I suppose you mean X) to work at all. (even the console
> might not, no tests yet :-) )

I have a C8000 here as well and was told we could probably get
X.org working on it with 2D accelleration. We could get 3D HW accel
if we could get bugs in the x.org/xfree86 BIOS emulation fixed.

thanks,
grant
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Re: [parisc-linux] Re: [Fwd: Parisc - Linux on a HP-UX C8000 machine]

[Grant Grundler]

On Fri, Feb 10, 2006 at 01:22:22PM +0100, Thibaut VARENE wrote:
> And btw, I just noticed that the list on pateam.org reports some
> "cache issues" with fast A500. Though we believe firmly that L2 and
> non-equivalent aliasing might be at fault on PA8800/PA8900, I wonder
> if there are still other cache issues, or if the comments on the list
> should be cleared. Any update about that? :)

I don't know. I don't think any problems we've seen recently
can be attributed to caching issues. The most stable kernel
so far seems to be 2.6.13-pa1. But I expect as 2.6.15 gets
more exposure on Debian we'll know if that is better and if
it has any remaining caching issues.

> > We probably need to clone the new entries from arch/parisc/kernel/hardware.c
> > to the php/mysql code that drives the HWDB.
> > Any volunteers?
> 
> This is not that easy. The underlaying infrastructure of the HWDB is a
> really PITA, adding new stuff will probably require a bit more
> hacking. I'll try to figure out what needs to be done and will report
> about it ;)

The upside of pa8900 being the last one is we won't have
to update the HWDB much more. :(

> BTW, if anyone feels like volunteering for a complete redesign of the
> mysql/php infrastructure, please raise a hand!

I'd like to add, the HWDB maintainer doesn't need to be a linux hacker.
If someone from *BSD or HP-UX community wants to maintain it, I
certainly won't object.

thanks,
grant
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