Re: Memory problem with bttv driver

[Stephan von Krawczynski <skraw@ithnet.com>]

On Wed, 16 Jan 2002 10:57:47 +0100
Gerd Knorr <kraxel@bytesex.org> wrote:

> > > > > Yes.  Instead of remapping vmalloced kernel memory it gives you
shared> > > > > anonymous pages, then does zerocopy DMA using kiobufs.  You may
run in> > > > > trouble with >4GB machines.
> > > > 
> > > > Interesting.
> > > > What's the problem on > 4GB ?
> > > 
> > > The bt878/848 is a 32bit PCI device, it simply can't go DMA to main
> > > memory above 4GB.  At least on ia32, on architecures with a iommu
> > > (sparc, ...) it should work without trouble.
> > 
> > Sorry, maybe I should have clarified: what is the problem with allocating
those> > pages below 4GB in a >4GB box?
> 
> do_anonymous_page() may give you pages above 4GB.

Guess it is a bit ... flaky ... to just do a

                page = alloc_page(GFP_HIGHUSER);
                if (!page)
                        goto no_mem;

in

do_anonymous_page()

I guess it should be somehow configurable (parameter). Your idea of using it
may grow and mem too, for sure.

Regards,
Stephan