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Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:00:40 -0400
From: Vivien Didelot <vivien.didelot@savoirfairelinux.com>
To: "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@zytor.com>
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, x86@kernel.org,
        Thomas Gleixner <tglx@linutronix.de>, Ingo Molnar <mingo@redhat.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 1/4] x86: base support for the TS-5500 platform
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On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:04:13 -0700,
"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@zytor.com> wrote:

> On 08/24/2011 03:38 PM, Vivien Didelot wrote:
> > 
> > I agree with you. The platform does not provide many identification
> > points. We have specific hardware such as the CPU, Ethernet, Cardbus
> > and USB controllers; there is no DMI available; no PCI bridge
> > subvendor info, only the BIOS provides a 16-bit identification
> > call... We discussed that point in
> > https://lkml.org/lkml/2011/5/4/437 without success.
> > 
> > What would be the proper way in your opinion?
> > 
> > Vivien.
> 
> First of all, given that these clowns seem to be selling a product
> specifically targeting Linux support, they really need to be given a
> clue transfusion.  It is *NOT* acceptable to not provide DMI, and
> *NOT* acceptable not to set the subvendor information.
> 
> We should arguably push for them to fix that in their BIOSes, but that
> is as usual too little, too late.
> 
> Probably the best option we have is to look for some kind of magic
> string in their BIOS -- i.e. the classic way to detect things before
> DMI existed.
> 
> If not, you're going to have an explicit switch on the kernel command
> line, but that is an absolute last resort.
> 
> 	-hpa

Hi,

The initialization function is now reading the BIOS to find this magic
string, thanks for the tip. I've sent the updated version. The
corresponding thread is here: https://lkml.org/lkml/2011/8/26/425.

Regards,
Vivien.