Re: PCI coprocessors

[Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@pobox.com>]

Andre Bonin wrote:
> 1) Is their support for having two different 'machine types' within one 
> kernel? that is for example, certain executables for intel would get run 
> on an intel processor, and others would get run on processor with type 
> XXXX.
> 
> I heard once someone put native "java" .class support within the kernel 
> (it would call the jvm run time if i remember).  I could maby do this 
> with my own set of libraries and driver.  But differentiating between 
> the types of executable might be hard.
> 
> 2) Is their kernel support for PCI coprocessors for thread allocation 
> etc.  I couldn't find any but i can try looking through the code again.


You can mix and match processor types all you want...  just treat them 
as completely asynchronous and independent entities.

I have long dreamed of being able to add a PCI card to my x86 system, a 
PCI card containing a processor (of any type), RAM, and an ethernet 
interface.  I would use this for routing, or iSCSI, or network offload...

	Jeff