Re: [PLUG] linux and BIOS

["Michael D. Bevilacqua" <michael@bevilacqua.us>]

On Sun, Dec 26, 2004 at 10:46:23AM -0500, Jeff Abrahamson wrote:
>Does linux always use bios, just sometimes?  Why?

It depends how you have your kernel configured with regards
to PCI setup. In 2.6.x, this .config option is located in:

make menuconfig ---> Bus options (PCI, PCMCIA, EISA, MCA, ISA) ---> PCI access mode


Taken from the help menu:

On PCI systems, the BIOS can be used to detect the PCI
devices and determine their configuration. However, some old
PCI motherboards have BIOS bugs and may crash if this is
done. Also, some embedded PCI-based systems don't have any
BIOS at all. Linux can also try to detect the PCI hardware
directly without using the BIOS.                                                                 

With this option, you can specify how Linux should detect
the PCI devices. If you choose "BIOS", the BIOS will be
used, if you choose "Direct", the BIOS won't be used, and if
you choose "MMConfig", then PCI Express MMCONFIG will be
used. If you choose "Any", the kernel will try MMCONFIG,
then the direct access method and falls back to the BIOS if
that doesn't work. If unsure, go with the default, which is
"Any".                  


Hope this helps.



-- 
Regards,

Michael D. Bevilacqua


   ~
  . .
  /V\   michael@bevilacqua.us
 // \\
/(   )\
 ^`~'^

Attachment: pgpGD2HVPfgj4.pgp
Description: PGP signature

___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group         --        http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion  --   http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug