From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Tue, 26 Nov 2002 07:37:14 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Tue, 26 Nov 2002 07:37:14 -0500 Received: from hermes.fachschaften.tu-muenchen.de ([129.187.202.12]:738 "HELO hermes.fachschaften.tu-muenchen.de") by vger.kernel.org with SMTP id ; Tue, 26 Nov 2002 07:37:12 -0500 Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 13:44:25 +0100 From: Adrian Bunk To: Dennis Grant Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Identifying/activating faster ATAxx modes (WAS kernel config tale of woe) Message-ID: <20021126124424.GJ24796@fs.tum.de> References: <3de2eee3.16fd.0@wincom.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <3de2eee3.16fd.0@wincom.net> User-Agent: Mutt/1.4i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Mon, Nov 25, 2002 at 10:31:12PM -0500, Dennis Grant wrote: >... > VP_IDE: chipset revision 6 > VP_IDE: not 100% native mode: will probe irqs later > VP_IDE: Unknown VIA SouthBridge, contact Vojtech Pavlik >... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is the information that explains it. As Christian already mentioned your motherboard has a VIA KT8235 Southbridge which wasn't supported until 2.4.20-rc2 (second Release Candidate for 2.4.20). >... > Quick philosphical point - it was expressed to me that "users shouldn't be compiling > kernels, that's the distro manager's job" > > I could not POSSIBLY disagree more. What is Linux if not putting more power > in the hands of the people who actually use the system? Users should ABSOLUTELY > be compiling kernels, if they want to or need to. The trick is to pass on enough > information so as to give the guy on the pointy end of the compiler as best > a chance of success as can be done. IMHO we should distinguish two different kinds of users (simplified, but I hope you get the difference) that often get mixed: 1. The novice user who wants to use applications This user wants to install Linux with as few clicks as possible. He doesn't know what a kernel is and he doesn't want to know. All he wants is a stable OS that runs OpenOffice and Netscape. 2. The more experienced user There are good reasons (e.g. kernel patches) why a system administrator might want to compile his own kernel. Or a computer science student wants to learn a bit more about the kernel he's using. For people like you in the second category it should always be possible to compile a custom kernel. A user in the first category should whenever possible never need to compile his own kernel. > Is asking for a dmesg that states "this is an ATAxxx drive, and your interfacer > is using ATAyyy" really such a horrible thing to ask? No it isn't horrible. The problem I can imagine is that it's possible that a startup script on a user's computer (e.g. provided by the distribution) uses hdparm or a similar program to manipulate the IDE devices. The information provided by "dmesg" would then not reflect the state of the system after bootup is completed. > In any case, I will provide any other info anybody might wish on my system, > and thanks to those people who are offering help. It is appreciated. The information whether DMA is used is available via "hdparm -v", I'm sure it will show that "using_dma" is off on your computer. There are two solutions: - safe solution: Apply the 2.4.20-rc3 patch [1] on top of 2.4.19 and do a cp .config /tmp # because "make mrproper" will delete the .config make mrproper cp /tmp/.config . make oldconfig dep bzImage modules - more risky solution: enable DMA with "hdparm -d1" > DG cu Adrian -- "Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days. "Only a promise," Lao Er said. Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed