Re: [PATCH][2.6][2/5]Support for HPET based timer

[Andrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org>]

Andrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org> wrote:
>
> I doubt if we really need the timer running that early, apart from for
>  calibrate_delay().
> 
>  You can probably move the time_init() and calibrate_delay() so they occur
>  after mem_init().  A close review would be needed to see if that is likely
>  to break anything.  If it is, then consider creating a new late_time_init()
>  thing, and call that and calibrate_delay() after mem_init().
> 

Actually, I think some platforms (ppc64) will explode if we do the
local_irq_enable() prior to time_init().

So I suggest you look at the latter option:

- change time_init() so that it doesn't actually touch the HPET hardware
  in the HPET timer case.

- add late_time_init() after mem_init().

- then do calibrate_delay().

Or whatever.  The bottom line is that init/main.c is fragile, but not
inviolable ;)