From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Fri, 22 Jun 2001 12:32:42 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Fri, 22 Jun 2001 12:32:32 -0400 Received: from isimail.interactivesi.com ([207.8.4.3]:43017 "HELO dinero.interactivesi.com") by vger.kernel.org with SMTP id ; Fri, 22 Jun 2001 12:32:20 -0400 Date: Fri, 22 Jun 2001 11:32:09 -0500 From: Timur Tabi To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org In-Reply-To: Subject: Re: For comment: draft BIOS use document for the kernel X-Mailer: The Polarbar Mailer; version=1.19a; build=73 Message-ID: X-AntiVirus: scanned for viruses by AMaViS 0.2.1 (http://amavis.org/) Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org ** Reply to message from Alan Cox on Fri, 22 Jun 2001 17:20:33 +0100 (BST) > Firstly a call is made to BIOS INT 15 AX=0xE820 in order to read the > E820 map. A maximum of 32 blocks are supported by current kernels. The > 'SMAP' signature is required and tested. In addition the SMAP signature > is restored each call, although not required by the specification in order > to handle some know BIOS bugs. FYI, in OS/2, the E820 call is made only on machines with a Pentium Pro or higher, because apparently (and this is my guess) there are some motherboards out there with older CPUs that don't return a reliable result to the E820 call. -- Timur Tabi - ttabi@interactivesi.com Interactive Silicon - http://www.interactivesi.com