----- Original Message -----
From: Matt Porter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Naushit Sakarvadia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 1999 8:50 AM
Subject: Re: BIOS dependency...
> On Mon, 3 May 1999, Naushit Sakarvadia wrote:
>
> > Can anybody tell me how much Linux Kernel is dependent on BIOS ?
> > Till I have figure out that for PCI card/.bus it is dependent on Bios
> > what else should
> > I consider if I want to remove BIOS from my Single board computer?
>
> PCI is one of the bigger things to consider since you will have to develop
> some PCI autoconfig routines to enumerate the PCI bus(es) if you dump your
> BIOS firmware. If your PHB is flexible enough to have programmable
> windows (don't know what is in modern x86 chipsets), there is a lot of
> config to be done there as well.
>
There is a kernel patch that handles the PCI enumeration during boot. I
don't remember where, but I have used it to solve PCI enumeration problems
with a buggy BIOS.
> Additionally, you will need routines to read the SPD on SDRAMs, and
> configure the memory controller with timing/sizing information.
>
> L1/L2 caches have to be enabled and configured.
>
> Any CPU specific configuration has to be configured. pipelining options,
> branch history prediction etc.
>
These are all chipset registers that need to be configured.
Jim
