Colin Watson wrote: > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 02:05:35PM -0600, Tim Gardner wrote: >> The next upload will be an ABI bump to 2.6.30-10.11 >> >> Pursuant to the Karmic flavours Blueprint >> https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/kernel-karmic-flavours >> I've implemented the flavour changes. >> >> However, I have some questions about upgrading as well as CPU feature >> detection. >> >> 1) Is the installer intelligent enough to detect the relevant CPU >> features necessary to support PAE, and therefore install the correct >> kernel version ? (Or at least complain that PAE is not supported). > > Not yet, but it's easy to make it so, especially if somebody tells me > the thing I need to look for in /proc/cpuinfo. Is it just "pae"? >
yes - I believe matching on 'pae' is sufficient. > The trickier issue is that in order for this to be a useful choice, we > now need to cram two kernels onto our CDs, otherwise either (a) non-PAE > users are just screwed or (b) PAE users don't get any advantage unless > they install via netboot or a DVD. Has this been discussed? I don't see > a record of it in the specification. > If space is limited, then I think it's enough to carry just the PAE kernel on the Live and Alternate CDs (but refuse to install or upgrade a non-PAE capable CPU). I believe the use cases for non-PAE capable CPUs are few, e.g., Geode and VIA C3 type CPUs in embedded or headless motherboards. It should be enough to provide a netboot or DVD install solution in that case. > BTW, > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg01682.html > is what I was referring to obliquely at UDS. Maybe somebody should poke > Kyle and find out if he has the patch set to hand. > In an earlier thread in that conversation Kyle essentially echoes my opinion wherein he wonders how many non-PAE use cases there are. I'm not very interested in carrying a patchset to runtime detect and implement the second level of page tables necessary to dynamically support PAE. I know that most of the code is already there protected by ifdef's, but in my opinion the number of use cases simply doesn't warrant the effort. rtg -- Tim Gardner [email protected] -- Ubuntu-installer mailing list [email protected] Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-installer
