To begin with, this is not a Mandrake issue, it's a Linux issue.
The K6 can execute i686 code, just not optimally for the processor.
With the Kernel it's another matter altogether...
The MTRR register differences PREVENTs the i686 compiled kernel to operate
on a K6 afaik.
When I tried it I got an kernel which would not fully init...
That plus the byte alignment optimzations for the 686, make the i586 distro
better for the K6 in terms of speed and compatibility.
It's not a question of making the i686 distro, "properly" identify the k6...
LINUX (as directed by Linus) "properly" identifies the K6 characteristics
and classifies it as a i585 for optimal operation...
There was quite an extensive thread about this some time ago in the kernel
forums...
It's also doubtful that MANDRAKE will alienate it's prospective clients.
I wouldn't doubt that what they'll resort to doing is producing a common
distro that installs a i586 kernel with i686 code RPM's... albeit with a
slight loss of performance over i586 optimizations or a seperate i586
distro, as they've done for the i486.
Given the perponderance of AMD's though, I'll bet they will choose the
former as it makes good marketing sense...
It would be pretty easy to implement in an installer... they already do this
for SMP installations anyway...
-JMS
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: David Rankin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 1:20 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; mandrake
Subject: Re: [expert] Lost sight of point (was: WAIT!! STOP!!...)
"Jose M. Sanchez" wrote:
> Eh, except 7.2 installs just fine on a P-90 and K5.
>
> It's only the 486 and 386's who are left out.
>
> The i586 vs i686 worries are somewhat ungrounded.
>
> The i586 code works best with the K6, etc.
>
Jose, what will happen when the next full release of Mandrake appears?
Will it install without complaint on the millions of K6-2s out there?
Will there be 2 standard new releases, LM 8.x_i686 and LM8.x_i586? Will
continued support of the K6-2 just be dropped? -- OR -- Will the core of
the i686 install be made the properly recognize the K6-2. --OR-- Is
there really a bit offset discrepancy that prevents the K6-2 from truly
being included in the i686 frenzy?
The foregoing is "the point" and it is a "worry" to a lot of people that
rests on "solid" ground.
--
David Rankin
Nacogdoches, Texas
