"Jose M. Sanchez" wrote:
> 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]
>
Well put Jose! I hope we see something like this come from Linus. Looking down
the "time horizon", this issue will probably dissapear in 8 to 12 months, but in
the interim, it just makes good business sense not to raise potential obstacles
to the further acceptance of Linux.
--
David Rankin
Nacogdoches, Texas
