On Fri Nov 17, 2000 at 06:20:17PM -0800, Benjamin Chow wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm looking to bring linux to a custom single board computer based on
> National Semiconductor's GEODE reference designs.
>
> My question is: what is the relationship between linux and the BIOS?
> Does linux use BIOS calls to interface to hardware or can it be made to talk
> directly to the hardware?
Linux mostly uses the pc BIOS as a glorified bootloader. Most PC hardware
requires the BIOS to set up the hardware, turn on caches, and generally get the
box ready for an OS to run. Once it is running, Linux ignores the BIOS (except
for a few evil things such as the abomination that is APM). VESA framebuffer
also uses the BIOS to set things up, after which the BIOS is ignored.
Anyways, yes it is very possible to run linux with only the smallest bit of
bootloader firmware. No, Linux does not use all the silly Bios interrupts.
Running on a NS GEODE is easy as cake (unless you are a midi user).
-Erik
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Erik B. Andersen email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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