> On Tue, 9 May 2000, Antony Platt wrote:
>
> > The problem
> >
> > On a Compaq Proliant 4500R
> > Linux only recognises 1 CPU
> >
> > it has 4 x 133Mhz boards in it
> [...]
> > Here is a response from the Compaq 7 linux mailing list I received
> >
> > > The problem is that the PL4500 is an entirely EISA based system. This
> > came
> > > out before the current methods used today which are "Full Table" and
"Full
> > > Table Mapped." In this case, even if there was a choice for APIC mode
on
> > > the PL4500, it would have only 1 selection: "EISA Mapped" Linux is
> > > currently unable to use processors under this mapping scheme (as far
as I
> > > know). Maybe someone is willing to devote some time, effort, and
skill to
> > > allow Linux to run on the "EISA Mapped" de of multiprocessing. The
only
> > > systems affected by this are most of the EISA only based servers.
>
> I don't know what "EISA Mapped" means and how it relates to SMP.
>
> Linux supports EISA-only i386/SMP systems since 2.0 provided they are
> Intel "Multiprocessor Specification" (MPS) compliant. In particular, it
> means a BIOS needs to set up at least a valid "MP floating pointer" and
> optionally an "MP table" which together define MP resources available in a
> given system and how they are located. This requirement is completely
> unrelated to EISA presence or absence -- MPS fully defines the handling of
> about any bus in existence.
>
> Ask them if the sytem is Intel-MP compliant -- if not, it will only boot
> UP. If it is, then try the 2.3.99-pre6 kernel as someone already
> suggested.
>
> > So my question is, does the kernel tree for future Linux's have a plan
to
> > implement these types of machines??
>
> If the system is not Intel-MP compliant, then ask them for a pointer to a
> specification the system adheres to. Given appropriate docs we might
> consider writing code to support your system.
>
> > As there is many brands (HP Digital Compaq etc) that have servers based
on
> > this type of config.
>
> Almost all systems in existence are Intel MPS compliant. Given the spec
> is available since 1995 and hardware recommendations for platform-wide
> compatibility are available since 1992 (specified in docs for 82489DX APIC
> chips), I see no point for the manufacturer in making a system non Intel
> MPS compliant. Implementing of the aforementioned "MP floating pointer"
> and "MP table" is a trivial task for a BIOS programmer.
Thanks Maciej,
These Compaq servers, I don't think conform to the Intel Multiprocessor
specs
As they were built before the specs were finalised 91' 92' models
Here is a note from another user of the Compaq and Linux mailing list
==========
I've done some research on this topic, and here's a list of ProLiant SMP
servers that use Compaq's original EISA SMP architecture (using an MPIC),
which currently doesn't work under Linux. These servers currently will only
use one processor under Linux:
SystemPro/XL
ProLiant 2000
ProLiant 4000
ProLiant 4500
In an order to guage the interest for running Linux SMP on these servers,
please send me an email and let me know how many of these old servers you
have (with multiple processors) that you would like to run Linux SMP.
Thanks,
John Cagle
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
=============
Most other OS's out there can find and use these machines extra CPU's, So I
presume Compaq will or has released the code ??
Maybe it isn't all that different from the Normal Multiprocessor spec ??
Than again maybe it is ??
As an example Compaqs implementation of the ncr53x710 SCSI controller on
older servers would't work with the Linux drivers.
Seems the linux drivers were only written to look for an ncr53x710
controller on the PCI bus. And Compaq implements it on the EISA bus.
So it was only a minor change to get the driver working on these compaq
servers.
Just a thought
Tony Platt
Down Under
-
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