[PATCH] tsc-disable_B7

From: john stultz (johnstul@us.ibm.com)
Date: Mon Aug 05 2002 - 17:58:07 EST


Marcelo,
        This patch enables a workaround for multi-node NUMA systems that are
experiencing gettimeofday returning "old" time values. Because these
systems are frequently driven by different crystals, the CPUs vary
slightly in frequency causing the TSCs to drift apart. Thus it is
possible for gettimeofday to return time values behind time values
already seen on another cpu. This patch allows people compiling w/
'Multi-node NUMA support' to pass "notsc" or "bad-tsc" as boot
parameters. "notsc" disables rdtsc calls, and forces the kernel to use
the PIT for gettimeofday calucluations (as normally expected w/ i386
compiled kernels). While "bad-tsc" forces the kernel to use the PIT for
gettimeofday, but does not disable TSC access.

Thanks to Matt Wilson for suggestions on this revision.

Comments, suggestions and flames welcome.

thanks
-john



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