Re: [PATCH] x86/smpboot: Remove 486-isms from the modern AP boot path

[Maciej W. Rozycki]

On Wed, 25 Mar 2020, Thomas Gleixner wrote:

> >>@@ -1118,7 +1121,7 @@ static int do_boot_cpu(int apicid, int cpu,
> >>struct task_struct *idle,
> >> 		}
> >> 	}
> >> 
> >>-	if (x86_platform.legacy.warm_reset) {
> >>+	if (!APIC_INTEGRATED(boot_cpu_apic_version)) {
> >> 		/*
> >> 		 * Cleanup possible dangling ends...
> >> 		 */
> >
> > We don't support SMP on 486 and haven't for a very long time. Is there
> > any reason to retain that code at all?
> 
> Not that I'm aware off.

 For the record: this code is for Pentium really, covering original P5 
systems, which lacked integrated APIC, as well as P54C systems that went 
beyond dual (e.g. ALR made quad-SMP P54C systems).  They all used external 
i82489DX APICs for SMP support.  Few were ever manufactured and getting 
across one let alone running Linux might be tough these days.  I never 
managed to get one for myself, which would have been helpful for 
maintaining this code.

 Even though we supported them by spec I believe we never actually ran MP 
on any 486 SMP system (Alan Cox might be able to straighten me out on 
this); none that I know of implemented the MPS even though actual hardware 
might have used the APIC architecture.  Compaq had its competing solution 
for 486 and newer SMP, actually deployed, the name of which I long forgot.  
We never supported it due to the lack of documentation combined with the 
lack of enough incentive for someone to reverse-engineer it.

 FWIW,

  Maciej