Re: Cyrix Detection -- NO SMP, please ?????

Gregory Maxwell (linker@z.ml.org)
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 13:49:38 -0400 (EDT)


> No. It's kernel issue. Installation CD has image of ONE, EXACTLY ONE floppy
> (1.44" -- even 2.88" not supported by all BIOS'es). Since this floppy MUST
> include kernel and all drivers needed to obtain access to CD this effectively
> means that this floppy could include EXACTLY ONE kernel -- SMP one since we
> must detect SMP :-)
>

No, that is the NT way. The dist will use a Userspace tool. The UP kernel
will work on more systems. Using a SMP kernel will just cause problems.

> You are wrong. It's kernel issue.

Sorry, sir.. You are wrong.

> 1. BEFORE distribution will select ANYTHING installation program MUST be
> able to start. Since installation program is program for Linux.

I dont know of any SMP systems that dont work just dandy with a UP kernel.

> 2. [Almost] All features MUST be turned on by default. For one or two (SMP?)
> distribution could produce special versions. Distribution COULD not include
> kernels with multicasting/winthout multicastion, with IPv6/without IPv6 (when
> IPv6 will not be experimental, i.e.) etc. Why ? It's simple: if you have,
> for example, 10 features which must be handled in the "SMP fashion" you'll
> need 1024 kernel configuration; if you have 20 such features -- 1048576 kernel
> configurations, etc.

There arnt many config options that touch all the kernel like SMP does. I
can only only think of two: Arch and SMP.

> See above. One SMP issue ALREADY is VERY PAINFULL for distribution creators,
> few other such things and distributions will require hundreds of CD's :-((
> Distribution people not god's. CD's (notable bootable CD's) has A LOT OF
> limitations (also CD is "only" 650Mb in size :-) -- that's why kernel suitable
> for testing and kernel suitable for distribution are very different beasts.

What dis creator is saying SMP is a pain?

> P.S. Remember: good, friendly distributions are essentional for Linux now when
> a lot of users are not hackers. Help distribution makers to create such things.
> Till this will not ruin kernel clearness, of course :-))

Maby it will be a consideration if an actual dist maker complains.
This is better done from userspace.

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