Re: [PATCH] quiet MMCONFIG related printks

From: Arjan van de Ven
Date: Wed Jan 03 2007 - 12:01:43 EST


On Wed, 2007-01-03 at 08:49 -0800, Jesse Barnes wrote:
> On Wednesday, January 3, 2007 5:53 am, Arjan van de Ven wrote:
> > On Mon, 2007-01-01 at 21:01 -0800, Jesse Barnes wrote:
> > > Using MMCONFIG for PCI config space access is simply an
> > > optimization, not a requirement. Therefore, when it can't be used,
> > > there's no need for KERN_ERR level message. This patch makes the
> > > message a KERN_INFO instead to reduce some of the noise in a kernel
> > > boot with the 'quiet' option. (Note that this has no effect on a
> > > normal boot, which is ridiculously verbose these days.)
> >
> > this is wrong, please leave this loud complaint in...
>
> So the issues as I understand them:
> o some BIOSes are broken and don't properly map MCFG space (though
> according to Petr V. reserving MCFG space in e820 is optional, so
> the test may be slightly wrong as-is)

it's optional but it's the best test we have for "is the bios total
crap" ;(

> o MCFG space is required for (many) PCIe devices (any regular PCI
> devices?)

it's not required for *many* (it can't be, windows XP doesn't use MCFG),
but it's required for some of the advanced PCI-E features

> o often, there's nothing the user can do to address the points above

other than complain to the vendor.

>
> So where does that leave us? I've got what I consider to be a stupid
> error message in my log.

contact your bios vendor.

> My system behavior isn't affected in any way
> (at least that I can tell), yet I get a loud complaint at boot time.
>
> I guess I just have to live with it?

We really really should complain about bios issues. If only to make sure
vendors who do pay attention to linux have a chance of finding and
fixing them (and via the firmware kit, several big vendors pay attention
early on nowadays)

--
if you want to mail me at work (you don't), use arjan (at) linux.intel.com
Test the interaction between Linux and your BIOS via http://www.linuxfirmwarekit.org

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