On Fri, 24 Mar 2000, Alan Cox wrote:
>Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 17:40:48 +0000 (GMT)
>From: Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>
>To: mharris@meteng.on.ca
>Cc: Linux Kernel mailing list <linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu>
>Subject: Re: VM modules in kernel?
>
>> I was thinking that faster VM speeds may be possible if the
>> kernel can be tweaked more freely due to the GPL nature of the
>> Plex86/bochs projects now.
>
>Remember something here. IBM tuned the hardware to this, and to an extent
>they tuned the software on top of VM. They have a lot of cards to play that
>Motorola m68K chips did but x86 does not.
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here Alan... My
guess is you're taking VM to mean the kernel virtual memory
system, when I'm meaning it to be "virtual machine". So my
sentence really should read 'faster virtual machine speeds'. I
remember a thread earlier this year on IBM tweaking the virtual
memory system so I think that is what you're talking about..
If this is the case, then it is my mistake for using an unclear
abbreviation. ;o)
>Im hoping transmeta can manage to add a virtualised 386 mode to their chip.
>Here's hoping they are listening ;)
>
>In the Linux case we have another weapon (other than fear suprise and the
>cuddly penguin) which is that we don't give two hoots[1] if the kernel running
>on the hypervisor is not a normal x86 kernel. If it provides the APIs and
>it runs x86 user space its fine.
Hmm.. You've lost me a bit here.. Let me guess what you're
getting at..
The 'hypervisor' is a new term to me.. Are you refering to the
Transmeta CPU and it's native mode? If I read you correctly
here, then we could have a native VLIW kernel running on the
Crusoe, which opens an x86 API to userland? Correct me if I'm
wrong.
>Consider the user mode kernel as a more interesting starting point.
The a386 port?
>Alan
>[1] Arguably we don't give one hoot or even a ho[2] either
>[2] half a hoot
Have you been dipping into the bubbly a bit? ;o)
-- Mike A. Harris Linux advocate Computer Consultant GNU advocate Capslock Consulting Open Source advocateI've overclocked my keyboard interface. It's quite messy dipping my hands into the mineral oil, but *MAN* is my keyboard ever fast now! - Anonymous Coward
- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Mar 31 2000 - 21:00:13 EST