request_region: dynamic allocation

Martin Mares (mj@ucw.cz)
Mon, 5 Jul 1999 14:36:45 +0200


Hello Linus,

I'd like to drop the static array from kernel/resource.c (the number of
regions in systems with lots of PCI boards can grow pretty high) and replace it
by dynamic allocation of resource buckets. However, request_region() can be
called before the MM gets initialized (for example in arch/i386/kernel/setup.c
or in console init). I'd like to know your opinion on what path should we
choose:

- "head in the sand" strategy -- just ignore the problem and if it bites
us, increase the array size.

- Try moving all resource mgmt calls after MM init.

- Create a trivial memory allocator (free-less) for allocations before
MM gets inited. This would also save passing of memory_start to many
functions and make parsing of command-line options easier (for now the
drivers need to have their own static arrays for options).

- Use few static resource buckets before MM gets inited and allocate
the rest dynamically.

Have a nice fortnight

-- 
Martin `MJ' Mares   <mj@ucw.cz>   http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~mj/
Faculty of Math and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Rep., Earth
"A. G. Bell is alive and well in New York and still waiting for the dial tone."

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