Hello All,
Can anyone give me some feedback on using LinuxBIOS on the following:
EPoX 8KTA3 Mainboard AMD Athlon 1GHz Socket A "lspci" output follows AGP Video Card - ATI Radeon PLCC with Award BIOS v6.0 (flashed updates with awdflash.exe) Some MBs may also have an optional RAID chip. http://www.epox.com/USA/product.asp?ID=EP-8KTA3
As it uses VIA chip I'm hoping for the best. I'm currently using SuSE Linux 9.3 (2.6 Kernel) and Windows 2000 booting from GRUB on the MBR of boot partition and would like LinuxBIOS to call the MBR (so LinuxBIOS only needs to do the minimum).
NOTE: It seems to me that much of the configuration of a system can be derived from a linux installation directly such that the LinuxBIOS make can "read" a system its compiling on and set itself up. Particularly, it could "lspci", read the active BIOS or a supplied BIOS file for the video, etc. with very little user intervention and create an appropriate LinuxBIOS for the machine. Yeah, I know, what if you need to compile on one machine and feed to another? But, how about a "what if you don't" option? Could it be made to do it automagically?
linux:~ # lspci -vvv 0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8363/8365 [KT133/KM133] (rev 03) Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR+ Latency: 8 Region 0: Memory at d8000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) Capabilities: [a0] AGP version 2.0 Status: RQ=32 Iso- ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA+ ITACoh- GART64- HTrans- 64bit- FW+ AGP3- Rate=x1,x2,x4 Command: RQ=1 ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA+ AGP+ GART64- 64bit- FW- Rate=x4 Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8363/8365 [KT133/KM133 AGP] (prog-if 00 [Normal decode]) Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz+ UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0 I/O behind bridge: 0000a000-0000afff Memory behind bridge: dc000000-ddffffff Prefetchable memory behind bridge: d0000000-d7ffffff Expansion ROM at 0000a000 [disabled] [size=4K] BridgeCtl: Parity- SERR- NoISA+ VGA+ MAbort- >Reset- FastB2B- Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (rev 40) Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686/A PCI to ISA Bridge Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping+ SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 0 Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT8233/A/C/VT8235 PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP]) Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT8233/A/C/VT8235 PIPC Bus Master IDE Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 Region 4: I/O ports at b000 [size=16] Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 16) (prog-if 00 [UHCI]) Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. (Wrong ID) USB Controller Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32, cache line size 08 Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 10 Region 4: I/O ports at b400 [size=32] Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 16) (prog-if 00 [UHCI]) Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. (Wrong ID) USB Controller Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32, cache line size 08 Interrupt: pin D routed to IRQ 10 Region 4: I/O ports at b800 [size=32] Capabilities: [80] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:07.4 Bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 40) Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] Control: I/O- Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Interrupt: pin ? routed to IRQ 9 Capabilities: [68] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:07.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 50) Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc. Onboard Audio on EP7KXA Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster- SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Interrupt: pin C routed to IRQ 5 Region 0: I/O ports at bc00 Region 1: I/O ports at c000 [size=4] Region 2: I/O ports at c400 [size=4] Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1- D2- AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:08.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 08) Subsystem: Creative Labs CT4760 SBLive! Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 (500ns min, 5000ns max) Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 3 Region 0: I/O ports at c800 Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:08.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! MIDI/Game Port (rev 08) Subsystem: Creative Labs Gameport Joystick Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 Region 0: I/O ports at cc00 Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:00:09.0 Unknown mass storage controller: Promise Technology, Inc. 20262 (rev 01) Subsystem: Promise Technology, Inc. Ultra66 Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap- 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 11 Region 0: I/O ports at d000 Region 1: I/O ports at d400 [size=4] Region 2: I/O ports at d800 [size=8] Region 3: I/O ports at dc00 [size=4] Region 4: I/O ports at e000 [size=64] Region 5: Memory at df000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
0000:00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: National Semiconductor Corporation DP83815 (MacPhyter) Ethernet Controller Subsystem: Netgear FA311 / FA312 (FA311 with WoL HW) Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 (2750ns min, 13000ns max) Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 5 Region 0: I/O ports at e400 Region 1: Memory at df020000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=320mA PME(D0+,D1+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME+
0000:00:0b.0 Ethernet controller: National Semiconductor Corporation DP83815 (MacPhyter) Ethernet Controller Subsystem: Netgear FA311 / FA312 (FA311 with WoL HW) Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 (2750ns min, 13000ns max) Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 10 Region 0: I/O ports at e800 Region 1: Memory at df021000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K] Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=320mA PME(D0+,D1+,D2+,D3hot+,D3cold+) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R100 QD [Radeon 7200] (prog-if 00 [VGA]) Subsystem: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon AIW Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping+ SERR- FastB2B- Status: Cap+ 66Mhz+ UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- Latency: 32 (2000ns min), cache line size 08 Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 3 Region 0: Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) Region 1: I/O ports at a000 [size=256] Region 2: Memory at dd000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K] Capabilities: [58] AGP version 2.0 Status: RQ=48 Iso- ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA+ ITACoh- GART64- HTrans- 64bit- FW- AGP3- Rate=x1,x2,x4 Command: RQ=32 ArqSz=0 Cal=0 SBA+ AGP+ GART64- 64bit- FW- Rate=x4 Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2 Flags: PMEClk- DSI- D1+ D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-) Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-