Re: [coreboot] Is Xeon E5 supported?

[Nico Huber]

Hi Zheng,

On 19.02.2017 13:24, Zheng Bao wrote:
> Hi, All,
>
> We are evaluating a resolution, which requires more than four x8 PCIE lane.
>
> We assume Intel Xeon E5 can meet this requirement.
>
> I am not quite familar with Intel platform. I am wondering if coreboot supports Xeon E5.

short version: No.

For current Intel platforms you need support in two places: The silicon
initialization blob (FSP) and some more support code in coreboot. For
the latter part the question can easily be answered with no. For FSP
(which you'd need anyway) it's hard to find an answer for higher-end
products. Even if you only ask about support for desktop processors,
the answers vary from yes (verbal) to no answer / relaying the question
(in written form). The list of supported platforms in the FSP release
notes is usually useless.

I don't know how much work on the coreboot part would need to be done.
But if you want to evaluate that, ask Intel first, if your targeted
platform is / will be supported by FSP.

Nico

Is Xeon E5 supported?

[Zoran Stojsavljevic]

> Even if you only ask about support for desktop processors,
> the answers vary from yes (verbal) to no answer / relaying the question
> (in written form).

*The list of supported platforms in the FSP release> notes is usually
useless.*

I like what you wrote here... I never ever (myself) understood what are
criteria INTEL chooses to support various skus with FSP.

Most likely, the mobile skus are supported as mobile skus belong to INTEL
IOT strategy, as my best understanding is.

FSP server support is not there, although INTEL supports BDX-DE FSP
(supposed to be also part of INTEL IOT). And I think BDX-DE might cover
this requirement: support more than four x8 PCIE lane.

But this must be checked further.

Zoran

On Sun, Feb 19, 2017 at 3:24 PM, Nico Huber  wrote:
> Hi Zheng,
>
> On 19.02.2017 13:24, Zheng Bao wrote:
> > Hi, All,
> >
> > We are evaluating a resolution, which requires more than four x8 PCIE
>
> lane.
> > We assume Intel Xeon E5 can meet this requirement.
> >
> > I am not quite familar with Intel platform. I am wondering if coreboot
>
> supports Xeon E5.
>
> short version: No.
>
> For current Intel platforms you need support in two places: The silicon
> initialization blob (FSP) and some more support code in coreboot. For
> the latter part the question can easily be answered with no. For FSP
> (which you'd need anyway) it's hard to find an answer for higher-end
> products. Even if you only ask about support for desktop processors,
> the answers vary from yes (verbal) to no answer / relaying the question
> (in written form). The list of supported platforms in the FSP release
> notes is usually useless.
>
> I don't know how much work on the coreboot part would need to be done.
> But if you want to evaluate that, ask Intel first, if your targeted
> platform is / will be supported by FSP.
>
> Nico