[LinuxBIOS] What must the BIOS initialize in order to have Linux boot?

[Adam Talbot]

What must the BIOS initialize in order to have Linux boot, if the kernel
is the payload.  I know that the dram controller must be up, but what
else?  Super IO is nice for debug reasons, but is it required?.  South
bridge?  Does the modern 2.6 have enough brains to start the south bridge?
-Adam Talbot