RFC:new superio proposal

[Bari Ari]

ron minnich wrote:

>Abstract:
>	The superio architecture for linuxbios has worked for the last 2 
>years but is being stretched to the limit by the changes in superio chips. 
>The architecture depended on superio resources being relatively constant 
>between chips, but this assumption no longer holds. In this document we 
>propose several alternatives and solicit comments. 
>
>  
>
Another change in super i/o resources is the use of a microprocessor 
rather than a hardwired super i/o chip. In laptops and mobile devices 
the current and future trend is to use a 16 bit cpu with I/O ports (PS2, 
serial, parallel, keyboard scan, GPIO, SMbus) that interfaces to the 
chipset using LPC bus. The 16 bit cpu has internal flash for the 
firmware that may be reprogrammed in circuit via the LPC and/or other 
ports. This cpu is used as a system power keyboard controller as well as 
super i/o.

We have been working a bit on having open firmware for these as well.

The new super i/o structure of freebios2 should also account for these 
changes.

--Bari