[coreboot] dell server BIOS setting insanity

[Carl-Daniel Hailfinger]

On 01.02.2010 04:44, Ward Vandewege wrote:
> I thought I'd point out this little gem from the linux-poweredge list
>
>   http://lists.us.dell.com/pipermail/linux-poweredge/2010-January/041170.html  
>
> Apparently several lines of Dell servers have a BIOS setting called
> "Cores-per-processor".
>
> It seems they ship these machines with the setting configured to 'dual',
> regardless of what CPUs are in the system.
>
> The poor guy who reported this to the list just took delivery of 300 of those
> machines - with quad core CPUs. They show up as dual core until he goes into
> the BIOS and changes the setting. That's also the 'official' solution for the
> problem from the Dell rep.
>
> Seriously.
>   

You must be kidding. I mean, if Dell declare this to be a "feature",
they could go all the way to set the CPUs to single-core.
Poor users.

I envision a new option in Dell order forms: "Apply correct BIOS
settings. $25"

Anyway, could you ask the guy to dump with nvramtool before and after
the settings change? Maybe the settings live in NVRAM. That would make
it scriptable.

Regards,
Carl-Daniel

-- 
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"We are juggling too many chainsaws and flaming arrows and tigers."