Subject: netBSD support for dual-Xeon. E7500, Hyper-Threading ...
To: None <tech-embed@netbsd.org>
From: David Francheski <davidf@caymas.com>
List: tech-embed
Date: 09/27/2002 11:51:04
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Can anyone tell me if netBSD supports the dual-Xeon architecture
with E7500 chipset? This would require netBSD to be SMP capable
at a minimum (which I believe it is?).
The Xeon has a feature called Hyper-Threading which enables the
single physical processor to appear as two logical processors
(completely transparent to the OS). The only requirement is for
the OS to detect the presence of the logical processors by reading
the ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) table maintained
by the BIOS.
Can netBSD already read the ACPI?
My last question is whether or not netBSD can differentiate between the
logical
and physical processors themselves. For performance reasons, the
kernel
should schedule processes/threads to execute on physical processors
first,
followed then by logical processors.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Regards,
David L. Francheski
Caymas Systems, Inc.
5330 Old Redwood Hwy., Suite B
Petaluma, CA 94954
Phone: 1-707-285-3038
FAX: 1-707-285-3001
email: davidf@caymas.com
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<div class=3DSection1>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Can anyone tell me if netBSD supports the dual-Xeon =
architecture</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>with E7500 chipset? This would =
require netBSD
to be SMP capable</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>at a minimum (which I believe it =
is?).</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The Xeon has a feature called Hyper-Threading which =
enables the
</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>single physical processor to appear as two logical =
processors</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>(completely transparent to the OS). The =
only
requirement is for</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>the OS to detect the presence of the logical =
processors by
reading</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>the ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) =
table maintained
by the BIOS.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Can netBSD already read the ACPI?</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>My last question is whether or not netBSD can =
differentiate
between the logical</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>and physical processors themselves. For
performance reasons, the kernel</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>should schedule processes/threads to execute on =
physical
processors first,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>followed then by logical =
processors.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Any help is greatly appreciated.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Regards,</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>David L. Francheski</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Caymas Systems, Inc.</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>5330 Old Redwood Hwy.</span></font><font size=3D2
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, Suite =
B<br>
</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Petaluma</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>CA</span></font><font =
size=3D2
face=3DArial><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> =
</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>94954</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><br>
Phone: 1-707-285-3038</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>FAX: =
1-707-285-3001</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>email: <a =
href=3D"mailto:davidf@caymas.com">davidf@caymas.com</a></span></font></p>=
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style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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