diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'en')
| -rw-r--r-- | en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml | 42 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | en/hardware/supported/sparc.xml | 118 |
2 files changed, 94 insertions, 66 deletions
diff --git a/en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml b/en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml index 44acf92c6..244e8425f 100644 --- a/en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml +++ b/en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml @@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ as well. &supported-s390.xml; &supported-sparc.xml; - <sect2 id="gfx" arch="not-s390"><title>Graphics Card</title> + <sect2 id="gfx" arch="not-s390"><title>Graphics Card Support</title> <para arch="x86"> You should be using a VGA-compatible display interface for the console @@ -259,6 +259,30 @@ slots and support VGA emulation or Linux framebuffer on a selected range of graphics cards. A <ulink url="&url-bcm91250a-hardware;">compatibility listing</ulink> for Broadcom evaluation boards is available. +</para><para arch="sparc"> + +Most graphics options commonly found on Sparc-based machines are supported. +X.org graphics drivers are available for sunbw2, suncg14, suncg3, suncg6, +sunleo and suntcx framebuffers, Creator3D and Elite3D cards (sunffb driver), +PGX24/PGX64 ATI-based video cards (ati driver), and PermediaII-based cards +(glint driver). To use an Elite3D card with X.org you additionally need to +install the <classname>afbinit</classname> package, and read the documentation +included with it on how to activate the card. + +</para><para arch="sparc"> + +It is not uncommon for a Sparc machine to have two graphics cards in a +default configuration. In such a case there is a possibility that the +Linux kernel will not direct its output to the card initially used by the +firmware. The lack of output on the graphical console may then be mistaken +for a hang (usually the last message seen on console is 'Booting Linux...'). +One possible solution is to physically remove one of the video cards; +another option is to disable one of the cards using a kernel boot parameter. +Also, if graphical output is not required or desired, serial console may be +used as an alternative. On some systems use of serial console can be +activated automatically by disconnecting the keyboard before booting the +system. + </para> </sect2> @@ -277,7 +301,7 @@ with GNU/Linux, see the <title>Multiple Processors</title> <para> -Multi-processor support — also called <quote>symmetric multi-processing</quote> +Multiprocessor support — also called <quote>symmetric multiprocessing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture. The standard Debian &release; kernel image was compiled with SMP support. This should not prevent installation, since the SMP kernel should boot on non-SMP systems; @@ -300,8 +324,8 @@ section of the kernel config. <para> -Multi-processor support — also called <quote>symmetric -multi-processing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture. +Multiprocessor support — also called <quote>symmetric +multiprocessing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture. The standard Debian &release; kernel image was compiled with <firstterm>SMP-alternatives</firstterm> support. This means that the kernel will detect the number of processors (or processor cores) and will @@ -319,8 +343,8 @@ is not compiled with SMP support. <title>Multiple Processors</title> <para> -Multi-processor support — also called <quote>symmetric -multi-processing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture. +Multiprocessor support — also called <quote>symmetric +multiprocessing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture. However, the standard Debian &release; kernel image does not support SMP. This should not prevent installation, since the standard, non-SMP kernel should boot on SMP systems; the kernel will simply use @@ -342,8 +366,8 @@ section of the kernel config. <title>Multiple Processors</title> <para> -Multi-processor support — also called <quote>symmetric -multi-processing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture, +Multiprocessor support — also called <quote>symmetric +multiprocessing</quote> or SMP — is available for this architecture, and is supported by a precompiled Debian kernel image. Depending on your install media, this SMP-capable kernel may or may not be installed by default. This should not prevent installation, since the standard, @@ -356,6 +380,8 @@ In order to take advantage of multiple processors, you should check to see if a kernel package that supports SMP is installed, and if not, choose an appropriate kernel package. +</para><para> + You can also build your own customized kernel to support SMP. You can find a discussion of how to do this in <xref linkend="kernel-baking"/>. At this time (kernel version &kernelversion;) the way you enable SMP is to select diff --git a/en/hardware/supported/sparc.xml b/en/hardware/supported/sparc.xml index 0086365f2..31ffeca6a 100644 --- a/en/hardware/supported/sparc.xml +++ b/en/hardware/supported/sparc.xml @@ -1,82 +1,84 @@ <!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking --> <!-- $Id$ --> - - <sect2 arch="sparc" id="sparc-cpus"><title>CPU, Main Boards, and Video Support</title> + <sect2 arch="sparc" id="sparc-cpus"> + <title>CPU and Main Boards Support</title> <para> -Currently the <emphasis>&architecture;</emphasis> port supports -several types of Sparc systems. The most common identifiers for Sparc -systems are sun4, sun4c, sun4m, sun4d and sun4u. Currently we do not -support very old sun4 hardware. However, the other systems are -supported. Sun4d has been tested the least of these, so expect -possible problems with regard to the kernel stability. Sun4c and -Sun4m, the most common of the older Sparc hardware, includes such -systems as SparcStation 1, 1+, IPC, IPX and the SparcStation LX, 5, -10, and 20, respectively. The UltraSPARC class systems fall under the -sun4u identifier, and are supported using the sun4u set of install -images. Some systems that fall under these supported identifiers are -known to not be supported. Known unsupported systems are the AP1000 -multicomputer and the Tadpole Sparcbook 1. See the -<ulink url="&url-sparc-linux-faq;">Linux for SPARCProcessors FAQ</ulink> -for complete information. +Sparc-based hardware is divided into a number of different subarchitectures, +identified by one of the following names: sun4, sun4c, sun4d, sun4m, sun4u +or sun4v. The following list describes what machines they include and what +level of support may be expected for each of them. </para> - <sect3><title>Memory Configuration</title> -<para> +<variablelist> +<varlistentry> +<term>sun4, sun4c, sun4d</term> -Some older Sun workstations, notably the Sun IPX and Sun IPC have -memory banks located at fixed locations in physical memory. Thus if -the banks are not filled gaps will exist in the physical memory space. -The Linux installation requires a contiguous memory block into which -to load the kernel and the initial RAMdisk. If this is not available a -<quote>Data Access Exception</quote> will result. +<listitem><para> -</para><para> +These subarchitectures include some very old 32-bit machines, which are +no longer supported. For a complete list please consult the +<ulink url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPARCstation">Wikipedia +SPARCstation page</ulink>. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> -Thus you must configure the memory so that the lowest memory block is -contiguous for at least 8Mb. In the IPX and IPC cited above, memory banks -are mapped in at 16Mb boundaries. In effect this means that you must have -a sufficiently large SIMM in bank zero to hold the kernel and RAMdisk. -In this case 4Mb is <emphasis>not</emphasis> sufficient. +<varlistentry> +<term>sun4m</term> + +<listitem><para> + +sun4m is the only 32-bit subarchitecture (sparc32) that is currently +supported. The most popular machines belonging to this class are +Sparcstation 4, 5, 10 and 20. </para><para> -Example: -In a Sun IPX you have a 16Mb SIMM and a 4Mb SIMM. There are four -SIMM banks (0,1,2,3). [Bank zero is that furthest away from the SBUS -connectors]. You must therefore install the 16Mb SIMM in bank 0; it is -then recommended to install the 4Mb SIMM in bank 2. +Note that symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) — the ability to run +processes on multiple processors — is not supported on this hardware, +due to stability problems with such configurations. The available +uniprocessor (UP) sparc32 kernel will boot fine on multiprocessor +machines, although it will activate and use only the first CPU. -</para> - </sect3> +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> - <sect3><title>Graphics Configuration</title> -<para> +<varlistentry> +<term>sun4u</term> -Especially in the case of older Sun workstations, it is very common -for there to be an onboard framebuffer which has been superseded (for -example the bwtwo on a sun IPC), and an SBUS card containing a later -probably accelerated buffer is then plugged in to an SBUS slot. -Under Solaris/SunOS this causes no problems because both cards are -initialized. +<listitem><para> -</para><para> +This subarchitecture includes all 64-bit machines (sparc64) based on +the UltraSparc processor and its clones. Most of the machines are well +supported, even though for some you may experience problems booting from +CD due to firmware or bootloader bugs (this problem may be worked around +by using netbooting). Use the sparc64 or sparc64-smp kernel in UP and SMP +configurations respectively. -However with Linux this can cause a problem, in that the boot PROM -monitor may display its output on this additional card; however the -linux kernel boot messages may then be directed to the original on -board framebuffer, leaving <emphasis>no</emphasis> error messages on -the screen, with the machine apparently stuck loading the RAMdisk. +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> -</para><para> +<varlistentry> +<term>sun4v</term> + +<listitem><para> + +This is the newest addition to the Sparc family, which includes machines +based on the Niagara multi-core CPUs. At the moment such CPUs are only +available in T1000 and T2000 servers by Sun, and are well supported. Use +the sparc64-smp kernel. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> +</variablelist> + +<para> -To avoid this problem, connect the monitor (if required) to the video -card in the lowest numbered SBUS slot (on motherboard card counts -as below external slots). Alternatively it is possible to use a serial -console. +Note that Fujitsu's SPARC64 CPUs used in PRIMEPOWER family of servers are not +supported due to lack of support in the Linux kernel. </para> - </sect3> </sect2> |