Bug 144653 – No Handbook for Intel EM64T processors (Core 2 Duo etc.)

• Product: [OLD] Docs on www.gentoo.org
• Status: RESOLVED INVALID

[Description paapaa125 2006-08-21 09:22:50 UTC]

There is no 64-bit Handbook for Core 2 Duo or other Intel 64-bit processors supporting EM64T. There should be a handbook which shows what flags, stage tarballs and keywords to use. One or the other should be done:

1. AMD64 handbook could be turned into a general 64-bit Handbook which contains information which applies both to AMD64 and EM64T installations. The name "AMD64" should be changed to something more general.

2. A new Handbook could be made available which focuses on EM64T installations.

There should be no "AMD bias" in the Handbooks or in Gentoo Linux in general. (Of course, the keyword "amd64" is not the best one for the same reasons).

[Comment 1 Łukasz Damentko (RETIRED) 2006-08-21 09:28:24 UTC]

This Handbook is a product of the Gentoo/AMD64 team which focuses on preparing Gentoo to work on the AMD64 processors. Since we have no Gentoo/EM64T project, there's nobody to write and maintain such instructions.

[Comment 2 nm (RETIRED) 2006-08-21 09:30:05 UTC]

The AMD64 handbook specifically mentions that it is for AMD64/EM64T processors. Unfortunately, there are no specific CFLAGs for Core 2 Duo yet, not until GCC upstream includes them.

Wait until 2006.1; you'll see even more references to EM64T. An "AMD64 handbook" is perfectly good for EM64T processors; please read it more carefully.

[Comment 3 Jonathan Smith (RETIRED) 2006-08-21 09:42:02 UTC]

amd64 was around before Intel chips by the same design, and AMD also donated quite a bit of hardware to Gentoo (pitr and friends), so I'm ok with leaving the keyword amd64 (but thats another bug anyway).

[Comment 4 paapaa125 2006-08-21 09:45:53 UTC]

Yes, I've read the amd64 Handbook and I know it can be applied to EM64T installations. Please consider this:

1. The name "amd64" (the Handbook name) implies it is only suitable for AMD64 processors. If it is meant to be used with Intel processors it would be nice to have a less misleading name. Does it really say in the amd64 Handbook that it is for EM64T processors also? Can't seem to find it. I only found a few EM64T flags commented out in a few code listings. I mean this doc:

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-amd64.xml?full=1  

EM64T is only mentioned in the project description, not in the Handbook.

2. The "Hardware requirements" says: "CPU: Any AMD64 CPU". Maybe this could be updated to "Any AMD64/EM64T CPU". Or maybe this has been done in 2006.1 Handbook.

It is very good if 2006.1 brings more info to EM64T users (Although I'm not one of them...) Thank you for that!