Bug 34219 – More guidance needed for [Ultra] SPARC hardware in kernel options

• Product: [OLD] Docs-user
• Status: RESOLVED FIXED

[Description Chris Baker 2003-11-23 14:14:32 UTC]

I would like to see a little more info on kernel support options that are 
required for certain harware configurations.  I know this is a large topic, 
what with all the SPARC hardware out there, but at least the selections are 
more limited than for x86, especially if you stick to the most common 
platforms.  :)

Specifially, items that slowed me down, causing me to boot more than once, 
chroot, Google search, and re-compile were:

ATA/IDE/MFM/RLL support  --->
   IDE, ATA and ATAPI Block devices  --->

Console drivers  --->
   Frame-buffer support  --->

For my specific configuration, UltraSPARC (Ultra 5/10), the IDE chipset is a 
CMD646.  Since there is no useful information in the help (under make 
menuconfig) for this chipset, it is not readily obvious that it's the correct 
selection.  In fact, the only help option on that screen that mentions SPARC64 
is NS87415, which is, in fact, incorrect for an Ultra 5/10.  I identified the 
correct chipset through a Google Groups search, during which I stumbled upon 
several Ultra 5 boot display captures (from people trying to solve various 
other problems) in which CMD646 was listed as being detected.  (Perhaps also 
passing this bug up to the Linux kernel people to get Sun Ultra 5/10 added to 
the help for CMD646 in the kernel config would be useful.)

Secondly, and less-esoterically, specifying the video for the on-board PGX24 
in the Ultra 5 as ATI Mach64 would also be useful.  I was fortunate enough to 
have already made a mental note of that, but some installers may not have.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:

[Comment 1 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2003-11-23 21:27:42 UTC]

Kernel configuration is difficult to explain without just copying the kernel-howto verbatim. The Gentoo Handbook already contains a bit more kernel-configuration information (see http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook.xml?part=1&chap=7#doc_chap2).

I am not going to extend the gentoo-sparc-install.xml file itself; extentions should immediately go to the handbook.

It is fairly impossible to extend a guide with the information for all users their hardware to compile a kernel. 

[Comment 2 Chris Baker 2003-11-24 03:20:56 UTC]

Ahh, I wasn't even aware of the SPARC info in the handbook.  Perhaps a link in the installation guide to that would be good in addition to adding more SPARC-specific info to the handbook.

Admittedly, covering every conceivable peice of hardware would be daunting, but I wonder how many different SCSI/IDE/Video chipsets there are in the SparcStation and Ultra lines?  That would catch the majority of users, I would think, especially the hobbyist-class that is less likely to know their hardware that well off hand.

[Comment 3 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2003-11-24 05:57:32 UTC]

The sparc installation guide in itself is obsoleted by the handbook installation 
instructions. It is however maintained until januari '04 when Gentoo's next 
release is made. 

It is adviseable that all users use the handbook instructions as they are more 
clear.

[Comment 4 Chris Baker 2003-11-24 08:41:06 UTC]

Odd that the installation guide receieves front page billing on www.gentoo.org then.  I never considered using anything else!  :)

[Comment 5 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2003-11-25 10:05:16 UTC]

The front page billing has been updated to use the Handbook instructions.

I am hesitating to mark this one as WONTFIX. I understand that more information regarding kernel configuration can be interesting, but I'm not sure this is really needed in se. 

If some users request it we can always place it in the FAQ, right?

[Comment 6 Ciaran McCreesh 2003-11-25 10:16:49 UTC]

Once we have genkernel (eww) on sparc it won't be as much of a problem, presumably...

[Comment 7 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2003-11-25 10:39:35 UTC]

Ja

[Comment 8 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2003-11-25 10:39:35 UTC]

Jaïkes, you said one of the g-words! :)

[Comment 9 Joe Kallar (RETIRED) 2003-11-25 12:05:57 UTC]

Chris,

Actually, I did try to specify as much hardware specific information as possible, for the same reasons; more than you'll find on other arch installation guides, IIRC.

Thanks for the note, I will add the ATI Mach64 info to the guide. If you can specify any other hardware, it would also be appreciated.

Sven,

I've been adding it in the install docs, as a time/hassle saver, but it's not required. You could leave it as NEW, and I'll nail it.

[Comment 10 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2003-11-25 12:18:23 UTC]

Okay, I'll let you do "your thing" then :)

[Comment 11 Chris Baker 2003-11-25 14:31:54 UTC]

Joe / Sven,

Thanks for all the hard work and consideration!  :)

The only other thing I would specifically add is "CMD Technology Inc PCI0646 (rev 3)"
(CMD646) as the IDE chipset for Ultra 5/10.

cat /proc/pci reports "ATI Technologies Inc 3D Rage Pro 215GP (rev 92)" which is for PGX24
graphics on-board, I think.  PGX8 might (probably does) use a different chipset.

[Comment 12 Chris Baker 2003-11-25 14:40:09 UTC]

P.S. (Sorry!)

The AGP 3D Rage Pro 215GP doesn't *exactly* match up to a kernel option, but what I used was:

Console drivers
    --->  Frame-buffer support
    <*> ATI Mach64 display support (EXPERIMENTAL)
        [*] Mach64 GX support (EXPERIMENTAL) (NEW)
        [*] Mach64 CT/VT/GT/LT (incl. 3D RAGE) support (NEW)
    [*] PCI Framebuffers
        <*> ATI Mach64 display support

...however, I suspect that Mach64 GX support is unnecessary.  No real guidance in the kernel
help, though.

[Comment 13 Sven Blumenstein (RETIRED) 2003-11-25 14:57:05 UTC]

>> The AGP 3D Rage Pro 215GP doesn't *exactly* match 
>> up to a kernel option, but what I used was:

You got AGP in your Sparc? 

And it does match up to a kernel option:

>>       [*] Mach64 CT/VT/GT/LT (incl. 3D RAGE) support (NEW)

It says "incl. 3D RAGE" :)

[Comment 14 Chris Baker 2003-11-25 15:06:29 UTC]

LOL and :P to you!  :)

Should read "ATI" and by "not-exactly" I meant that it says "3D Rage" not "3D Rage Pro" and that it doesn't specify a "GP" chipset.  I agree that, given the available info, I would "guess" that choice, but I've guessed wrong plenty before!

[Comment 15 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) 2004-03-09 04:42:54 UTC]

Somebody assimilated blademen in their hive and now he's gone :S

[Comment 16 Jason Wever (RETIRED) 2004-04-18 07:57:04 UTC]

Chris,

Between the Handbook and the FAQ, are your concerns about hardware coverage met?

[Comment 17 Jason Wever (RETIRED) 2004-05-30 19:54:35 UTC]

Marking this as resolved.  If you feel the current information isn't enough, please re-open and let us know why and what you feel could be improved.