Changes between Version 15 and Version 16 of TestingGuide


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Timestamp:
Dec 31, 2011, 7:00:42 PM (12 years ago)
Author:
David Azarewicz
Comment:

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  • TestingGuide

    v15 v16  
    11== Testing Guidelines ==
    22
    3 Your system should *always* boot and run correctly with no PSD installed.  If it
    4 does not, fix those problems first before testing a PSD.
     3Your system should *always* boot and run correctly with no PSD installed. If it does not,
     4fix those problems first before testing a PSD. Note that some systems have a BIOS that
     5does not properly initialize all the devices in the system (Notably Acer), so some
     6devices may not work when booting witout the PSD, but your system should boot.   
    57
    68Your system must have valid ACPI tables in order to use this software. This
    … …  
    810may not function correctly on systems with bad ACPI tables.
    911
    10 
    11 You should be able to install the retail build initially. Use the included update.cmd
    12 command file to install the files in the correct places on your system.
    13 
    14 The PSD= line in your config.sys should not have any switches. This is the normal
    15 configuration and should work for every system:
     12You should be able to install the retail build initially. The PSD= line in your config.sys
     13should not have any switches. This is the normal configuraton and should work for every system:
    1614  PSD=ACPI.PSD
    1715
    18 This default, normal configuration attempts to start the system in Symmetric Mode,
    19 or APIC mode 2, or just Mode 2. You can always tell what mode the system is running
    20 in by using the !AcpiStat utility included in the distribution package. In fact, the
    21 !AcpiStat utility is the only way to determine what mode the system is running in.
    22 If this normal configuration doesn't work properly additional steps can be taken to
    23 restrict the PSD operation.
     16This default, normal configuration attempts to start the system in Symmetric Mode, or APIC mode 2, or just Mode 2. You can always tell what mode the system is running in by using the !AcpiStat utility included in the distribution package. In fact, the !AcpiStat utility is the only way to determine what mode the system is running in. If this normal configuration doesn't work properly additional steps can be taken to restrict the PSD operation.   
    2417
    25 If you suspect IO interrupt configuration issues or PCI configuration issues,
    26 you can try using the /VW switch. When the /VW switch is used, the PSD does not
    27 alter the IO interrupt configuration from the way the BIOS has set it up. The APICs are enabled and multiple CPUs
    28 are enabled. This is known as Virtual Wire mode or APIC mode 1, or just Mode 1.
    29 ACPI and OEMHELP services are still available in Mode 1. 
     18If you suspect IO interrupt configuration issues, you can try using the /VW switch. The /VW switch is also required if you have older device drivers that do not handle interrupt numbers higher than 15. When the /VW switch is used, the PSD does not alter the IO interrupt configuration from the way the BIOS has set it up. The APICs are enabled and multiple CPUs are enabled. ACPI and OEMHELP services are also available. This is known as Virtual Wire mode or APIC mode 1, or just Mode 1.   
    3019
    31 If you suspect multiple CPU issues such as reentrancy problems you can prevent
    32 the kernel from initializing CPUs by using the /MAXCPU=1 switch. This switch
    33 can be used with or without other switches.
     20If you suspect multiple CPU issues such as reentrancy problems you can prevent the kernel from initializing CPUs by using the /MAXCPU=1 switch. Inter-cpu IPIs are also not used when only one cpu is initialized. This switch can be used with or without other switches.   
    3421
    35 You can disable almost all of the configuration that the PSD does by using the
    36 /PIC switch. When the /PIC switch is used, the PSD doesn't touch any of the
    37 interrupt configuration, and it doesn't touch any of the APICs. As a result,
    38 only 1 CPU will be initialized. This system configuration remains in the state
    39 that BIOS has setup except that the PSD may have enabled some PCI devices that
    40 were disabled by the BIOS. The only reason you would want to run a system with
    41 the /PIC switch is for testing purposes. This is known as PIC mode, or Mode 0.
    42 ACPI and OEMHELP services are still available in Mode 0.
     22You can disable almost all of the configuration that the PSD does by using the /PIC switch. When the /PIC switch is used, the PSD doesn't touch any of the interrupt configuration, and it doesn't touch any of the APICs. As a result, only 1 CPU will be initialized. This system configuration remains in the state that BIOS has setup except that the PSD may have enabled some PCI devices that were disabled by the BIOS. The only reason you would want to run a system with the /PIC switch is for testing purposes. ACPI and OEMHELP services are still available in this mode. This is know as PIC mode, or Mode 0.
    4323
    4424Your testing order should be:
    … …  
    5535
    56362. PSD=ACPI.PSD /VW[[BR]]
    57    If the system boots ok -> install debug version, collect logs, report problem[[BR]]
     37   If the system boots ok -> Check to make sure all of your drivers support interrupts
     38   greater than 15. If any of them do not, then this is how you need to run your system.
     39   Otherwise, install debug version, collect logs, report problem
     40
    5841   If the system won't boot, how far does it get?
    5942