ia64: allow user to skip_check_sal_cache_flush

Hi Tony,

A long time ago, when check_sal_cache_flush() was added to work around some broken HP firmware, that workaround broke some other HP platforms with different broken firmware (notably, the rx2600). :-/

There's a firmware fix for the machines in that second category, but if the fix isn't applied and the user attempts to boot a modern kernel, they'll hang.

We also have some HP protos that were never shipped, who will never get an updated firmware, but are actually still useful, assuming we can get them to boot. ;)

It would be nice to get this patch in mainline, so people with known broken firmware can avoid the logic in check_sal_cache_flush if necessary.

Thanks.

/ac

From: Alex Chiang <[email protected]>

The sequence executed in check_sal_cache_flush:

- pend a timer interrupt
- call SAL_CACHE_FLUSH
- see if interrupt is still pending

can hang HP machines with buggy SAL_CACHE_FLUSH implementations.

Provide a kernel command-line argument to allow users skip this check if desired.

---

index a3022dc..65163b7 100644
@@ -229,6 +229,14 @@ static void __init sal_desc_ap_wakeup(void *p) { }
  */
 static int sal_cache_flush_drops_interrupts;
 
+static int __init
+skip_check_sal_cache_flush(char *str)
+{
+	sal_cache_flush_drops_interrupts = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+early_param("skip_check_sal_cache_flush", skip_check_sal_cache_flush);
+
 void __init
 check_sal_cache_flush (void)
 {

@@ -237,6 +245,9 @@ check_sal_cache_flush (void)
 	u64 vector, cache_type = 3;
 	struct ia64_sal_retval isrv;
 
+	if (sal_cache_flush_drops_interrupts)
+		return;
+
 	cpu = get_cpu();
 	local_irq_save(flags);
 

Please document this in Documentation/kernel-paramters.txt

Perhaps this would set the record for the longest kenrel parameter, but I don't think this is a good thing. Can you abbreviate while still being descriptive?

-Tony

* Luck, Tony <[email protected]>:

Sure, how about force_pal_cache_flush? It saves 5 chars and is more explicit about what you're doing.

/ac

From: Alex Chiang <[email protected]>
Subject: ia64: allow user to force_pal_cache_flush

The sequence executed in check_sal_cache_flush:

- pend a timer interrupt
- call SAL_CACHE_FLUSH
- see if interrupt is still pending

can hang HP machines with buggy SAL_CACHE_FLUSH implementations.

Provide a kernel command-line argument to allow users skip this check if desired. Using this parameter will force ia64_sal_cache_flush to call ia64_pal_cache_flush() instead of SAL_CACHE_FLUSH.

---

index cdd5b93..654d630 100644
@@ -689,6 +689,12 @@ and is between 256 and 4096 characters. It is defined in the file
 	floppy=		[HW]
 			See Documentation/floppy.txt.
 
+	force_pal_cache_flush
+			[IA-64] Avoid check_sal_cache_flush which may hang on
+			buggy SAL_CACHE_FLUSH implementations. Using this
+			parameter will force ia64_sal_cache_flush to call
+			ia64_pal_cache_flush instead of SAL_CACHE_FLUSH.
+
 	gamecon.map[2|3] 			[HW,JOY] Multisystem joystick and NES/SNES/PSX pad
 			support via parallel port (up to 5 devices per port)

index a3022dc..7e02597 100644
@@ -229,6 +229,14 @@ static void __init sal_desc_ap_wakeup(void *p) { }
  */
 static int sal_cache_flush_drops_interrupts;
 
+static int __init
+force_pal_cache_flush(char *str)
+{
+	sal_cache_flush_drops_interrupts = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+early_param("force_pal_cache_flush", force_pal_cache_flush);
+
 void __init
 check_sal_cache_flush (void)
 {

@@ -237,6 +245,9 @@ check_sal_cache_flush (void)
 	u64 vector, cache_type = 3;
 	struct ia64_sal_retval isrv;
 
+	if (sal_cache_flush_drops_interrupts)
+		return;
+
 	cpu = get_cpu();
 	local_irq_save(flags);