generic IO-APIC question

Can someone please explain to me or refer me to a website or book or other document which explains the differences among the terms "APIC", "IO-APIC", and "local APIC"? I'm relatively new to Intel x86 hardware as I am transitioning over from the MIPS world. I have searched around and found some basic info, but it is just enough information to get confusing. What would be really nice would be a nice book discussing this topic in detail, as opposed to a few data sheets and/or the occasional website that has only a brief paragraph. Thanks...

-Jarrett Redd

On Thu, 18 Jul 2002, Jarrett L. Redd wrote:

| Can someone please explain to me or refer me to a website or book or
| other document which explains the differences among the terms "APIC",
| "IO-APIC", and "local APIC"?  I'm relatively new to Intel x86 hardware
| as I am transitioning over from the MIPS world.  I have searched around
| and found some basic info, but it is just enough information to get
| confusing.  What would be really nice would be a nice book discussing
| this topic in detail, as opposed to a few data sheets and/or the
| occasional website that has only a brief paragraph.  Thanks...

I'd certainly be glad to see something like that also. However, all that I'm familiar with are the 3 volumes of "IA-32 Intel Architecture Software Developer's Manual" that you can find/download from developer.intel.com (.pdf files). Volume 1 is Basic Architecture.
Volume 2 is Instruction Set Reference.
Volume 3 is System Programming Guide.
Vol. 3 is the best resource of these 3, and includes:
Ch. 7: MULTIPLE-PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT
Ch. 8: PROCESSOR MANAGEMENT AND INITIALIZATION App. D: PROGRAMMING THE LINT0 AND LINT1 INPUTS App. F: APIC BUS MESSAGE FORMATS

If you find a good resource for this info, please post it.

HTH.

~Randy