Hello,
I just got a SMP system and are having big problems. I don’t
think its RTP’s fault as I also have problems running a Linux
SMP kernel. Running single processor kernels seems to work ok
both for RTP and Linux. I would appreciate some hints what could
be wrong as I have no previous experience with SMP. I’m gessing
however that the mainboard is faulty or wrongly set up.
The system is:
Mainboard: Soltek Dual Intel 440 BX Slot-1 (SL-68A)
Processors: 2x P-III 750 MHz, 100 MHz bus (ABIT adapter to Slot-1)
Memory: 128 M, PC-100
HD: Seagate 20 G
Gfx: Creative, GeForce 2 MX, 32 M
Net: 3COM 905C-TX
Sound: Sound Blaster PCI 128
When I boot RTP it detects both processors correctly, but after
detecting the EIDE devices I get:
[4102] fs-pkg built: Sep 7 2000 16:00:23
FS-PKG: Open configuration [/etc/system/package/packages]
io-blk: Unable to perform sync IO
io-blk: Unable to perform sync IO
Warning: Can’t find package [qnx/os/drivers2.1/MANIFEST]
io-blk: Unable to perform sync IO
etc…
Until FS-PKG gives up and the system freezes.
In the Linux boot-messages there is a small waring telling
someting like: “Preset values are inconsistetnt”. “The processor
many not have been configured by the BIOS”. Linux boots however,
but after e.g. uncompressing a big source archive I get lots of
kernel errors and even crc errors from the uncompress utility.
After this the filesystem contains errors like random links
and wrong parameters in inodes.
Any hints appreciated.
Mats
Mats Byggmastar <mats.byggmastar@multi.nojunk.fi> wrote:
Mainboard: Soltek Dual Intel 440 BX Slot-1 (SL-68A)
Processors: 2x P-III 750 MHz, 100 MHz bus (ABIT adapter to Slot-1)
Are these processors “matched”? I know that used to be a big problem with
people and SMP machines. If they aren’t matched they won’t work (timing
issues I belive).
chris
\
cdm@qnx.com > “The faster I go, the behinder I get.”
Chris McKillop – Lewis Carroll –
Software Engineer, QSSL
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Mainboard: Soltek Dual Intel 440 BX Slot-1 (SL-68A)
Processors: 2x P-III 750 MHz, 100 MHz bus (ABIT adapter to Slot-1)
Are these processors “matched”? I know that used to be a big problem with
people and SMP machines. If they aren’t matched they won’t work (timing
issues I belive).
chris
Ah, ok. I will check this. Thanks for the tip.
I remember from the “old days” when I still worked with analog
audio electronics, where transistors had to be matched. Now, THAT
was a real pain to do. 
Mats
Uhmmm…one other thing you might want to check is the stepping of the P3
parts.
Some of the early stepping of the FCPGA parts didn’t fully support SMP.
If memory serves…
Most of the CA0 revs didn’t support it at all (officially).
The CB0’s mostly supported it (except the fastest parts).
The CC0’s for the most part support SMP.
Gotta luv Intel…
“Mats Byggmastar” <mats.byggmastar@multi.NOJUNK.fi> wrote in message
news:917aia$1dd$1@inn.qnx.com…
Mainboard: Soltek Dual Intel 440 BX Slot-1 (SL-68A)
Processors: 2x P-III 750 MHz, 100 MHz bus (ABIT adapter to Slot-1)
Are these processors “matched”? I know that used to be a big problem
with
people and SMP machines. If they aren’t matched they won’t work (timing
issues I belive).
chris
Ah, ok. I will check this. Thanks for the tip.
I remember from the “old days” when I still worked with analog
audio electronics, where transistors had to be matched. Now, THAT
was a real pain to do. >
Mats
\
Uhmmm…one other thing you might want to check is the stepping of the P3
parts.
Some of the early stepping of the FCPGA parts didn’t fully support SMP.
If memory serves…
Most of the CA0 revs didn’t support it at all (officially).
The CB0’s mostly supported it (except the fastest parts).
The CC0’s for the most part support SMP.
Yes, I found the processor matrix indicating which steppings combinations
has been tested by Intel. But, how do I convert the Steppings “cA0”, “cB0”,
etc. to what is displayed in NTO or Linux, i.e. Family=6, Model=7,
Stepping=3 ?
Anyway, I returned the machine and now they have replaced the
PCPGA 750,100 MHz processors + Slot 1 adapters with “native”
Slot 1 600,133 MHz processors. It works. I’m testing SMP NTO right
now. My best guess is that the mainboard didn’t like the adapters.
Mats