Re: Use SMP kernel for Alpha (udeb) builds

On 12/8/18 06:58, Bob Tracy wrote:
> On Sat, Dec 08, 2018 at 10:06:25AM +1300, Michael Cree wrote:
>> On Tue, Dec 04, 2018 at 05:38:51PM +0100, Frank Scheiner wrote:
>>> As per [1] and our recent discussions the generic 4.x kernels seem to no
>>> longer work on Alpha machines which also renders any installer images using
>>> the generic 4.x kernels non-working.
>>
>> Yes, that was noted some time ago.  A generic kernel does not boot
>> since about 3.13.  I can't remember why I never attempted bisecting
>> this back when it was first noted to be a problem, maybe because it
>> didn't affect me because I normally run my own spun kernels.
> 
> Ditto on this end.  I figure a first pass at the problem would be to
> compare our respective kernel configs against the generic one, just to
> get a reading on what code *may* be involved.  I can provide my Miata
> config for a 4.14 kernel (and that's about all I can do until I'm back
> up and running) if that would be helpful.
> 
> Another data point to consider would be the kernel config for the
> current (as of the end of November) Gentoo "install-alpha-minimal" image,
> which works on Miata at least (modulo the missing Qlogic firmware issue).
> The associated kernel is "4.14.65-gentoo", and two variants are present
> on the image -- a "generic" one, and one without a "legacy start address".
> The "aboot.conf" file has the following comment:
> 
> # Some later alphas need a special kernel without legacy start address, most
> # notably the DS15A and DS25 workstations as well as the ES45, ES47 and GS
> # series of servers.
> 
> The Miata boots fine with the "generic" kernel, and panics when I try
> the "nolsa" kernel.

Is this Gentoo generic installer kernel SMP capable? I believe these 
Gentoo kernels have the config included in the kernel image, so 
available as `/proc/config.gz` during runtime, I think.

> 
> Bottom line: I think the way forward will be easier from a Debian
> perspective if the Debian installer for alpha includes a >= 4.14 kernel,
> because the 4.8 and 4.9 kernels are known to have issues anyway.  An
> upgrade would also put alpha closer to being in-sync with the "testing"
> distro on Intel/AMD platforms.

I think the kernel version used on the installers will be the same 
version that's available as `linux-image-[...].deb` at the time of 
creation, as kernel-wedge creates the udebs from the 
`linux-image-[...].deb` IIUIC.

Cheers,
Frank