[Mactel-linux-devel] get_efi_time call fails with DEVICE_ERROR

[Thomas M. <tho...@we...>]

Hello everybody.

I get this error in the kernel log:

Oops: efitime: can't read time status: 0x80000007

This error results in an unset time with the latest experimental gentoo
base layout with assumes that the system time is set by the kernel.

Does anybody have an idea why this call fails?

Here is the not so obvious call chain:
-> timekeeping_init (kernel/time/timekeeping.c) ->
read_persistent_clock() (arch/i386/kernel/time.c) -> get_wallclock()
(include/asm-i386/time.h) -> native_get_wallclock() -> efi_get_time()
(arch/i386/kernel/efi.c)

So timekeeping_init() is called before efi_enter_virtual_mode() in
init/main.c but this is correct and checked in efi_get_time(), so the
physical efi call is made.

The efi spec says that the caller to GetTime must synchronize the access
to a PC-AT CMOS device. That's all.

So, currently i'm a bit clueless.

This error happens on a macbook pro first gen. with 2.6.23-rc5.

The system date/time after boot is set to "Do 11. Mai 20:53:29 CET 1905"

mfg
thomas