Re: [Oslib-devel] Outsourcing the extender?

[Paolo G. <pao...@ti...>]

>>>the X_CallBIOS feature... that for example we use heavily inside the shark
>>>kernel (http://shark.sssup.it) to get support  for the VESA graphic cards
>>>using BIOS calls...
>>
>>Why isn't the VESA 2 or 3 32bit interface used for shark? Or X? COmplicated?
> 
> In theory, shark could use the vm86_callBIOS() function, that does not
> rely on X. However, it seems that there are big problems: some video
> bioses are broken and do not work well in vm86 mode.
> 
> Regarding the 32bit interface, I tried it some time ago. On some video
> cards it worked well, but I found a video card in which the video BIOS
> was using a DPMI call for invoking a RM interrupt!!! In other words, the
> 32bit interface is not always usable.
> 
> In any case, Paolo, I recently fixed some bugs in the vm86 code... I
> think you should try to use vm86_callBIOS() and see if there are still
> problems. Have a look at the biosdemo example (in particular, look at
> the "emulate()" function) to see how to reflect RM interrups in vm86
> mode.

Ok... I just added bug 174 in the shark bugzilla... soon or later I'll 
do that...

bye

PJ