[haiku-development] Haiku SMP Status

Hi Everyone

I recently checked in a few changes that introduced multi-processor 
detection using ACPI tables. Combined with some other changes this 
should enable platforms that do not provide a legacy MPS table to be 
detected as multi-processor setups. This is the case for example with 
my Core 2 Quad. I have just removed the 2 CPU limit I put there as I am 
now able to _sometimes_ boot into Haiku with all four cores enabled. 
This is a limited installation though as I removed non essential 
servers like all media related, the net and the print server as well as 
all drivers that are not strictly needed. Included and working though 
is usb_hid and the corresponding busses and bus_manager. As mentioned 
the install does not always fully boot, sometimes it hangs before, 
sometimes at and somtimes shortly after the blue desktop appears.

What I'd like to ask from everyone with the corresponding hardware is 
to test out whether or not the SMP setup is now (or still) detected 
correctly using ACPI tables and whether or not booting works and to 
what extent. Best enable on-screen debug output in the boot menu to see 
if the kernel starts up (if you get a "bootscript started" message this 
is right before the desktop should appear). Note that MP setups include 
multiple processors, multiple cores or hyper-threading if present and 
enabled. It is therefore possible that if you have a P4 with hyper-
threading enabled that Haiku detects this as two CPUs now. Also if 
anyone has known issues he can point me to to test / investigate them 
that would be helpful.

Teaser screenshot of putting some load on my 4 cores (notice PC in the 
Deskbar):
http://haiku.mlotz.ch/chart_using_up_quad_core.png

But on the sad side I have to report that Pulse does not really scale 
well:
http://haiku.mlotz.ch/pulse_doesnt_scale.png

Maybe I should open a bug report for this one ;-)

Regards
Michael

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