Hyperthreading and debian kernels

[Rem <remy.harel@gmail.com>]

-- mail already sent a few hours ago on debian-user list

Hi list,

I've encoutered some problems this afternoon ( France guys, it's  9am
right now ;) ). I tried to install a debian on this hardware :

Intel i865 + dual DDR 400
Pentium 4 HT
ICH5 controller but I use one P-ATA ( IDE ) Drive.

I tried debian testing, with 2.6.3 kernel default, it works fine, but
Hyperthreading is not assumed, even if I enabled it in BIos. So I
recompiled the kernel, the debian 2.6.8. First, this fuck... sh.. refuse
to boot, unable to mount root fs. This is not my first kernel
recompilation, I have already compiled more than  100 kernels on several
computeur and servers and wrote article about it, it's my job ( System
engineer ). There is no log, due to the quick kernel panic, and my ide
controller is "built-in", such as my FS. My /boot/grub/menu.lst is good
too. So  I tried a 2.6.7 from kernel.org,and of course it works great
with the same .config and even a 2.6.10 still from  kernel.org and it
works really good too. Well, the 2.6.8 sucks...but I don't care, my
2.6.10 is allright.

Another thing interesteding, if I activate HT in the bios, and SMP is
set, the kernel won't boot, whatever the kernel version ( 2.6.8 2.6.7
and 2.6.10 ). It bugs, and shows messages about APIC and Null pointer
exception, it look likes the 2 virtuals processors don't run well
together. I don't understand why, is there something special to activate
? In fact, it's just the SMP option who matters, SMT or not SMT.

So I thought that my P4 HT is not hypertreadable, and I tried Gentoo
live cd ( ;) ) and Knoppix live cd. It works great, detects 2
processeurs, 12 000Bogomips and runs very well.

So the P4 is hyperthreadable ( Knoppix and gentoo work fine ), my
kernel configuration is good ( same .config ) but the debian won't boot
whatever the kernel if SMP is set in the bios.

Any feedback would be apreciated or experience with this hardware.

Best regards,

Rem

-- 
Remy HAREL - remy.harel@gmail.com
Linux Registered User #224740
http://remyharel.homelinux.com