[mythtv-users] Re: Debian Package docs

[Craig Longman]

Ray Olszewski wrote:

> At 02:00 AM 5/6/2003 -0400, Craig Longman wrote:
> [...]
>
>> one other point about the debian kernels.  i did recompile the kernel 
>> i'm currently running, so i don't know if it was my fault or not, but 
>> the dma is not activated by default.  also, the ide mode defaults to 
>> 33MHz, both are quite detrimental to performance, especially on 
>> non-hardware encoders.  is this the case for packages kernels also?  
>> if so, some mention of hdparms with a link might be a good idea.  i'm 
>> trying to figure out why my lilo commands to force 66MHz and hda/b 
>> into dma aren't working, once i figure that out, i'll send it to you 
>> incase someone else has the same trouble.
>
> First, whether DMA is activated "by default" or not in a 
> custom-compiled Debian kernel depends on 2 things:
>
> 1. If you selected that option in kernel configuration.
> 2. If the kernel supports your IDE chipset. 

yes, i realize after i had compiled that i didn't have that checked. 
 that part is my fault.  i have checked it now, just not bothered to 
recomple again yet.

> For #2, see if you've enabled your motherboard's IDE chipset in the 
> same ("DE, ATA and ATAPI Block devices") menu. If you haven't, the 
> kernel will disregard the above setting, viewing DMA as "not 
> available". You *can* force DMA on in these cases using hdparm the 
> usual way. 

it is enabled, but the options are still ignored.  anyway, i'll figure 
that out off this list.

> Pre-compiled Debian kernels (the ones I've tried, anyway ... a small 
> sample) enable the "use DMA if available" option. I've never checked 
> how they probe or set the ide bus speed. 

ok, this was what i wasn't sure of.  i've never checked it, huge disk 
transfer speeds haven't been as critical to me as they are with mythtv.

thanks,

    CraigL->Thx();