*BSD News Article 86086


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From: "J.C. Archambeau" <jca@accessnv.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Adding memory to FreeBSD: where did it go?
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 17:23:59 -0800 (PST)
Organization: Access Nevada Inc.
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Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:33506

On Fri, 3 Jan 1997, L. Scott Emmons wrote:

>> : I added 32M to my freeBSD system and it dosen't show up when I
>> : boot the system.  How do I get FreeBSD to recognize the additional
>> : memory?????
>> [...]
>> The simple solution is getting rid of the Compaq.  Another option is
>> replacing the BIOS with an AMI or Phoenix that works with your Deskpro
>> 5100.  To my knowledge there is no other way to get around this problem
>> with Compaqs under *BSD or Linux.  If someone knows a way, please post
>> it, I'd like to know.
> 
> Actually, it's very easy to get around this. I'm running FreeBSD on a
> Compaq Deskpro 5133 with 32MB of RAM. All you have to do is build a new
> kernel telling it to use a fixed RAM size, rather than autodetecting.

I'm sure that the original poster will be glad to read this.  I'm also
glad to be proven wrong.

> Very simple to do, if you are familiar with building your own kernels.

My understanding from reading a similiar article on the comp.os.linux
heirarchy is that Compaq memory above 16 Mb is accessed in a non
standard manner than other systems.  Considering Compaq's track history
of doing non-standard things of this nature, it would not surprise me
one bit if it was true.  Everytime I have worked on a Compaq, I had to
look up addendiums or contact a company's tech support department on how
to get X to work with a Compaq.  I seem to recall a boot option for SCO
Xenix just for Compaqs.  I believe ISC 386/ix had similiar options for
kernel configuration and booting as well.
--
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