rik@harddata.com wrote:
This must be old documentation. The pci=nobios flag didn't work.
It doesn't mean the documentation is old. The HOWTO clearly lists the "pci=conf1" and "pci=conf2" options. They wouldn't exist if they merely only sent "pci=nobios" -- they are doing something differently.
I probably means the "pci=conf1" does something a few things more than just what "pci=nobios" does. Most docs say try "pci=nobios", "pci=conf1" and "pci=conf2" to see if they resolve issues with how the BIOS enumerates PCI busses/devices.
It wouldn't surprise me if modern Phoenix ServerBIOSes have several ACPI configuration modes that send limited info by default, and offer 1-2 additional modes (hence conf1/conf2) with more info -- detailed lists that might hang OSes like Windows (especially DOS-based) which are rather simplistic and limited at the bootstrap.
Again, I'll do more research and put this in the ELManagers FAQ.
The problem was fixed by adjusting a BIOS setting. By changing the Installed OS to Linux I am able to boot the machine without any boot flags.
What this probably does is send the "Conf1" info as the default. Again, I need to research this more.
[ Although I'd love to see if a Windows install/boot hangs with that setting -- especially Windows 95/98. ;-]