[coreboot] Intel datasheets require NDAs

Peter Stuge peter at stuge.se
Sun Oct 3 06:42:24 CEST 2010


ali hagigat wrote:
> I am afraid those unmentioned registers have a significant effect in
> understanding the function and logic of the internal parts of the IC
> and the standards used.

What function, logic and standards is it you want to understand
better? We may be able to recommend some reading material. If it is
anything but DMI or FSB then I am actually sure that we can do so.
And if it *is* DMI or FSB then I would be curious to know why.

I'm not saying that it is, but if your mission is to create competing
chipsets for Intel platforms then good luck to you, but I don't think
you will find coreboot very helpful, specifically because Intel does
not give out documentation freely. In that case I think you would
have no option other than reverse engineering, and that's just a lot
of wasted time IMO.

As Anders pointed out - we can only actually help you if you can say
what it is that you want to do!


> First, one must study to know what is going on, how can i work
> without having enough information?!

Personally I consider it critical to learn by experimentation, or
empirical studies if you prefer. And again, I think knowing and
understanding are two very different things.


> I am not going to keep on complaining but the "incomplete
> documentation" may be added to the first page of Wiki, in
> www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot.

I'm afraid I don't think that is a great idea, because I think the
first page already has too much information.

You did not mention if you had seen the Documentation and Datasheets
pages on the wiki. I think that the latter page in particular might
be a good place to note that different vendors have different policy
about public documentation, but honestly, I think it is very obvious
already!


//Peter




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