The current documentation refers to using set_memor_wc() as a possible hole strategy when you have overlapping ioremap() regions, that's incorrect as set_memory_*() helpers can only be used on RAM, not IO memory. This fixes that, and updates the documention to *strongly* discourage overlapping ioremap() memory uses, but also documents a possible solution should there really be no other option. Signed-off-by: Luis R. Rodriguez <mcgrof@xxxxxxxxxx> --- Documentation/x86/pat.txt | 25 ++++++++++++++----------- 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-) diff --git a/Documentation/x86/pat.txt b/Documentation/x86/pat.txt index 54944c71b819..8a26b4cdccf6 100644 --- a/Documentation/x86/pat.txt +++ b/Documentation/x86/pat.txt @@ -113,18 +113,21 @@ MTRR effects on PAT / non-PAT systems ------------------------------------- The following table provides the effects of using write-combining MTRRs when -using ioremap*() calls on x86 for both non-PAT and PAT systems. Ideally -mtrr_add() usage will be phased out in favor of arch_phys_wc_add() which will -be a no-op on PAT enabled systems. The region over which a arch_phys_wc_add() +using ioremap*() calls on x86 for both non-PAT and PAT systems. As of v4.3 +mtrr_add() has been phased out in favor of arch_phys_wc_add(), these calls are +a no-op on PAT enabled systems. The region over which an arch_phys_wc_add() is made, should already have been ioremapped with WC attributes or PAT entries, -this can be done by using ioremap_wc() / set_memory_wc(). Devices which -combine areas of IO memory desired to remain uncacheable with areas where -write-combining is desirable should consider use of ioremap_uc() followed by -set_memory_wc() to white-list effective write-combined areas. Such use is -nevertheless discouraged as the effective memory type is considered -implementation defined, yet this strategy can be used as last resort on devices -with size-constrained regions where otherwise MTRR write-combining would -otherwise not be effective. +this can be done by using ioremap_wc(). Devices which combine areas of IO +memory desired to remain uncacheable with areas where write-combining is +desirable should consider use of ioremap_wc() followed by an overlapping +ioremap_uc() "hole". For an example of this strategy refer to commit 3cc2dac5be +("drivers/video/fbdev/atyfb: Replace MTRR UC hole with strong UC"). +Such use is nevertheless heavily discouraged as the effective memory type is +considered implementation defined. This strategy should only be used used as a +last resort measure. + +Note you cannot use set_memory_*() helpers on ioremap'd regions, even though +its use currently gives no hint of an error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MTRR Non-PAT PAT Linux ioremap value Effective memory type -- 2.7.2 -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-doc" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html