specifying memory partitions to BTX loader

[robert]

On Tue, 2006-03-21 at 08:50 -0800, Lee Shackelford wrote:
> Good morning dear person at FreeBSD questions.  I am trying to install
> FreeBSD 5.3 on a Compaq Proliant 5000 with multiple Pentium Pro processors
> and SMART-SCSI 2/P hardware RAID array.  It contains a flash-ROM BIOS.  The
> BIOS does not follow the conventions of fixed-ROM BIOSes such as are
> installed on most workstation type computers.  According to a message
> posted on a user forum for Fedora Linux, this BIOS divides the 1 gigabyte
> memory into three sections.  The loader for Fedora Linux has an option to
> hand enter this information, since the loader does not detect it.  The BTX
> loader supplied with FreeBSD 5.3 apparently also fails to correctly detect
> the memory configuration because the attempt to load always fails.  It
> fails to write the ports table, and then, if BTX is run in safe mode,
> generates a page fault.  How do I hand enter this information into BTX
> loader?  If this question has been answered before, I would be satisfied
> just to know where it is posted.  Any assistance is appreciated.
> 

Hi Lee,

I had the same problem you need to do something like:

Choose the "Escape to loader prompt" option, then:
 > set hw.physmem="1048576k"
 > boot

Once you have a working install, add the following line to 
/boot/loader.conf:
hw.physmem="1048576k"

Assuming you have 1 GByte of memory.

BTW I have had problems with the SMP kernel under 5.3, 5.4 and 6.0 on
the same machine (Quad processors)and I would be interested in your
experience with it.

Hope this helps

Rob