[sparc64] kernel-2.6 / hang-on-boot...

[Pawel Sikora]

[ SILO / kernel hang ]

There is a bug either in kernel or SILO, which, when tripped,
prevents the machines from booting. Symptoms: kernel hangs
or machine returns to the PROM 'ok' prompt immediately after
messages "Remapping the kernel... FP Disabled". There is an old
RC bug #267428 (http://bugs.debian.org/267428). Common workarounds
are to use older version of SILO (1.2.5 version from woody), or to build the 
new SILO with gcc-2.95 instead of the current compiler.
This does not, however, eliminate the problem in all cases,
as demonstrated in this message
(http://lists.debian.org/debian-sparc/2005/01/msg00000.html).
The message about remapping the kernel really comes from the kernel,
so it might be a kernel problem after all. One possible reason
for that is that the floating-point instruction is encountered
somewhere in the execution path of the inherit_prom_mappings()
function. I have asked
(http://lists.debian.org/debian-sparc/2005/01/msg00026.html)
for more debugging information.

-- 
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
  is for good men to do nothing.
                                           - Edmund Burke