ACPI version 3.19.15 released...

February 06, 2012 by rwklein@mensys.nl

Mensys BV is pleased to announce the release of ACPI 3.19.15 It is available to anyone with a current eComStation Software subscription service, via their download-area at the Mensys Online Shop.

To access these distributions, login at www.mensys.net/login
Once you are logged in, the ACPI package is available under 'Downloads'
-> 'Software Subscription Services' -> 'ACPI testbuilds (experimental)'.
Please note that your ecomstation.com userid will not work at the
Mensys
website.

** About this version: **

This build of the ACPI PSD supports considerably fewer command line
switches and in our testing works on more equipment, is significantly
more stable and requires fewer CPU resources. Unless overridden, the
PSD now enables SMP (multi CPU mode) and APIC mode automatically. No
switches are needed. For the people who have used ACPI switches like
/SMP /APIC /!NOD /CD and /FS, these are no longer needed and will be
removed from the PSD command line. See the documentation for
the available switches.

In addition, a number of long standing SMP bugs in OS/2 code have been
fixed. The ACPI distribution ships with an updated IBM keyboard driver
and an updated TCPIP32.DLL to correct SMP related defects. The TCPIP32
DLL has proven to make Firefox and Thunderbird much more stable on
systems running in SMP mode.

We recommend that users running older versions of the ACPI PSD update
to this distribution.

** About ACPI: **

ACPI stands for Advanced Configuration and Power Interface It manages
your computer your hardware resources like IRQ's. It provides support
for suspend/resume and controlling CPU speed on systems that support
this. For more information visit:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface

** Improvements in 3.19.15*

The first ACPI event works. If you now press Fn F4 on a thinkpad it
should fall a sleep.
If your laptop does not wake up put the /VBE behind the PSD=ACPI.PSD
statement in your config.sys.

This new release should fix some of the issue's people reported to us
about version 3.19.14.

Changes in 3.19.15:
-------------------

Changed PCI bus scan to scan all busses even if bridges are not found
for
those busses.

Rewrote the ACPI root bridge detection routine to properly handle
systems
with multiple root bridges.

Fixed the ACPI device tree walk routine to better accomodate variations
in different vendor's ACPI tables.

Fixed a trap due to a supurious interrupt on some Multi-CPU systems
when
running in Mode 1.

Added a feature to the Power Manager to turn off (halt) CPUs when the
system is idle.

Fixed more bugs in APM.ADD.

Changed some debug output.

Reworked the routines for debug video output.

Added bldlevel string to AcpiDaemon.exe

Changed the version of APM.ADD to match the PSD.

Added an OverTempPower setting to the power manager in AcpiDaemon.

Changed to only override _OS_ if /OS= is specified on the command line.

Documentation updates. Added Power Manager documentation.

Warpin Installer fixes.

** Reporting bugs: **

Bugs should be reported via www.ecomstation.com/
Login and select 'Access bugtracker' from your profile page. Once in
the
bugtracker, select project: eComStation 2.1 GA -> report issue ->
Category ACPI.

I you do encounter problems, follow the docs on how to debug your
system. With the new ACPI, debugging ACPI has become easier.

If your system does not boot properly, try the /VW switch on the
PSD=ACPI.PSD command line. Then try /PCI. Next, try /MAXCPU=1, to
switch the system to single CPU mode. The distribution includes a
script to automates the debug output capture. Make sure to include
this data when you submit tickets.

Regards,

The eComstation team.
Mensys B.V.