Re: please remove CONFIG_PNP, CONFIG_PNPBIOS

[System Operator]

> > by checking 2.4.18, I saw that "CONFIG_PNP" is not in use in the
> > source anymore except in Documentation/Configure.help and as a
> > variable that CONFIG_ISAPNP depends on.
> >
> > => remove.
> 
> Hold on.  This will change once the pnpbios driver
> is merged.  It's currently in Alan's tree (and in 2.5 stock).

hm. this only adds to confusion.

> > as a side note, I'd want to know how linux is configuring 
> > the PCI devices, when e.g. in the Bios Settings I say 
> > "Yes - PNP aware OS installed". 
> 
> When you enable "PnP OS" in the BIOS, you are telling 
> the BIOS not to use PnP methods to configure PnP devices, 
> but to leave it to the OS to do the configuration. 

and Linux is such an OS?
 
> > can also someone tell me which variable the "CONFIG_PNPBIOS" options 
> > depends on? this seems to be another variable which is only 
> > "used" on Documentation/Configure.help. 
> 
> pnpbios is a driver used to communicate with the 
> PnP BIOS.  This driver should be merged soon, but right 
> now only the help text for the driver is present in stock 2.4. 
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

> In the case of ISA devices, Linux only configures them 
> if you have the isa-pnp driver built. 

And If I have ISA-devices, which I have not.
 
> Actually, I don't see why we should ever set the "PnP OS" 
> flag.  It doesn't hurt to let the BIOS preconfigure 
> devices.  Linux can always re-configure devices as it 
> sees fit, can't it? 

As it seems, Linux cannot reconfigure devices, since only the
helptext for the driver is present, while a driver is
not present. At last not in 2.4. Only a dummy option
with a dummy help text *without even a note* that this is
not implemented!