Multiprocessor System Configuration

BIOS constructs the Multiprocessor System (MPS) table, presenting the MP hardware in a known format to the operating system and the standard device driver. The MPS table consists of data structures that describe the hardware configuration of a Multiprocessor platform as defined by Intel MPS specifications.

The Multiprocessor System Table provides IOAPIC, IRQ and other multiprocessor information to the operating system. The Sun Blade 8000 Series supports Multiprocessor Specifications 1.1 and 1.4. Multiprocessor platform designers should refer to the official Multiprocessor Specifications for information about standards and interface types.

Typically, the MPS table is used if ACPI support is not detected by the operating system. Additionally, in some other older, non-ACPI compliant operating systems, such as Windows NT 4.0, the operating system relies upon the MPS table to derive platform multiprocessor hardware information. Even some ACPI compliant operating systems, such as Linux, query the MPS table for multiprocessor hardware information.

For BIOS configuration settings, the difference between MPS 1.1 and MPS 1.4 is the addition of the Bus Hierarchy Descriptor Entry. The Bus Hierarchy Descriptor Entry defines the Memory Mapped I/0 ranges that are decoded by each Host Bridge in a system.