Linux Kyro 2 Update
June 27th, 2001 by CrusaderLBJM let us know that Jim Page wrote in to theXFree86Xpert mailing listin response to a request for a status update on the LinuxKyro 2 driver:
I no longer work forIMG, or have anything to do with softwaredevelopment for any of their products. The current state of the KyroXserver as I left it was a more-or-less complete 2d only XAA server,with some VGA and multi-monitor issues to be resolved. I do not knowwhat their plans are. I suggest that IMG/Guillemot have the arms thatmust be twisted.Writing a kyro driver is not a straightforward undertaking. Though GPLdriver source _MAY_ one day be released, there is a lot of proprietaryknowlege required to architect the driver correctly. I say this not todenigrate Kyro, it’s a great product and it’s descendants will rule theworld (etc etc), but because it is not a job that anyone could take on(however competent) without IMG’s direct sanction. Frankly, it needs tobe done by them or one of their OEM customers who have access to theexisting source tree.
FYI Patrick, think of an X server (in this context) as a device driverfor a particular hardware device that allows it to accelerate X.
I will forward this mail to IMG since I have now had about 30 differentmails asking for Kyro info (not that I mind that much, but I can’thelp!), and see if someone can write the mailing list with their currentplans.
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
here’s what Jim had to say about in email he wrote to me.
the Nvidia comment is about an email I had sent stating that I wanted to move past my geforce2 MX.
LBJM
I think there is virtually no chance of the specs being generally released
for the 2d engine. This is because the 2d interfaces are largely
constructed of microcode on the graphics chip’s primary core CPU, which is
Kyro’s strength and its weakness. It is also considered _fundamental_ IP by
IMG, and I agree with that actually. It just isn’t feasable to come up with
this stuff yourself, so you may be stuck in Nvidia land at the moment.
However there is a better chance that driver source will be released under
GPL, with the microcode as binary header files, or in a binary kernel
module. When I left IMG the details of how we could release a driver stack
without giving away IP was being worked out.
The sad fact is that IMG do not have the manpower available to Nvidia and
the like. Priority is given to Windows based stuff, for the obvious
reasons: IMG have to be able to compete in that arena. I was the first
person at the company to do any Linux work at all, and I was only able to do
that because I was a senior engineer and I fancied doing it, so I talked the
management into it. The willingness is there but the manpower isn’t. The
best thing is for the Linux community to put pressure on IMG/Guillemot to
get thinks moving.
Basically, don’t hold your breath!
Cheers
Jim
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
That is too bad. I read that this card is pretty good. I bet NVIDIA and matrox are happy. I would imagine that these companies generate good sales do to the fact that they support linux.
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
So, basicly what the man says, is that the X server / kernel module / driver [i]will[/i] come, though it might take a while.
That’s ok with me, I’ll remove Linux for the time being (one has to game) and put it back when the drivers get there.
They will, you know, they will. And if they don’t I’ll frag my way through Guillemot HQ and make them myself!