changes.txt

acpi tools for linux include acpiexec and acpixtract

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13 February 2008. Summary of changes for version 20080213:

This release is available at www.acpica.org/downloads.


1) ACPI CA Core Subsystem:

Implemented another MS compatibility design change for GPE/Notify handling. 
GPEs are now cleared/enabled asynchronously to allow all pending notifies to 
complete first. It is expected that the OSL will queue the enable request 
behind all pending notify requests (may require changes to the local host OSL 
in AcpiOsExecute). Alexey Starikovskiy.

Fixed a problem where buffer and package objects passed as arguments to a 
control method via the external AcpiEvaluateObject interface could cause an 
AE_AML_INTERNAL exception depending on the order and type of operators 
executed by the target control method.

Fixed a problem where resource descriptor size optimization could cause a 
problem when a _CRS resource template is passed to a _SRS method. The _SRS 
resource template must use the same descriptors (with the same size) as 
returned from _CRS. This change affects the following resource descriptors: 
IRQ / IRQNoFlags and StartDependendentFn / StartDependentFnNoPri. (BZ 9487)

Fixed a problem where a CopyObject to RegionField, BankField, and IndexField 
objects did not perform an implicit conversion as it should. These types must 
retain their initial type permanently as per the ACPI specification. However, 
a CopyObject to all other object types should not perform an implicit 
conversion, as per the ACPI specification. (Lin Ming, Bob Moore) BZ 388

Fixed a problem with the AcpiGetDevices interface where the mechanism to 
match device CIDs did not examine the entire list of available CIDs, but 
instead aborted on the first non-matching CID. Andrew Patterson.

Fixed a regression introduced in version 20071114. The ACPI_HIDWORD macro was 
inadvertently changed to return a 16-bit value instead of a 32-bit value, 
truncating the upper dword of a 64-bit value. This macro is only used to 
display debug output, so no incorrect calculations were made. Also, 
reimplemented the macro so that a 64-bit shift is not performed by 
inefficient compilers.

Added missing va_end statements that should correspond with each va_start 
statement.

Example Code and Data Size: These are the sizes for the OS-independent 
acpica.lib produced by the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 32-bit compiler. The 
debug version of the code includes the debug output trace mechanism and has 
a much larger code and data size.

  Previous Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.5K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.7K Total
    Debug Version:     159.0K Code, 63.8K Data, 222.8K Total
  Current Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.7K Code, 17.3K Data,  97.0K Total
    Debug Version:     158.9K Code, 64.0K Data, 222.9K Total

2) iASL Compiler/Disassembler and Tools:

Implemented full disassembler support for the following new ACPI tables: 
BERT, EINJ, and ERST. Implemented partial disassembler support for the 
complicated HEST table. These tables support the Windows Hardware Error 
Architecture (WHEA).

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23 January 2008. Summary of changes for version 20080123:

1) ACPI CA Core Subsystem:

Added the 2008 copyright to all module headers and signons. This affects 
virtually every file in the ACPICA core subsystem, the iASL compiler, and 
the tools/utilities.

Fixed a problem with the SizeOf operator when used with Package and Buffer 
objects. These objects have deferred execution for some arguments, and the 
execution is now completed before the SizeOf is executed. This problem caused 
unexpected AE_PACKAGE_LIMIT errors on some systems (Lin Ming, Bob Moore) BZ 
9558

Implemented an enhancement to the interpreter "slack mode". In the absence of 
an explicit return or an implicitly returned object from the last executed 
opcode, a control method will now implicitly return an integer of value 0 for 
Microsoft compatibility. (Lin Ming) BZ 392

Fixed a problem with the Load operator where an exception was not returned in 
the case where the table is already loaded. (Lin Ming) BZ 463

Implemented support for the use of DDBHandles as an Indexed Reference, as per 
the ACPI spec. (Lin Ming) BZ 486

Implemented support for UserTerm (Method invocation) for the Unload operator 
as per the ACPI spec. (Lin Ming) BZ 580

Fixed a problem with the LoadTable operator where the OemId and OemTableId 
input strings could cause unexpected failures if they were shorter than the 
maximum lengths allowed. (Lin Ming, Bob Moore) BZ 576

Implemented support for UserTerm (Method invocation) for the Unload operator 
as per the ACPI spec. (Lin Ming) BZ 580

Implemented header file support for new ACPI tables - BERT, ERST, EINJ, HEST, 
IBFT, UEFI, WDAT. Disassembler support is forthcoming.

Example Code and Data Size: These are the sizes for the OS-independent 
acpica.lib produced by the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 32-bit compiler. The 
debug version of the code includes the debug output trace mechanism and has 
a much larger code and data size.

  Previous Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.3K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.5K Total
    Debug Version:     158.6K Code, 63.8K Data, 222.4K Total
  Current Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.5K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.7K Total
    Debug Version:     159.0K Code, 63.8K Data, 222.8K Total

2) iASL Compiler/Disassembler and Tools:

Implemented support in the disassembler for checksum validation on incoming 
binary DSDTs and SSDTs. If incorrect, a message is displayed within the table 
header dump at the start of the disassembly.

Implemented additional debugging information in the namespace listing file 
created during compilation. In addition to the namespace hierarchy, the full 
pathname to each namespace object is displayed.

Fixed a problem with the disassembler where invalid ACPI tables could cause 
faults or infinite loops.

Fixed an unexpected parse error when using the optional "parameter types" 
list in a control method declaration. (Lin Ming) BZ 397

Fixed a problem where two External declarations with the same name did not 
cause an error (Lin Ming) BZ 509

Implemented support for full TermArgs (adding Argx, Localx and method 
invocation) for the ParameterData parameter to the LoadTable operator. (Lin 
Ming) BZ 583,587

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19 December 2007. Summary of changes for version 20071219:

1) ACPI CA Core Subsystem:

Implemented full support for deferred execution for the TermArg string 
arguments for DataTableRegion. This enables forward references and full 
operand resolution for the three string arguments. Similar to OperationRegion 
deferred argument execution.) Lin Ming. BZ 430

Implemented full argument resolution support for the BankValue argument to 
BankField. Previously, only constants were supported, now any TermArg may be 
used. Lin Ming BZ 387, 393

Fixed a problem with AcpiGetDevices where the search of a branch of the 
device tree could be terminated prematurely. In accordance with the ACPI 
specification, the search down the current branch is terminated if a device 
is both not present and not functional (instead of just not present.) Yakui 
Zhao.

Fixed a problem where "unknown" GPEs could be allowed to fire repeatedly if 
the underlying AML code changed the GPE enable registers. Now, any unknown 
incoming GPE (no _Lxx/_Exx method and not the EC GPE) is immediately disabled 
instead of simply ignored. Rui Zhang.

Fixed a problem with Index Fields where the Index register was incorrectly 
limited to a maximum of 32 bits. Now any size may be used.

Fixed a couple memory leaks associated with "implicit return" objects when 
the AML Interpreter slack mode is enabled. Lin Ming BZ 349

Example Code and Data Size: These are the sizes for the OS-independent 
acpica.lib produced by the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 32-bit compiler. The 
debug version of the code includes the debug output trace mechanism and has 
a much larger code and data size.

  Previous Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.0K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.2K Total
    Debug Version:     157.9K Code, 63.6K Data, 221.5K Total
  Current Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.3K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.5K Total
    Debug Version:     158.6K Code, 63.8K Data, 222.4K Total

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14 November 2007. Summary of changes for version 20071114:

1) ACPI CA Core Subsystem:

Implemented event counters for each of the Fixed Events, the ACPI SCI 
(interrupt) itself, and control methods executed. Named 
AcpiFixedEventCount[], AcpiSciCount, and AcpiMethodCount respectively. These 
should be useful for debugging and statistics.

Implemented a new external interface, AcpiGetStatistics, to retrieve the 
contents of the various event counters. Returns the current values for 
AcpiSciCount, AcpiGpeCount, the AcpiFixedEventCount array, and 
AcpiMethodCount. The interface can be expanded in the future if new counters 
are added. Device drivers should use this interface rather than access the 
counters directly.

Fixed a problem with the FromBCD and ToBCD operators. With some compilers, 
the ShortDivide function worked incorrectly, causing problems with the BCD 
functions with large input values. A truncation from 64-bit to 32-bit 
inadvertently occurred. Internal BZ 435. Lin Ming

Fixed a problem with Index references passed as method arguments. References 
passed as arguments to control methods were dereferenced immediately (before 
control was passed to the called method). The references are now correctly 
passed directly to the called method. BZ 5389. Lin Ming

Fixed a problem with CopyObject used in conjunction with the Index operator. 
The reference was incorrectly dereferenced before the copy. The reference is 
now correctly copied. BZ 5391. Lin Ming

Fixed a problem with Control Method references within Package objects. These 
references are now correctly generated. This completes the package 
construction overhaul that began in version 20071019.

Example Code and Data Size: These are the sizes for the OS-independent 
acpica.lib produced by the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 32-bit compiler. The 
debug version of the code includes the debug output trace mechanism and has 
a much larger code and data size.

  Previous Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  78.8K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.0K Total
    Debug Version:     157.2K Code, 63.4K Data, 220.6K Total
  Current Release:
    Non-Debug Version:  79.0K Code, 17.2K Data,  96.2K Total
    Debug Version:     157.9K Code, 63.6K Data, 221.5K Total


2) iASL Compiler/Disassembler and Tools:

The AcpiExec utility now installs handlers for all of the predefined 
Operation Region types. New types supported are: PCI_Config, CMOS, and 
PCIBARTarget.

Fixed a problem with the 64-bit version of AcpiExec where the extended (64-
bit) address fields for the DSDT and FACS within the FADT were not being 
used, causing truncation of the upper 32-bits of these addresses. Lin Ming 
and Bob Moore

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19 October 2007. Summary of changes for version 20071019:

1) ACPI CA Core Subsystem:

Fixed a problem with the Alias operator when the target of the alias is a 
named ASL operator that opens a new scope -- Scope, Device, PowerResource, 
Processor, and ThermalZone. In these cases, any children of the original 
operator could not be accessed via the alias, potentially causing unexpected 
AE_NOT_FOUND exceptions. (BZ 9067)

Fixed a problem with the Package operator where all named references were 
created as object references and left otherwise unresolved. According to the 
ACPI specification, a Package can only contain Data Objects or references to 
control methods. The implication is that named references to Data Objects 
(Integer, Buffer, String, Package, BufferField, Field) should be resolved 
immediately upon package creation. This is the approach taken with this 
change. References to all other named objects (Methods, Devices, Scopes, 
etc.) are all now properly created as reference objects. (BZ 5328)

Reverted a change to Notify handling that was introduced in version 
20070508. This version changed the Notify handling from asynchronous to 
fully synchronous (Device driver Notify handling with respect to the Notify 
ASL operator). It was found that this change caused more problems than it 
solved and was removed by most users.

Fixed a problem with the Increment and Decrement operators where the type of 
the target object could be unexpectedly and incorrectly changed. (BZ 353) 
Lin Ming.

Fixed a problem with the Load and LoadTable operators where the table 
location within the namespace was ignored. Instead, the table was always 
loaded into the root or current scope. Lin Ming.

Fixed a problem with the Load operator when loading a table from a buffer 
object. The input buffer was prematurely zeroed and/or deleted. (BZ 577)

Fixed a problem with the Debug object where a store of a DdbHandle reference 
object to the Debug object could cause a fault.

Added a table checksum verification for the Load operator, in the case where 
the load is from a buffer. (BZ 578).

Implemented additional parameter validation for the LoadTable operator. The 
length of the input strings SignatureString, OemIdString, and OemTableId are 
now checked for maximum lengths. (BZ 582) Lin Ming.