what does irqpoll do ?
 

Without "linux irqpoll" option, my installation of linux will hang
at "Loading ata_piix driver...". Even though
my linux system is installed after using irqpoll option, I am always puzzled by this little magic kernel option.

I google searched around but I cannot get a definitive answer.

Question: Does the message "Loading ata_piix driver..." means
that my hard drive is the culprit for hanging ?
If this is the case, how do I know what type of hard drives that will
cause linux installation to fail without irqpoll. You see, if the type of hard drive can cause
linux installation to fail, that's not a very encouraging fact is it ?

(I see too many installation failure due to the graphic cards, but this
is okay, since graphics card technology is always moving very fast, but not
this Loading ata_piix beasty related to hard drive right ??)

As far as I know irqpoll is to poll all the interrupts ?

Can I conclude that the most common device that will cause linux
installation to fail (in descending order) is (1) graphic card,
(2) hard drive , (3) ... ?

Where can I find a full list of kernel options so that I can
try all the secret options that will eventually to install a linux system ??

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

or the controller - you needed irqpoll for the kernel anh HW to agree which interrupts to use.
You cannot tell in advance. However, if a particular device has already been tried, someone will have worked it out and written about it someplace. Your logs can help determine if there are interrupt problems.
That's right.No.kernel documentation, which is included with the source and some books. You can also google for boot options.

Thanks for your answers. I guess we can just hope that we don't have to
tweak to many kernel options when we install a linux distro.

It seems the drivers for a hardware must communicate with the kernel
carefully. So my guess is that irqpoll is to sort out the conflicting
interrupts (more than one hard driver may share the same interrupt number: either the kernel or the driver makes an unfortunate choice) so that the
kernel won't get confused. I gues irqpoll pools all interrupts and then sort out
the which is which.

Cheers!!