Linux Device Configuration Mechanisms - ACPI vs Device Tree | Linux kernel and Linux device driver

Deep Dive: Linux Device Configuration Mechanisms - ACPI vs Device Tree
Excited to share insights from our latest technical webinar on Linux kernel device configuration! We explored the intricate world of hardware-software interaction in Linux systems.

🎯 Key Technical Insights:
Architecture-Specific Approaches:
x86 platforms leverage ACPI tables through BIOS
ARM systems utilize Device Tree mechanism
Modern hardware can support both simultaneously (bet you didn't know that!)

Driver Intelligence:
Dual match tables (OF_MATCH_TABLE & ACPI_MATCH_TABLE)
Unique device fingerprinting through compatible fields
Cross-architecture support capabilities

Bootloader Magic:
Dynamic hardware detection
Intelligent Device Tree blob selection
Register R2 utilization in ARM (evolved from historical ATAG in R3)

💡 Most Interesting Discovery: Some modern drivers can handle both ACPI and Device Tree configurations simultaneously, enabling seamless cross-architecture compatibility!

🔍 Technical Deep-Dive Flow:
1) Device Tree: DTS → DTC → DTB → Bootloader → Memory → Kernel → Device Instance
2) ACPI: BIOS → ACPI Tables → Kernel → Device Configuration

20240713 2 Device Tree X86 and ARM