linux-kernel - Finding lost memory + kernel messages explained

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Date:	Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:47:05 +0300
From:	Imre Gergely <gimre@...ancs.net>
To:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Finding lost memory + kernel messages explained

Hi

I've just upgraded my laptop RAM from 1x2GB to 2x2GB. The BIOS says 
4096MB, memtest says 4031MB (I'm not sure why, but let's assume it's right).

After Linux boots, Ubuntu 8.10 x86_64, with

Linux gimre-laptop 2.6.27-11-generic #1 SMP Wed Apr 1 20:53:41 UTC 2009 
x86_64 GNU/Linux

I look at /proc/meminfo, and I don't have 4031MB:

gimre@...re-laptop:~$ cat /proc/meminfo
MemTotal:      3989844 kB
MemFree:       3157756 kB

That would be around 3896MB. My question is: where does the memory go? 
Is it normal to 'lose' that much (~130MB) ?

Here's the dmesg output

http://pastebin.com/m4f7d089a

Also I would like to know more about those kernel messages, what do all 
those numbers, and memory mappings and all that mean? Is there a 
comprehensive manual / howto / wiki which explains all the messages in 
more detail?

One thing I tried was appending iommu=off at boot, which gave me back 
some 50MB, but there were still 80MB missing and the USB mouse didn't 
work (among other things I'm sure).

Laptop is a HP Compaq 8510p.

Thanks.

-- 
Imre Gergely
Yahoo!: gergelyimre ICQ#: 101510959
MSN: gergely_imre GoogleTalk: gergelyimre
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