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I was wondering if there is alternative to ACPI for obtaining configuration information (other than PlugNPlay or anything involving a 16-bit BIOS call). Could SMBIOS tables be used to get all the necessary information about devices in the system?

Could SMBIOS tables be used to get all the necessary information about devices in the system?

NO,to get information about devices in the system use PCI,PnP information,
I wrote a simply SMBIOS utility, but the information are stupid and Buggy,if you want
i can send you my application, it is for DOS, Win98, XP (VISTA ? )....

The SMBIOS has alot of that information.
I've parsed the SMBIOS on quite a few machines and I've not found a single error, so I'm assuming it's the parser that's at fault for the person who posted before me.

The MP tables can be useful for some device information (especially interrupt information from PCI/ISA devices).

I've parsed the SMBIOS on quite a few machines and I've not found a single error, so I'm assuming it's the parser that's at fault for the person who posted before me.

The SMBIOs not give you information on configuration of device,my parser is good,
SMBIOS is buggy

NO,to get information about devices in the system use PCI,PnP information

I specifically said I didn't want to use PnP.

I've taken a closer look at the SMBIOS specification. It appears that using MP Tables to find processers and interrupt routing and SMBIOS to find onboard controllers (and then using PCI configuration and such) to find info about individual devices will work.

I'm just trying to find a way to do configuration on systems that don't support ACPI (my OS is long mode only so I'm trying to stay away from PnP).

long mode but without ACPI?

Windows Vista kinda forced that not to happen

You're right, I just took a look and found that 64-bit Vista requires ACPI. I can't see manufactuers making BIOSes that don't support Vista.

No SMBIOS needed

Brendan has written about this several times when it's been asked. I can find you the links to his comments if you'd like. Or search these forums for SMBIOS, and find his comments.

Basically, he said: SMBIOS is meant only to provide system managers with "system contents" sorts of info -- it does not provide an OS with a sufficient level of detail to actually use when you get down to the details that matter.

So, overall, trying to use it will not work.

Also, in the end, you probably will not be able to avoid PnP, either.