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Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 14:11:11 -0500 (EST)
From: "Richard B. Johnson" <root@chaos.analogic.com>
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To: Linux kernel <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
Subject: atomic_t (24 bits???)
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.95.1030225140554.20186A-100000@chaos>
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In ../linux/include/asm/atomic.h, for versions 2.4.18 and
above as far as I've checked, there are repeated warnings
"Note that the guaranteed useful range of an atomic_t is
only 24 bits."

I fail to see any reason why as atomic_t is typdefed to a
volatile int which, on ix86 seems to be 32 bits.

Does anybody know if this is just some old comments from a
previous atomic_t type of, perhaps, char[3]?  


Cheers,
Dick Johnson
Penguin : Linux version 2.4.18 on an i686 machine (797.90 BogoMips).
Why is the government concerned about the lunatic fringe? Think about it.


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