TheMultiProcessor Specification (MPS) for thex86 architecture is anopen standard describing enhancements to bothoperating systems andfirmware, which will allow them to work with x86-compatible processors in amulti-processor configuration. MPS coversAdvanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC) architectures.
Version 1.1 of the specification was released on April 11, 1994.Version 1.4 of the specification was released on July 1, 1995, which added extended configuration tables to improve support for multiple PCI bus configurations and improve expandability.
TheLinux kernel andFreeBSD are known to support the Intel MPS.Windows NT 4.0 is known to support MPS 1.1 and, through later Service Packs, also MPS 1.4.Windows 2000 or higher are known to support MPS 1.4.OS/2 is known to support MPS 1.1 only.Mac OS X is known to support MPS 1.4 only.
There is a utility called 'mptable' which can be used to examine the MPS table on motherboards.
Since most newer machines supportAdvanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) which subsumes the MPS functionality, MPS has for the most part been supplanted by ACPI. MPS can still be useful on machines or with operating systems that do not support ACPI.
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