If I understand mjg59's argument correctly, the issue is not RAID. As you point out, that's not a laptop thing.
The issue is that Intel have not told anybody how to properly-manage power in their hardware; instead, they have released a binary-blob driver for Windows that just does it right. However, for the driver to do things right, Microsoft's driver mustn't bind to the hardware first. The easiest way for Lenovo to achieve this is to put the hardware into RAID mode, and not to let it come out. That means the MS driver examines the hardware, decides it can't deal with it, and ignores it, leaving the Intel driver to come along and claim it.
Presumably the Intel driver is perfectly happy to run in single-disc JBOD mode, but it does it with the right power management. The end result, according to Matthew, is "correct power management configuration, battery life is better and the machine doesn't melt".
I'm not saying it's a good thing, and I don't think Matthew is either. It's just the easiest way for Lenovo to deal with Intel's stupid secret-sauce power management, in a Windows context.
Power management, mobile and firmware developer on Linux. Security developer at Aurora. Ex-biologist. mjg59 on Twitter. Content here should not be interpreted as the opinion of my employer. Also on Mastodon.
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Re: Which part is it that is not being understood?
Date: 2016-09-22 07:15 am (UTC)The issue is that Intel have not told anybody how to properly-manage power in their hardware; instead, they have released a binary-blob driver for Windows that just does it right. However, for the driver to do things right, Microsoft's driver mustn't bind to the hardware first. The easiest way for Lenovo to achieve this is to put the hardware into RAID mode, and not to let it come out. That means the MS driver examines the hardware, decides it can't deal with it, and ignores it, leaving the Intel driver to come along and claim it.
Presumably the Intel driver is perfectly happy to run in single-disc JBOD mode, but it does it with the right power management. The end result, according to Matthew, is "correct power management configuration, battery life is better and the machine doesn't melt".
I'm not saying it's a good thing, and I don't think Matthew is either. It's just the easiest way for Lenovo to deal with Intel's stupid secret-sauce power management, in a Windows context.