> > For example, it appears the alpha does and i386 doesn't.
>
> Except, the alpha doesn't.  8-)

Oops :-)

> If the alpha happens to need prom services (printf, in particular), it
> temporarily maps it in.

Hmm, so I guess you always have to leave "room" or whatever resources
are necesary to be able to map it in or else the panic'ing due to
lack of free pages would be hard to diagnose :-)

Thanks for the info,
Jason