Merge branch 'acpica'

* acpica: (40 commits)
  ACPICA: Update version to 20171215
  ACPICA: trivial style fix, no functional change
  ACPICA: Fix a couple memory leaks during package object resolution
  ACPICA: Recognize the Windows 10 version 1607 and 1703 OSI strings
  ACPICA: DT compiler: prevent error if optional field at the end of table is not present
  ACPICA: Rename a global variable, no functional change
  ACPICA: Create and deploy safe version of strncpy
  ACPICA: Cleanup the global variables and update comments
  ACPICA: Debugger: fix slight indentation issue
  ACPICA: Fix a regression in the acpi_evaluate_object_type() interface
  ACPICA: Update for a few debug output statements
  ACPICA: Debug output, no functional change
  ACPICA: Update information in MAINTAINERS
  ACPICA: Rename variable to match upstream
  ACPICA: Update version to 20171110
  ACPICA: ACPI 6.2: Additional PPTT flags
  ACPICA: Update linkage for get mutex name interface
  ACPICA: Update mutex error messages, no functional change
  ACPICA: Debugger: add "background" command for method execution
  ACPICA: Small typo fix, no functional change
  ...

40 files changed, 672 insertions, 262 deletions

diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acapps.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acapps.h
index 7a1a68b5ac5c..2243c8164b34 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acapps.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acapps.h
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@
 	prefix, ACPICA_COPYRIGHT, \
 	prefix
 
+#define ACPI_COMMON_BUILD_TIME \
+	"Build date/time: %s %s\n", __DATE__, __TIME__
+
 /* Macros for usage messages */
 
 #define ACPI_USAGE_HEADER(usage) \
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acdebug.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acdebug.h
index 71743e5252f5..54b8d9df9423 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acdebug.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acdebug.h
@@ -223,6 +223,10 @@ void
 acpi_db_execute(char *name, char **args, acpi_object_type *types, u32 flags);
 
 void
+acpi_db_create_execution_thread(char *method_name_arg,
+				char **arguments, acpi_object_type *types);
+
+void
 acpi_db_create_execution_threads(char *num_threads_arg,
 				 char *num_loops_arg, char *method_name_arg);
 
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acglobal.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acglobal.h
index 95eed442703f..45ef3f5dc9ad 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acglobal.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acglobal.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
- * Globals related to the ACPI tables
+ * Globals related to the incoming ACPI tables
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_integer_nybble_width);
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
- * Mutual exclusion within ACPICA subsystem
+ * Mutual exclusion within the ACPICA subsystem
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_next_owner_id_offset);
 
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_namespace_initialized, FALSE);
 
-/* Misc */
+/* Miscellaneous */
 
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_original_mode);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_ns_lookup_count);
@@ -191,10 +191,9 @@ extern const char acpi_gbl_lower_hex_digits[];
 extern const char acpi_gbl_upper_hex_digits[];
 extern const struct acpi_opcode_info acpi_gbl_aml_op_info[AML_NUM_OPCODES];
 
-#ifdef ACPI_DBG_TRACK_ALLOCATIONS
-
 /* Lists for tracking memory allocations (debug only) */
 
+#ifdef ACPI_DBG_TRACK_ALLOCATIONS
 ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_memory_list *, acpi_gbl_global_list);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_memory_list *, acpi_gbl_ns_node_list);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_display_final_mem_stats);
@@ -203,7 +202,7 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_disable_mem_tracking);
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
- * Namespace globals
+ * ACPI Namespace
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
@@ -234,15 +233,20 @@ ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_nesting_level, 0);
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
- * Interpreter globals
+ * Interpreter/Parser globals
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_thread_state *, acpi_gbl_current_walk_list);
-
 /* Control method single step flag */
 
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_cm_single_step);
+ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_thread_state *, acpi_gbl_current_walk_list);
+ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(union acpi_parse_object, *acpi_gbl_current_scope, NULL);
+
+/* ASL/ASL+ converter */
+
+ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_capture_comments, FALSE);
+ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_last_list_head, NULL);
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
@@ -252,7 +256,6 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_cm_single_step);
 
 extern struct acpi_bit_register_info
     acpi_gbl_bit_register_info[ACPI_NUM_BITREG];
-
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_sleep_type_a);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_sleep_type_b);
 
@@ -263,7 +266,6 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_sleep_type_b);
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 #if (!ACPI_REDUCED_HARDWARE)
-
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_all_gpes_initialized);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_gpe_xrupt_info *, acpi_gbl_gpe_xrupt_list_head);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_gpe_block_info *,
@@ -272,10 +274,8 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(acpi_gbl_event_handler, acpi_gbl_global_event_handler);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(void *, acpi_gbl_global_event_handler_context);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_fixed_event_handler,
 	    acpi_gbl_fixed_event_handlers[ACPI_NUM_FIXED_EVENTS]);
-
 extern struct acpi_fixed_event_info
     acpi_gbl_fixed_event_info[ACPI_NUM_FIXED_EVENTS];
-
 #endif				/* !ACPI_REDUCED_HARDWARE */
 
 /*****************************************************************************
@@ -291,14 +291,14 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gpe_count);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_sci_count);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_fixed_event_count[ACPI_NUM_FIXED_EVENTS]);
 
-/* Support for dynamic control method tracing mechanism */
+/* Dynamic control method tracing mechanism */
 
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_original_dbg_level);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_original_dbg_layer);
 
 /*****************************************************************************
  *
- * Debugger and Disassembler globals
+ * Debugger and Disassembler
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
@@ -326,7 +326,6 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_external_file *, acpi_gbl_external_file_list);
 #endif
 
 #ifdef ACPI_DEBUGGER
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_abort_method, FALSE);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(acpi_thread_id, acpi_gbl_db_thread_id, ACPI_INVALID_THREAD_ID);
 
@@ -340,7 +339,6 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_db_console_debug_level);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(struct acpi_namespace_node *, acpi_gbl_db_scope_node);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_db_terminate_loop);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_db_threads_terminated);
-
 ACPI_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_db_args[ACPI_DEBUGGER_MAX_ARGS]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(acpi_object_type, acpi_gbl_db_arg_types[ACPI_DEBUGGER_MAX_ARGS]);
 
@@ -350,32 +348,33 @@ ACPI_GLOBAL(char, acpi_gbl_db_parsed_buf[ACPI_DB_LINE_BUFFER_SIZE]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(char, acpi_gbl_db_scope_buf[ACPI_DB_LINE_BUFFER_SIZE]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(char, acpi_gbl_db_debug_filename[ACPI_DB_LINE_BUFFER_SIZE]);
 
-/*
- * Statistic globals
- */
+/* Statistics globals */
+
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u16, acpi_gbl_obj_type_count[ACPI_TOTAL_TYPES]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u16, acpi_gbl_node_type_count[ACPI_TOTAL_TYPES]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u16, acpi_gbl_obj_type_count_misc);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u16, acpi_gbl_node_type_count_misc);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_num_nodes);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(u32, acpi_gbl_num_objects);
-
 #endif				/* ACPI_DEBUGGER */
 
 #if defined (ACPI_DISASSEMBLER) || defined (ACPI_ASL_COMPILER)
-
 ACPI_GLOBAL(const char, *acpi_gbl_pld_panel_list[]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(const char, *acpi_gbl_pld_vertical_position_list[]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(const char, *acpi_gbl_pld_horizontal_position_list[]);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(const char, *acpi_gbl_pld_shape_list[]);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_disasm_flag, FALSE);
-
 #endif
 
-/*
- * Meant for the -ca option.
- */
+/*****************************************************************************
+ *
+ * ACPICA application-specific globals
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+/* ASL-to-ASL+ conversion utility (implemented within the iASL compiler) */
+
+#ifdef ACPI_ASL_COMPILER
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_current_inline_comment, NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_current_end_node_comment, NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_current_open_brace_comment, NULL);
@@ -386,23 +385,18 @@ ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_current_filename, NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_current_parent_filename, NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(char *, acpi_gbl_current_include_filename, NULL);
 
-ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_last_list_head, NULL);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_def_blk_comment_list_head,
 		 NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_def_blk_comment_list_tail,
 		 NULL);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_reg_comment_list_head,
 		 NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_reg_comment_list_tail,
 		 NULL);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_inc_comment_list_head,
 		 NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_inc_comment_list_tail,
 		 NULL);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_end_blk_comment_list_head,
 		 NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_end_blk_comment_list_tail,
@@ -410,30 +404,18 @@ ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_node, *acpi_gbl_end_blk_comment_list_tail,
 
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_comment_addr_node,
 		 *acpi_gbl_comment_addr_list_head, NULL);
-
-ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(union acpi_parse_object, *acpi_gbl_current_scope, NULL);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(struct acpi_file_node, *acpi_gbl_file_tree_root, NULL);
 
 ACPI_GLOBAL(acpi_cache_t *, acpi_gbl_reg_comment_cache);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(acpi_cache_t *, acpi_gbl_comment_addr_cache);
 ACPI_GLOBAL(acpi_cache_t *, acpi_gbl_file_cache);
 
-ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, gbl_capture_comments, FALSE);
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_debug_asl_conversion, FALSE);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(ACPI_FILE, acpi_gbl_conv_debug_file, NULL);
-
 ACPI_GLOBAL(char, acpi_gbl_table_sig[4]);
-
-/*****************************************************************************
- *
- * Application globals
- *
- ****************************************************************************/
+#endif
 
 #ifdef ACPI_APPLICATION
-
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(ACPI_FILE, acpi_gbl_debug_file, NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(ACPI_FILE, acpi_gbl_output_file, NULL);
 ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_debug_timeout, FALSE);
@@ -442,16 +424,6 @@ ACPI_INIT_GLOBAL(u8, acpi_gbl_debug_timeout, FALSE);
 
 ACPI_GLOBAL(acpi_spinlock, acpi_gbl_print_lock);	/* For print buffer */
 ACPI_GLOBAL(char, acpi_gbl_print_buffer[1024]);
-
 #endif				/* ACPI_APPLICATION */
 
-/*****************************************************************************
- *
- * Info/help support
- *
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-extern const struct ah_predefined_name asl_predefined_info[];
-extern const struct ah_device_id asl_device_ids[];
-
 #endif				/* __ACGLOBAL_H__ */
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/aclocal.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/aclocal.h
index 0d45b8bb1678..a56675f0661e 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/aclocal.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/aclocal.h
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ struct acpi_control_state {
 	union acpi_parse_object *predicate_op;
 	u8 *aml_predicate_start;	/* Start of if/while predicate */
 	u8 *package_end;	/* End of if/while block */
-	u32 loop_count;		/* While() loop counter */
+	u64 loop_timeout;	/* While() loop timeout */
 };
 
 /*
@@ -1218,16 +1218,17 @@ struct acpi_db_method_info {
 	acpi_object_type *types;
 
 	/*
-	 * Arguments to be passed to method for the command
-	 * Threads -
-	 *   the Number of threads, ID of current thread and
-	 *   Index of current thread inside all them created.
+	 * Arguments to be passed to method for the commands Threads and
+	 * Background. Note, ACPI specifies a maximum of 7 arguments (0 - 6).
+	 *
+	 * For the Threads command, the Number of threads, ID of current
+	 * thread and Index of current thread inside all them created.
 	 */
 	char init_args;
 #ifdef ACPI_DEBUGGER
-	acpi_object_type arg_types[4];
+	acpi_object_type arg_types[ACPI_METHOD_NUM_ARGS];
 #endif
-	char *arguments[4];
+	char *arguments[ACPI_METHOD_NUM_ARGS];
 	char num_threads_str[11];
 	char id_of_thread_str[11];
 	char index_of_thread_str[11];
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acmacros.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acmacros.h
index c7f0c96cc00f..128a3d71b598 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acmacros.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acmacros.h
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@
  * the plist contains a set of parens to allow variable-length lists.
  * These macros are used for both the debug and non-debug versions of the code.
  */
-#define ACPI_ERROR_NAMESPACE(s, e)          acpi_ut_namespace_error (AE_INFO, s, e);
+#define ACPI_ERROR_NAMESPACE(s, p, e)       acpi_ut_prefixed_namespace_error (AE_INFO, s, p, e);
 #define ACPI_ERROR_METHOD(s, n, p, e)       acpi_ut_method_error (AE_INFO, s, n, p, e);
 #define ACPI_WARN_PREDEFINED(plist)         acpi_ut_predefined_warning plist
 #define ACPI_INFO_PREDEFINED(plist)         acpi_ut_predefined_info plist
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h
index 54a0c51b3e37..2fb1bb78d85c 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h
@@ -289,6 +289,9 @@ acpi_ns_build_normalized_path(struct acpi_namespace_node *node,
 char *acpi_ns_get_normalized_pathname(struct acpi_namespace_node *node,
 				      u8 no_trailing);
 
+char *acpi_ns_build_prefixed_pathname(union acpi_generic_state *prefix_scope,
+				      const char *internal_path);
+
 char *acpi_ns_name_of_current_scope(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state);
 
 acpi_status
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acutils.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acutils.h
index 83b75e9db7ef..b6b29d717824 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acutils.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acutils.h
@@ -118,9 +118,6 @@ extern const char *acpi_gbl_ptyp_decode[];
 #ifndef ACPI_MSG_ERROR
 #define ACPI_MSG_ERROR          "ACPI Error: "
 #endif
-#ifndef ACPI_MSG_EXCEPTION
-#define ACPI_MSG_EXCEPTION      "ACPI Exception: "
-#endif
 #ifndef ACPI_MSG_WARNING
 #define ACPI_MSG_WARNING        "ACPI Warning: "
 #endif
@@ -129,10 +126,10 @@ extern const char *acpi_gbl_ptyp_decode[];
 #endif
 
 #ifndef ACPI_MSG_BIOS_ERROR
-#define ACPI_MSG_BIOS_ERROR     "ACPI BIOS Error (bug): "
+#define ACPI_MSG_BIOS_ERROR     "Firmware Error (ACPI): "
 #endif
 #ifndef ACPI_MSG_BIOS_WARNING
-#define ACPI_MSG_BIOS_WARNING   "ACPI BIOS Warning (bug): "
+#define ACPI_MSG_BIOS_WARNING   "Firmware Warning (ACPI): "
 #endif
 
 /*
@@ -233,10 +230,10 @@ u64 acpi_ut_implicit_strtoul64(char *string);
  */
 acpi_status acpi_ut_init_globals(void);
 
-#if defined(ACPI_DEBUG_OUTPUT) || defined(ACPI_DEBUGGER)
-
 const char *acpi_ut_get_mutex_name(u32 mutex_id);
 
+#if defined(ACPI_DEBUG_OUTPUT) || defined(ACPI_DEBUGGER)
+
 const char *acpi_ut_get_notify_name(u32 notify_value, acpi_object_type type);
 #endif
 
@@ -641,9 +638,11 @@ void ut_convert_backslashes(char *pathname);
 
 void acpi_ut_repair_name(char *name);
 
-#if defined (ACPI_DEBUGGER) || defined (ACPI_APPLICATION)
+#if defined (ACPI_DEBUGGER) || defined (ACPI_APPLICATION) || defined (ACPI_DEBUG_OUTPUT)
 u8 acpi_ut_safe_strcpy(char *dest, acpi_size dest_size, char *source);
 
+void acpi_ut_safe_strncpy(char *dest, char *source, acpi_size dest_size);
+
 u8 acpi_ut_safe_strcat(char *dest, acpi_size dest_size, char *source);
 
 u8
@@ -737,9 +736,11 @@ acpi_ut_predefined_bios_error(const char *module_name,
 			      u8 node_flags, const char *format, ...);
 
 void
-acpi_ut_namespace_error(const char *module_name,
-			u32 line_number,
-			const char *internal_name, acpi_status lookup_status);
+acpi_ut_prefixed_namespace_error(const char *module_name,
+				 u32 line_number,
+				 union acpi_generic_state *prefix_scope,
+				 const char *internal_name,
+				 acpi_status lookup_status);
 
 void
 acpi_ut_method_error(const char *module_name,
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbexec.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbexec.c
index 3b30319752f0..ed088fceb18d 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbexec.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbexec.c
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ static acpi_status
 acpi_db_execution_walk(acpi_handle obj_handle,
 		       u32 nesting_level, void *context, void **return_value);
 
+static void ACPI_SYSTEM_XFACE acpi_db_single_execution_thread(void *context);
+
 /*******************************************************************************
  *
  * FUNCTION:    acpi_db_delete_objects
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ static acpi_status acpi_db_execute_setup(struct acpi_db_method_info *info)
 
 	ACPI_FUNCTION_NAME(db_execute_setup);
 
-	/* Catenate the current scope to the supplied name */
+	/* Concatenate the current scope to the supplied name */
 
 	info->pathname[0] = 0;
 	if ((info->name[0] != '\\') && (info->name[0] != '/')) {
@@ -611,6 +613,112 @@ static void ACPI_SYSTEM_XFACE acpi_db_method_thread(void *context)
 
 /*******************************************************************************
  *
+ * FUNCTION:    acpi_db_single_execution_thread
+ *
+ * PARAMETERS:  context                 - Method info struct
+ *
+ * RETURN:      None
+ *
+ * DESCRIPTION: Create one thread and execute a method
+ *
+ ******************************************************************************/
+
+static void ACPI_SYSTEM_XFACE acpi_db_single_execution_thread(void *context)
+{
+	struct acpi_db_method_info *info = context;
+	acpi_status status;
+	struct acpi_buffer return_obj;
+
+	acpi_os_printf("\n");
+
+	status = acpi_db_execute_method(info, &return_obj);
+	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
+		acpi_os_printf("%s During evaluation of %s\n",
+			       acpi_format_exception(status), info->pathname);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* Display a return object, if any */
+
+	if (return_obj.length) {
+		acpi_os_printf("Evaluation of %s returned object %p, "
+			       "external buffer length %X\n",
+			       acpi_gbl_db_method_info.pathname,
+			       return_obj.pointer, (u32)return_obj.length);
+
+		acpi_db_dump_external_object(return_obj.pointer, 1);
+	}
+
+	acpi_os_printf("\nBackground thread completed\n%c ",
+		       ACPI_DEBUGGER_COMMAND_PROMPT);
+}
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ *
+ * FUNCTION:    acpi_db_create_execution_thread
+ *
+ * PARAMETERS:  method_name_arg         - Control method to execute
+ *              arguments               - Array of arguments to the method
+ *              types                   - Corresponding array of object types
+ *
+ * RETURN:      None
+ *
+ * DESCRIPTION: Create a single thread to evaluate a namespace object. Handles
+ *              arguments passed on command line for control methods.
+ *
+ ******************************************************************************/
+
+void
+acpi_db_create_execution_thread(char *method_name_arg,
+				char **arguments, acpi_object_type *types)
+{
+	acpi_status status;
+	u32 i;
+
+	memset(&acpi_gbl_db_method_info, 0, sizeof(struct acpi_db_method_info));
+	acpi_gbl_db_method_info.name = method_name_arg;
+	acpi_gbl_db_method_info.init_args = 1;
+	acpi_gbl_db_method_info.args = acpi_gbl_db_method_info.arguments;
+	acpi_gbl_db_method_info.types = acpi_gbl_db_method_info.arg_types;
+
+	/* Setup method arguments, up to 7 (0-6) */
+
+	for (i = 0; (i < ACPI_METHOD_NUM_ARGS) && *arguments; i++) {
+		acpi_gbl_db_method_info.arguments[i] = *arguments;
+		arguments++;
+
+		acpi_gbl_db_method_info.arg_types[i] = *types;
+		types++;
+	}
+
+	status = acpi_db_execute_setup(&acpi_gbl_db_method_info);
+	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* Get the NS node, determines existence also */
+
+	status = acpi_get_handle(NULL, acpi_gbl_db_method_info.pathname,
+				 &acpi_gbl_db_method_info.method);
+	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
+		acpi_os_printf("%s Could not get handle for %s\n",
+			       acpi_format_exception(status),
+			       acpi_gbl_db_method_info.pathname);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	status = acpi_os_execute(OSL_DEBUGGER_EXEC_THREAD,
+				 acpi_db_single_execution_thread,
+				 &acpi_gbl_db_method_info);
+	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	acpi_os_printf("\nBackground thread started\n");
+}
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ *
  * FUNCTION:    acpi_db_create_execution_threads
  *
  * PARAMETERS:  num_threads_arg         - Number of threads to create
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbfileio.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbfileio.c
index 4d81ea291d93..cf9607945704 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbfileio.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbfileio.c
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ void acpi_db_open_debug_file(char *name)
 	}
 
 	acpi_os_printf("Debug output file %s opened\n", name);
-	strncpy(acpi_gbl_db_debug_filename, name,
-		sizeof(acpi_gbl_db_debug_filename));
+	acpi_ut_safe_strncpy(acpi_gbl_db_debug_filename, name,
+			     sizeof(acpi_gbl_db_debug_filename));
 	acpi_gbl_db_output_to_file = TRUE;
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbinput.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbinput.c
index 2626d79db064..954ca3b981a7 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbinput.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dbinput.c
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ enum acpi_ex_debugger_commands {
 	CMD_UNLOAD,
 
 	CMD_TERMINATE,
+	CMD_BACKGROUND,
 	CMD_THREADS,
 
 	CMD_TEST,
@@ -212,6 +213,7 @@ static const struct acpi_db_command_info acpi_gbl_db_commands[] = {
 	{"UNLOAD", 1},
 
 	{"TERMINATE", 0},
+	{"BACKGROUND", 1},
 	{"THREADS", 3},
 
 	{"TEST", 1},
@@ -222,9 +224,56 @@ static const struct acpi_db_command_info acpi_gbl_db_commands[] = {
 /*
  * Help for all debugger commands. First argument is the number of lines
  * of help to output for the command.
+ *
+ * Note: Some commands are not supported by the kernel-level version of
+ * the debugger.
  */
 static const struct acpi_db_command_help acpi_gbl_db_command_help[] = {
-	{0, "\nGeneral-Purpose Commands:", "\n"},
+	{0, "\nNamespace Access:", "\n"},
+	{1, "  Businfo", "Display system bus info\n"},
+	{1, "  Disassemble <Method>", "Disassemble a control method\n"},
+	{1, "  Find <AcpiName> (? is wildcard)",
+	 "Find ACPI name(s) with wildcards\n"},
+	{1, "  Integrity", "Validate namespace integrity\n"},
+	{1, "  Methods", "Display list of loaded control methods\n"},
+	{1, "  Namespace [Object] [Depth]",
+	 "Display loaded namespace tree/subtree\n"},
+	{1, "  Notify <Object> <Value>", "Send a notification on Object\n"},
+	{1, "  Objects [ObjectType]",
+	 "Display summary of all objects or just given type\n"},
+	{1, "  Owner <OwnerId> [Depth]",
+	 "Display loaded namespace by object owner\n"},
+	{1, "  Paths", "Display full pathnames of namespace objects\n"},
+	{1, "  Predefined", "Check all predefined names\n"},
+	{1, "  Prefix [<Namepath>]", "Set or Get current execution prefix\n"},
+	{1, "  References <Addr>", "Find all references to object at addr\n"},
+	{1, "  Resources [DeviceName]",
+	 "Display Device resources (no arg = all devices)\n"},
+	{1, "  Set N <NamedObject> <Value>", "Set value for named integer\n"},
+	{1, "  Template <Object>", "Format/dump a Buffer/ResourceTemplate\n"},
+	{1, "  Type <Object>", "Display object type\n"},
+
+	{0, "\nControl Method Execution:", "\n"},
+	{1, "  Evaluate <Namepath> [Arguments]",
+	 "Evaluate object or control method\n"},
+	{1, "  Execute <Namepath> [Arguments]", "Synonym for Evaluate\n"},
+#ifdef ACPI_APPLICATION
+	{1, "  Background <Namepath> [Arguments]",
+	 "Evaluate object/method in a separate thread\n"},
+	{1, "  Thread <Threads><Loops><NamePath>",
+	 "Spawn threads to execute method(s)\n"},
+#endif
+	{1, "  Debug <Namepath> [Arguments]", "Single-Step a control method\n"},
+	{7, "  [Arguments] formats:", "Control method argument formats\n"},
+	{1, "     Hex Integer", "Integer\n"},
+	{1, "     \"Ascii String\"", "String\n"},
+	{1, "     (Hex Byte List)", "Buffer\n"},
+	{1, "         (01 42 7A BF)", "Buffer example (4 bytes)\n"},
+	{1, "     [Package Element List]", "Package\n"},
+	{1, "         [0x01 0x1234 \"string\"]",
+	 "Package example (3 elements)\n"},
+
+	{0, "\nMiscellaneous:", "\n"},
 	{1, "  Allocations", "Display list of current memory allocations\n"},
 	{2, "  Dump <Address>|<Namepath>", "\n"},
 	{0, "       [Byte|Word|Dword|Qword]",
@@ -248,46 +297,30 @@ static const struct acpi_db_command_help acpi_gbl_db_command_help[] = {
 	{1, "     Stack", "Display CPU stack usage\n"},
 	{1, "     Tables", "Info about current ACPI table(s)\n"},
 	{1, "  Tables", "Display info about loaded ACPI tables\n"},
+#ifdef ACPI_APPLICATION
+	{1, "  Terminate", "Delete namespace and all internal objects\n"},
+#endif
 	{1, "  ! <CommandNumber>", "Execute command from history buffer\n"},
 	{1, "  !!", "Execute last command again\n"},
 
-	{0, "\nNamespace Access Commands:", "\n"},
-	{1, "  Businfo", "Display system bus info\n"},
-	{1, "  Disassemble <Method>", "Disassemble a control method\n"},
-	{1, "  Find <AcpiName> (? is wildcard)",
-	 "Find ACPI name(s) with wildcards\n"},
-	{1, "  Integrity", "Validate namespace integrity\n"},
-	{1, "  Methods", "Display list of loaded control methods\n"},
-	{1, "  Namespace [Object] [Depth]",
-	 "Display loaded namespace tree/subtree\n"},
-	{1, "  Notify <Object> <Value>", "Send a notification on Object\n"},
-	{1, "  Objects [ObjectType]",
-	 "Display summary of all objects or just given type\n"},
-	{1, "  Owner <OwnerId> [Depth]",
-	 "Display loaded namespace by object owner\n"},
-	{1, "  Paths", "Display full pathnames of namespace objects\n"},
-	{1, "  Predefined", "Check all predefined names\n"},
-	{1, "  Prefix [<Namepath>]", "Set or Get current execution prefix\n"},
-	{1, "  References <Addr>", "Find all references to object at addr\n"},
-	{1, "  Resources [DeviceName]",
-	 "Display Dev