[coreboot] Multiboot support

[Stefan Reinauer]

Carl-Daniel Hailfinger wrote:
> On 09.09.2008 19:37, Robert Millan wrote:
>   
>> On Tue, Sep 09, 2008 at 11:19:27AM -0600, Jordan Crouse wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> On 09/09/08 18:59 +0200, Robert Millan wrote:
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> I'm thinking that it'd be interesting for coreboot to have direct support for
>>>> Multiboot, so that Multiboot kernels can be used directly without GRUB/FILO as
>>>> middle man (somewhat like this thing you call "LAB").
>>>>
>>>> When I brought this up on IRC, Patrick expressed concerns about size.  I suppose
>>>> the best would be to give users the option to provide either coreboot tables or
>>>> Multiboot, whatever is needed for their payload, instead of adding both things
>>>> unconditionally.
>>>>       
>>>>         
>
> Sorry, that won't fly. The official Multiboot spec at
> http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/multiboot/multiboot.html lacks
> quite a few things needed by the OS and supported by coreboot tables.
>
> That means the concerns about size are valid and the proposed way to fix
> them won't work.
>
>   
>>>> Nevertheless I don't expect the basic Multiboot support to be excessively big.
>>>>
>>>> If this idea sounds fine, I could provide a patch for v3.
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>> I support this idea unconditionally.  I know the limitations and
>>> concerns about multiboot - but playing well with others is something
>>> we need to do a better job of.  
>>>     
>>>       
>> Good :-).  I'll get to work.
>>
>>   
>>     
>>> I don't suppose we could talk you into a v2 patch as well?
>>>     
>>>       
>> Maybe ;-).  I do the v3 patch, and once we're done with it, I'll see how
>> easy/hard it is to backport it, is that ok?
>>   
>>     
>
> What advantages does Multiboot have over storing the parsed kernel in
> the LAR? Will Multiboot make SELF obsolete before it's even introduced?
>   
No, it's another thing that would be parsed into SELF if done right. I
think it's a libpayload job though, and can be used by, for example,
bayou and filo,... and possibly coreinfo and others...



-- 
coresystems GmbH • Brahmsstr. 16 • D-79104 Freiburg i. Br.
      Tel.: +49 761 7668825 • Fax: +49 761 7664613
Email: info at coresystems.de  • http://www.coresystems.de/
Registergericht: Amtsgericht Freiburg • HRB 7656
Geschäftsführer: Stefan Reinauer • Ust-IdNr.: DE245674866


-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: signature.asc
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 249 bytes
Desc: OpenPGP digital signature
URL: <http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/attachments/20080909/b705f696/attachment.sig>