Good day, Kenton.
I'm currently working on some serialization/deserialization code in order to simplify developing support for Microsoft's [acquired] VHD disk image format. Once implemented, the "differencing" feature of VHD image files will provide copy-on-write functionality. For example, I'd like to be able to boot from a master VHD pre-kernel, then have WinVBlock continue with a delta. However! Since you've e-mailed the gPXE developers' list, I suspect that you are more interested in SAN CoW of some sort. This is currently possible using Linux' device-mapper, and serving the CoW devices. Did you see this article?: http://etherboot.org/wiki/appnotes/cow CoW-capable SAN target software seems to be a popular wish. A fellow recently shared a fun video of Ardence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moIuHqIc-PQ&feature=player_embedded I'm not 100% sure how you might be thinking of using gPXE + WinVBlock, or if you would even need WinVBlock. Would you care to share a few more details about the scenario you have envisioned? Thank you for your offer to help with development. When WinVBlock was originally derived from V.'s WinAoE work, it was quite a learning curve, having dwelled in user-land, myself. But before suggesting anything to jump into, perhaps a little more discussion regarding your scenario would be better. Thanks! - Shao Miller ________________________________ From: Kenton Varda [mailto:tempo...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 01:35 To: Miller, Shao; gpxe-devel@etherboot.org Subject: COW Overlay in WinVBlock -- willing to implement Hi Shao and gpxe-devel, In a post on this page you mentioned that you are planning to add COW overlay support to WinVBlock: http://reboot.pro/8168/page__st__300 I have a need for this (in order to netboot multiple machines off a common base image), and have not been able to find any existing non-proprietary solution. Can I help you implement it? If so, can you give me pointers on where to start and what to do? I am fluent in userland C (including low-level Win32 and POSIX), but have never ventured into kernel drivers before. FWIW I'm a Google employee, but this is for a personal project. Namely, my house, which is optimized for LAN parties. I currently have 12 machines netbooting Ubuntu over nbd and running games under WINE, but sadly there are a few too many games that don't work. :/ Thanks, -Kenton
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