[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> On 7 Feb, Ronald G Minnich wrote:
> > On Wed, 7 Feb 2001, Ronald G Minnich wrote:
> >
> >> > (b) move the responsibility of decompression into the kernel image
> >> > itself. This can still be used by the BSD's if they choose to.
> >>
> >> if you think that's the best thing to do.
> >
> > note that somebody else pushed for this long ago, and I still am not sure
> > I really like it, since it will cause BSD trouble. I think maybe it
> > becomes a build option?
> >
> > ron
>
> I don't think it needs to be an either-or at all. linuxbiosmain()
> should be "turned upside down" in the same way I want do to
> intel_main(). My needs are to be able to load initrd images, choose
> between multiple kernel images and set the kernel command line.
>
> A system that provides functions that make it trivial to write
> linuxbiosmain() functions custom for each board will also have the
> flexibility to uncompress the the kernel any way you want.
Tyson I almost agree with you. I do agree that ultimately we need to
be flexible. I have this general policy of just providing one
mechanism to do any one task to keep code from getting hairy for no
reason.
For booting a linux kernel with or with out a ramdisk. All I need is
the capability to boot an ELF image. I've already tested this, and
this is just flexible enough for what we need. Putting this
functionality into a subroutine that you point at the ELF image in the
flash is fine by me.
Having a search capability and a more or less standard ROM layout
above this ELF capability I think would be good. It still remains
to be tested.
Currently I think it would be nice if linuxBIOS was more than just
a subroutine library to make writing BIOS's easier. Tyson that seems
to be where what you are talking about is heading. But that is one
important point we need to work out.
That is why I'm concerned about definition.
Do we make linuxBIOS a subroutine library or do we make it a tightly
focused first booter that can get you into a linux kernel in the rom
that can do the hard work.
Eric
