Re: [PATCH 2.5.12] x86 Boot enhancements, boot protocol 2.04 9/11

From: H. Peter Anvin (hpa@zytor.com)
Date: Thu May 02 2002 - 15:45:28 EST


Followup to: <m11ycuy48d.fsf_-_@frodo.biederman.org>
By author: ebiederm@xmission.com (Eric W. Biederman)
In newsgroup: linux.dev.kernel
>
> For backwards compatibility, if the setup_sects field contains 0, the
> real value is 4.
> @@ -180,8 +199,14 @@
> loadflags, heap_end_ptr:
> If the protocol version is 2.01 or higher, enter the
> offset limit of the setup heap into heap_end_ptr and set the
> - 0x80 bit (CAN_USE_HEAP) of loadflags. heap_end_ptr appears to
> - be relative to the start of setup (offset 0x0200).
> + 0x80 bit (CAN_USE_HEAP) of loadflags. heap_end_ptr is
> + relative to the start of setup (offset 0x0200).
> +
> + If the protocol version is 2.04 or higher set the 0x40 bit
> + (STAY_PUT). This explictly tells the real mode code that you
> + don't expect it to relocate itself to 0x90000. No earlier
> + protocols versions look at this bit so it is safe to set it
> + unconditionally.
>

Hang on here... this is bullsh*t. The real-mode code should not be
relocated if the cmd_line_ptr field is set. If you don't want to pass
a command line, set cmd_line_ptr to an empty string "". There should
be no need for an additional protocol here; in fact, having two
protocols only means the boot loader has to do both, in effect, so
what's the point?!?

> + With boot protocol 2.04 and above the initrd can be loaded
> + as low as kern_base + kern_memsz.

It's still a bad idea, for several reasons:

a) Adds to the number of configurations that have to be tested, for
   absolutely no good reason.

b) It may be OK for the Linux kernel proper, but it is *NOT*
   acceptable for some other programs that use the Linux boot
   protocol.

        -hpa

 

-- 
<hpa@transmeta.com> at work, <hpa@zytor.com> in private!
"Unix gives you enough rope to shoot yourself in the foot."
http://www.zytor.com/~hpa/puzzle.txt	<amsp@zytor.com>
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