Re: [regression?] 2.6.26 floppy boot failure with kernel packedusing 'upx'

From: Linus Torvalds
Date: Thu Jul 10 2008 - 13:18:08 EST




On Thu, 10 Jul 2008, Frans Pop wrote:
>
> Important factor here is that we "pack" the kernel using upx [1] (in order
> to fit everything on a floppy). The original (unpacked) kernel after this
> commit boots fine, only a packed version fails.
> We have tried upx versions 2.01, 3.01 and 3.03, all with same result.

Ok, I do not consider this to be a regression.

Clearly UPX is expecting a very specific kernel format, and clearly UPX
just needs to be updated for the changes.

That said, if some UPX person can explain what it is that UPX needs, maybe
we can add some format markers into the kernel (and perhaps some extra
header info) so that future format changes are transparent or at least
break in obvious ways.

Linus
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