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diff --git a/Documentation/x86/i386/boot.txt b/Documentation/x86/i386/boot.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 147bfe511cd..00000000000 --- a/Documentation/x86/i386/boot.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,900 +0,0 @@ - THE LINUX/x86 BOOT PROTOCOL - --------------------------- - -On the x86 platform, the Linux kernel uses a rather complicated boot -convention. This has evolved partially due to historical aspects, as -well as the desire in the early days to have the kernel itself be a -bootable image, the complicated PC memory model and due to changed -expectations in the PC industry caused by the effective demise of -real-mode DOS as a mainstream operating system. - -Currently, the following versions of the Linux/x86 boot protocol exist. - -Old kernels: zImage/Image support only. Some very early kernels - may not even support a command line. - -Protocol 2.00: (Kernel 1.3.73) Added bzImage and initrd support, as - well as a formalized way to communicate between the - boot loader and the kernel. setup.S made relocatable, - although the traditional setup area still assumed - writable. - -Protocol 2.01: (Kernel 1.3.76) Added a heap overrun warning. - -Protocol 2.02: (Kernel 2.4.0-test3-pre3) New command line protocol. - Lower the conventional memory ceiling. No overwrite - of the traditional setup area, thus making booting - safe for systems which use the EBDA from SMM or 32-bit - BIOS entry points. zImage deprecated but still - supported. - -Protocol 2.03: (Kernel 2.4.18-pre1) Explicitly makes the highest possible - initrd address available to the bootloader. - -Protocol 2.04: (Kernel 2.6.14) Extend the syssize field to four bytes. - -Protocol 2.05: (Kernel 2.6.20) Make protected mode kernel relocatable. - Introduce relocatable_kernel and kernel_alignment fields. - -Protocol 2.06: (Kernel 2.6.22) Added a field that contains the size of - the boot command line. - -Protocol 2.07: (Kernel 2.6.24) Added paravirtualised boot protocol. - Introduced hardware_subarch and hardware_subarch_data - and KEEP_SEGMENTS flag in load_flags. - -Protocol 2.08: (Kernel 2.6.26) Added crc32 checksum and ELF format - payload. Introduced payload_offset and payload length - fields to aid in locating the payload. - -Protocol 2.09: (Kernel 2.6.26) Added a field of 64-bit physical - pointer to single linked list of struct setup_data. - -**** MEMORY LAYOUT - -The traditional memory map for the kernel loader, used for Image or -zImage kernels, typically looks like: - - | | -0A0000 +------------------------+ - | Reserved for BIOS | Do not use. Reserved for BIOS EBDA. -09A000 +------------------------+ - | Command line | - | Stack/heap | For use by the kernel real-mode code. -098000 +------------------------+ - | Kernel setup | The kernel real-mode code. -090200 +------------------------+ - | Kernel boot sector | The kernel legacy boot sector. -090000 +------------------------+ - | Protected-mode kernel | The bulk of the kernel image. -010000 +------------------------+ - | Boot loader | <- Boot sector entry point 0000:7C00 -001000 +------------------------+ - | Reserved for MBR/BIOS | -000800 +------------------------+ - | Typically used by MBR | -000600 +------------------------+ - | BIOS use only | -000000 +------------------------+ - - -When using bzImage, the protected-mode kernel was relocated to -0x100000 ("high memory"), and the kernel real-mode block (boot sector, -setup, and stack/heap) was made relocatable to any address between -0x10000 and end of low memory. Unfortunately, in protocols 2.00 and -2.01 the 0x90000+ memory range is still used internally by the kernel; -the 2.02 protocol resolves that problem. - -It is desirable to keep the "memory ceiling" -- the highest point in -low memory touched by the boot loader -- as low as possible, since -some newer BIOSes have begun to allocate some rather large amounts of -memory, called the Extended BIOS Data Area, near the top of low -memory. The boot loader should use the "INT 12h" BIOS call to verify -how much low memory is available. - -Unfortunately, if INT 12h reports that the amount of memory is too -low, there is usually nothing the boot loader can do but to report an -error to the user. The boot loader should therefore be designed to -take up as little space in low memory as it reasonably can. For -zImage or old bzImage kernels, which need data written into the -0x90000 segment, the boot loader should make sure not to use memory -above the 0x9A000 point; too many BIOSes will break above that point. - -For a modern bzImage kernel with boot protocol version >= 2.02, a -memory layout like the following is suggested: - - ~ ~ - | Protected-mode kernel | -100000 +------------------------+ - | I/O memory hole | -0A0000 +------------------------+ - | Reserved for BIOS | Leave as much as possible unused - ~ ~ - | Command line | (Can also be below the X+10000 mark) -X+10000 +------------------------+ - | Stack/heap | For use by the kernel real-mode code. -X+08000 +------------------------+ - | Kernel setup | The kernel real-mode code. - | Kernel boot sector | The kernel legacy boot sector. -X +------------------------+ - | Boot loader | <- Boot sector entry point 0000:7C00 -001000 +------------------------+ - | Reserved for MBR/BIOS | -000800 +------------------------+ - | Typically used by MBR | -000600 +------------------------+ - | BIOS use only | -000000 +------------------------+ - -... where the address X is as low as the design of the boot loader -permits. - - -**** THE REAL-MODE KERNEL HEADER - -In the following text, and anywhere in the kernel boot sequence, "a -sector" refers to 512 bytes. It is independent of the actual sector -size of the underlying medium. - -The first step in loading a Linux kernel should be to load the -real-mode code (boot sector and setup code) and then examine the -following header at offset 0x01f1. The real-mode code can total up to -32K, although the boot loader may choose to load only the first two -sectors (1K) and then examine the bootup sector size. - -The header looks like: - -Offset Proto Name Meaning -/Size - -01F1/1 ALL(1 setup_sects The size of the setup in sectors -01F2/2 ALL root_flags If set, the root is mounted readonly -01F4/4 2.04+(2 syssize The size of the 32-bit code in 16-byte paras -01F8/2 ALL ram_size DO NOT USE - for bootsect.S use only -01FA/2 ALL vid_mode Video mode control -01FC/2 ALL root_dev Default root device number -01FE/2 ALL boot_flag 0xAA55 magic number -0200/2 2.00+ jump Jump instruction -0202/4 2.00+ header Magic signature "HdrS" -0206/2 2.00+ version Boot protocol version supported -0208/4 2.00+ realmode_swtch Boot loader hook (see below) -020C/2 2.00+ start_sys The load-low segment (0x1000) (obsolete) -020E/2 2.00+ kernel_version Pointer to kernel version string -0210/1 2.00+ type_of_loader Boot loader identifier -0211/1 2.00+ loadflags Boot protocol option flags -0212/2 2.00+ setup_move_size Move to high memory size (used with hooks) -0214/4 2.00+ code32_start Boot loader hook (see below) -0218/4 2.00+ ramdisk_image initrd load address (set by boot loader) -021C/4 2.00+ ramdisk_size initrd size (set by boot loader) -0220/4 2.00+ bootsect_kludge DO NOT USE - for bootsect.S use only -0224/2 2.01+ heap_end_ptr Free memory after setup end -0226/2 N/A pad1 Unused -0228/4 2.02+ cmd_line_ptr 32-bit pointer to the kernel command line -022C/4 2.03+ initrd_addr_max Highest legal initrd address -0230/4 2.05+ kernel_alignment Physical addr alignment required for kernel -0234/1 2.05+ relocatable_kernel Whether kernel is relocatable or not -0235/3 N/A pad2 Unused -0238/4 2.06+ cmdline_size Maximum size of the kernel command line -023C/4 2.07+ hardware_subarch Hardware subarchitecture -0240/8 2.07+ hardware_subarch_data Subarchitecture-specific data -0248/4 2.08+ payload_offset Offset of kernel payload -024C/4 2.08+ payload_length Length of kernel payload -0250/8 2.09+ setup_data 64-bit physical pointer to linked list - of struct setup_data - -(1) For backwards compatibility, if the setup_sects field contains 0, the - real value is 4. - -(2) For boot protocol prior to 2.04, the upper two bytes of the syssize - field are unusable, which means the size of a bzImage kernel - cannot be determined. - -If the "HdrS" (0x53726448) magic number is not found at offset 0x202, -the boot protocol version is "old". Loading an old kernel, the -following parameters should be assumed: - - Image type = zImage - initrd not supported - Real-mode kernel must be located at 0x90000. - -Otherwise, the "version" field contains the protocol version, -e.g. protocol version 2.01 will contain 0x0201 in this field. When -setting fields in the header, you must make sure only to set fields -supported by the protocol version in use. - - -**** DETAILS OF HEADER FIELDS - -For each field, some are information from the kernel to the bootloader -("read"), some are expected to be filled out by the bootloader -("write"), and some are expected to be read and modified by the -bootloader ("modify"). - -All general purpose boot loaders should write the fields marked -(obligatory). Boot loaders who want to load the kernel at a -nonstandard address should fill in the fields marked (reloc); other -boot loaders can ignore those fields. - -The byte order of all fields is littleendian (this is x86, after all.) - -Field name: setup_sects -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x1f1/1 -Protocol: ALL - - The size of the setup code in 512-byte sectors. If this field is - 0, the real value is 4. The real-mode code consists of the boot - sector (always one 512-byte sector) plus the setup code. - -Field name: root_flags -Type: modify (optional) -Offset/size: 0x1f2/2 -Protocol: ALL - - If this field is nonzero, the root defaults to readonly. The use of - this field is deprecated; use the "ro" or "rw" options on the - command line instead. - -Field name: syssize -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x1f4/4 (protocol 2.04+) 0x1f4/2 (protocol ALL) -Protocol: 2.04+ - - The size of the protected-mode code in units of 16-byte paragraphs. - For protocol versions older than 2.04 this field is only two bytes - wide, and therefore cannot be trusted for the size of a kernel if - the LOAD_HIGH flag is set. - -Field name: ram_size -Type: kernel internal -Offset/size: 0x1f8/2 -Protocol: ALL - - This field is obsolete. - -Field name: vid_mode -Type: modify (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x1fa/2 - - Please see the section on SPECIAL COMMAND LINE OPTIONS. - -Field name: root_dev -Type: modify (optional) -Offset/size: 0x1fc/2 -Protocol: ALL - - The default root device device number. The use of this field is - deprecated, use the "root=" option on the command line instead. - -Field name: boot_flag -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x1fe/2 -Protocol: ALL - - Contains 0xAA55. This is the closest thing old Linux kernels have - to a magic number. - -Field name: jump -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x200/2 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - Contains an x86 jump instruction, 0xEB followed by a signed offset - relative to byte 0x202. This can be used to determine the size of - the header. - -Field name: header -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x202/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - Contains the magic number "HdrS" (0x53726448). - -Field name: version -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x206/2 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - Contains the boot protocol version, in (major << 8)+minor format, - e.g. 0x0204 for version 2.04, and 0x0a11 for a hypothetical version - 10.17. - -Field name: readmode_swtch -Type: modify (optional) -Offset/size: 0x208/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - Boot loader hook (see ADVANCED BOOT LOADER HOOKS below.) - -Field name: start_sys -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x20c/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - The load low segment (0x1000). Obsolete. - -Field name: kernel_version -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x20e/2 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - If set to a nonzero value, contains a pointer to a NUL-terminated - human-readable kernel version number string, less 0x200. This can - be used to display the kernel version to the user. This value - should be less than (0x200*setup_sects). - - For example, if this value is set to 0x1c00, the kernel version - number string can be found at offset 0x1e00 in the kernel file. - This is a valid value if and only if the "setup_sects" field - contains the value 15 or higher, as: - - 0x1c00 < 15*0x200 (= 0x1e00) but - 0x1c00 >= 14*0x200 (= 0x1c00) - - 0x1c00 >> 9 = 14, so the minimum value for setup_secs is 15. - -Field name: type_of_loader -Type: write (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x210/1 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - If your boot loader has an assigned id (see table below), enter - 0xTV here, where T is an identifier for the boot loader and V is - a version number. Otherwise, enter 0xFF here. - - Assigned boot loader ids: - 0 LILO (0x00 reserved for pre-2.00 bootloader) - 1 Loadlin - 2 bootsect-loader (0x20, all other values reserved) - 3 SYSLINUX - 4 EtherBoot - 5 ELILO - 7 GRuB - 8 U-BOOT - 9 Xen - A Gujin - B Qemu - - Please contact <hpa@zytor.com> if you need a bootloader ID - value assigned. - -Field name: loadflags -Type: modify (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x211/1 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - This field is a bitmask. - - Bit 0 (read): LOADED_HIGH - - If 0, the protected-mode code is loaded at 0x10000. - - If 1, the protected-mode code is loaded at 0x100000. - - Bit 5 (write): QUIET_FLAG - - If 0, print early messages. - - If 1, suppress early messages. - This requests to the kernel (decompressor and early - kernel) to not write early messages that require - accessing the display hardware directly. - - Bit 6 (write): KEEP_SEGMENTS - Protocol: 2.07+ - - If 0, reload the segment registers in the 32bit entry point. - - If 1, do not reload the segment registers in the 32bit entry point. - Assume that %cs %ds %ss %es are all set to flat segments with - a base of 0 (or the equivalent for their environment). - - Bit 7 (write): CAN_USE_HEAP - Set this bit to 1 to indicate that the value entered in the - heap_end_ptr is valid. If this field is clear, some setup code - functionality will be disabled. - -Field name: setup_move_size -Type: modify (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x212/2 -Protocol: 2.00-2.01 - - When using protocol 2.00 or 2.01, if the real mode kernel is not - loaded at 0x90000, it gets moved there later in the loading - sequence. Fill in this field if you want additional data (such as - the kernel command line) moved in addition to the real-mode kernel - itself. - - The unit is bytes starting with the beginning of the boot sector. - - This field is can be ignored when the protocol is 2.02 or higher, or - if the real-mode code is loaded at 0x90000. - -Field name: code32_start -Type: modify (optional, reloc) -Offset/size: 0x214/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - The address to jump to in protected mode. This defaults to the load - address of the kernel, and can be used by the boot loader to - determine the proper load address. - - This field can be modified for two purposes: - - 1. as a boot loader hook (see ADVANCED BOOT LOADER HOOKS below.) - - 2. if a bootloader which does not install a hook loads a - relocatable kernel at a nonstandard address it will have to modify - this field to point to the load address. - -Field name: ramdisk_image -Type: write (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x218/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - The 32-bit linear address of the initial ramdisk or ramfs. Leave at - zero if there is no initial ramdisk/ramfs. - -Field name: ramdisk_size -Type: write (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x21c/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - Size of the initial ramdisk or ramfs. Leave at zero if there is no - initial ramdisk/ramfs. - -Field name: bootsect_kludge -Type: kernel internal -Offset/size: 0x220/4 -Protocol: 2.00+ - - This field is obsolete. - -Field name: heap_end_ptr -Type: write (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x224/2 -Protocol: 2.01+ - - Set this field to the offset (from the beginning of the real-mode - code) of the end of the setup stack/heap, minus 0x0200. - -Field name: cmd_line_ptr -Type: write (obligatory) -Offset/size: 0x228/4 -Protocol: 2.02+ - - Set this field to the linear address of the kernel command line. - The kernel command line can be located anywhere between the end of - the setup heap and 0xA0000; it does not have to be located in the - same 64K segment as the real-mode code itself. - - Fill in this field even if your boot loader does not support a - command line, in which case you can point this to an empty string - (or better yet, to the string "auto".) If this field is left at - zero, the kernel will assume that your boot loader does not support - the 2.02+ protocol. - -Field name: initrd_addr_max -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x22c/4 -Protocol: 2.03+ - - The maximum address that may be occupied by the initial - ramdisk/ramfs contents. For boot protocols 2.02 or earlier, this - field is not present, and the maximum address is 0x37FFFFFF. (This - address is defined as the address of the highest safe byte, so if - your ramdisk is exactly 131072 bytes long and this field is - 0x37FFFFFF, you can start your ramdisk at 0x37FE0000.) - -Field name: kernel_alignment -Type: read (reloc) -Offset/size: 0x230/4 -Protocol: 2.05+ - - Alignment unit required by the kernel (if relocatable_kernel is true.) - -Field name: relocatable_kernel -Type: read (reloc) -Offset/size: 0x234/1 -Protocol: 2.05+ - - If this field is nonzero, the protected-mode part of the kernel can - be loaded at any address that satisfies the kernel_alignment field. - After loading, the boot loader must set the code32_start field to - point to the loaded code, or to a boot loader hook. - -Field name: cmdline_size -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x238/4 -Protocol: 2.06+ - - The maximum size of the command line without the terminating - zero. This means that the command line can contain at most - cmdline_size characters. With protocol version 2.05 and earlier, the - maximum size was 255. - -Field name: hardware_subarch -Type: write (optional, defaults to x86/PC) -Offset/size: 0x23c/4 -Protocol: 2.07+ - - In a paravirtualized environment the hardware low level architectural - pieces such as interrupt handling, page table handling, and - accessing process control registers needs to be done differently. - - This field allows the bootloader to inform the kernel we are in one - one of those environments. - - 0x00000000 The default x86/PC environment - 0x00000001 lguest - 0x00000002 Xen - -Field name: hardware_subarch_data -Type: write (subarch-dependent) -Offset/size: 0x240/8 -Protocol: 2.07+ - - A pointer to data that is specific to hardware subarch - This field is currently unused for the default x86/PC environment, - do not modify. - -Field name: payload_offset -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x248/4 -Protocol: 2.08+ - - If non-zero then this field contains the offset from the end of the - real-mode code to the payload. - - The payload may be compressed. The format of both the compressed and - uncompressed data should be determined using the standard magic - numbers. Currently only gzip compressed ELF is used. - -Field name: payload_length -Type: read -Offset/size: 0x24c/4 -Protocol: 2.08+ - - The length of the payload. - -Field name: setup_data -Type: write (special) -Offset/size: 0x250/8 -Protocol: 2.09+ - - The 64-bit physical pointer to NULL terminated single linked list of - struct setup_data. This is used to define a more extensible boot - parameters passing mechanism. The definition of struct setup_data is - as follow: - - struct setup_data { - u64 next; - u32 type; - u32 len; - u8 data[0]; - }; - - Where, the next is a 64-bit physical pointer to the next node of - linked list, the next field of the last node is 0; the type is used - to identify the contents of data; the len is the length of data - field; the data holds the real payload. - - This list may be modified at a number of points during the bootup - process. Therefore, when modifying this list one should always make - sure to consider the case where the linked list already contains - entries. - - -**** THE IMAGE CHECKSUM - -From boot protocol version 2.08 onwards the CRC-32 is calculated over -the entire file using the characteristic polynomial 0x04C11DB7 and an -initial remainder of 0xffffffff. The checksum is appended to the -file; therefore the CRC of the file up to the limit specified in the -syssize field of the header is always 0. - - -**** THE KERNEL COMMAND LINE - -The kernel command line has become an important way for the boot -loader to communicate with the kernel. Some of its options are also -relevant to the boot loader itself, see "special command line options" -below. - -The kernel command line is a null-terminated string. The maximum -length can be retrieved from the field cmdline_size. Before protocol -version 2.06, the maximum was 255 characters. A string that is too -long will be automatically truncated by the kernel. - -If the boot protocol version is 2.02 or later, the address of the -kernel command line is given by the header field cmd_line_ptr (see -above.) This address can be anywhere between the end of the setup -heap and 0xA0000. - -If the protocol version is *not* 2.02 or higher, the kernel -command line is entered using the following protocol: - - At offset 0x0020 (word), "cmd_line_magic", enter the magic - number 0xA33F. - - At offset 0x0022 (word), "cmd_line_offset", enter the offset - of the kernel command line (relative to the start of the - real-mode kernel). - - The kernel command line *must* be within the memory region - covered by setup_move_size, so you may need to adjust this - field. - - -**** MEMORY LAYOUT OF THE REAL-MODE CODE - -The real-mode code requires a stack/heap to be set up, as well as -memory allocated for the kernel command line. This needs to be done -in the real-mode accessible memory in bottom megabyte. - -It should be noted that modern machines often have a sizable Extended -BIOS Data Area (EBDA). As a result, it is advisable to use as little -of the low megabyte as possible. - -Unfortunately, under the following circumstances the 0x90000 memory -segment has to be used: - - - When loading a zImage kernel ((loadflags & 0x01) == 0). - - When loading a 2.01 or earlier boot protocol kernel. - - -> For the 2.00 and 2.01 boot protocols, the real-mode code - can be loaded at another address, but it is internally - relocated to 0x90000. For the "old" protocol, the - real-mode code must be loaded at 0x90000. - -When loading at 0x90000, avoid using memory above 0x9a000. - -For boot protocol 2.02 or higher, the command line does not have to be -located in the same 64K segment as the real-mode setup code; it is -thus permitted to give the stack/heap the full 64K segment and locate -the command line above it. - -The kernel command line should not be located below the real-mode -code, nor should it be located in high memory. - - -**** SAMPLE BOOT CONFIGURATION - -As a sample configuration, assume the following layout of the real -mode segment: - - When loading below 0x90000, use the entire segment: - - 0x0000-0x7fff Real mode kernel - 0x8000-0xdfff Stack and heap - 0xe000-0xffff Kernel command line - - When loading at 0x90000 OR the protocol version is 2.01 or earlier: - - 0x0000-0x7fff Real mode kernel - 0x8000-0x97ff Stack and heap - 0x9800-0x9fff Kernel command line - -Such a boot loader should enter the following fields in the header: - - unsigned long base_ptr; /* base address for real-mode segment */ - - if ( setup_sects == 0 ) { - setup_sects = 4; - } - - if ( protocol >= 0x0200 ) { - type_of_loader = <type code>; - if ( loading_initrd ) { - ramdisk_image = <initrd_address>; - ramdisk_size = <initrd_size>; - } - - if ( protocol >= 0x0202 && loadflags & 0x01 ) - heap_end = 0xe000; - else - heap_end = 0x9800; - - if ( protocol >= 0x0201 ) { - heap_end_ptr = heap_end - 0x200; - loadflags |= 0x80; /* CAN_USE_HEAP */ - } - - if ( protocol >= 0x0202 ) { - cmd_line_ptr = base_ptr + heap_end; - strcpy(cmd_line_ptr, cmdline); - } else { - cmd_line_magic = 0xA33F; - cmd_line_offset = heap_end; - setup_move_size = heap_end + strlen(cmdline)+1; - strcpy(base_ptr+cmd_line_offset, cmdline); - } - } else { - /* Very old kernel */ - - heap_end = 0x9800; - - cmd_line_magic = 0xA33F; - cmd_line_offset = heap_end; - - /* A very old kernel MUST have its real-mode code - loaded at 0x90000 */ - - if ( base_ptr != 0x90000 ) { - /* Copy the real-mode kernel */ - memcpy(0x90000, base_ptr, (setup_sects+1)*512); - base_ptr = 0x90000; /* Relocated */ - } - - strcpy(0x90000+cmd_line_offset, cmdline); - - /* It is recommended to clear memory up to the 32K mark */ - memset(0x90000 + (setup_sects+1)*512, 0, - (64-(setup_sects+1))*512); - } - - -**** LOADING THE REST OF THE KERNEL - -The 32-bit (non-real-mode) kernel starts at offset (setup_sects+1)*512 -in the kernel file (again, if setup_sects == 0 the real value is 4.) -It should be loaded at address 0x10000 for Image/zImage kernels and -0x100000 for bzImage kernels. - -The kernel is a bzImage kernel if the protocol >= 2.00 and the 0x01 -bit (LOAD_HIGH) in the loadflags field is set: - - is_bzImage = (protocol >= 0x0200) && (loadflags & 0x01); - load_address = is_bzImage ? 0x100000 : 0x10000; - -Note that Image/zImage kernels can be up to 512K in size, and thus use -the entire 0x10000-0x90000 range of memory. This means it is pretty -much a requirement for these kernels to load the real-mode part at -0x90000. bzImage kernels allow much more flexibility. - - -**** SPECIAL COMMAND LINE OPTIONS - -If the command line provided by the boot loader is entered by the -user, the user may expect the following command line options to work. -They should normally not be deleted from the kernel command line even -though not all of them are actually meaningful to the kernel. Boot -loader authors who need additional command line options for the boot -loader itself should get them registered in -Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt to make sure they will not -conflict with actual kernel options now or in the future. - - vga=<mode> - <mode> here is either an integer (in C notation, either - decimal, octal, or hexadecimal) or one of the strings - "normal" (meaning 0xFFFF), "ext" (meaning 0xFFFE) or "ask" - (meaning 0xFFFD). This value should be entered into the - vid_mode field, as it is used by the kernel before the command - line is parsed. - - mem=<size> - <size> is an integer in C notation optionally followed by - (case insensitive) K, M, G, T, P or E (meaning << 10, << 20, - << 30, << 40, << 50 or << 60). This specifies the end of - memory to the kernel. This affects the possible placement of - an initrd, since an initrd should be placed near end of - memory. Note that this is an option to *both* the kernel and - the bootloader! - - initrd=<file> - An initrd should be loaded. The meaning of <file> is - obviously bootloader-dependent, and some boot loaders - (e.g. LILO) do not have such a command. - -In addition, some boot loaders add the following options to the -user-specified command line: - - BOOT_IMAGE=<file> - The boot image which was loaded. Again, the meaning of <file> - is obviously bootloader-dependent. - - auto - The kernel was booted without explicit user intervention. - -If these options are added by the boot loader, it is highly -recommended that they are located *first*, before the user-specified -or configuration-specified command line. Otherwise, "init=/bin/sh" -gets confused by the "auto" option. - - -**** RUNNING THE KERNEL - -The kernel is started by jumping to the kernel entry point, which is -located at *segment* offset 0x20 from the start of the real mode -kernel. This means that if you loaded your real-mode kernel code at -0x90000, the kernel entry point is 9020:0000. - -At entry, ds = es = ss should point to the start of the real-mode -kernel code (0x9000 if the code is loaded at 0x90000), sp should be -set up properly, normally pointing to the top of the heap, and -interrupts should be disabled. Furthermore, to guard against bugs in -the kernel, it is recommended that the boot loader sets fs = gs = ds = -es = ss. - -In our example from above, we would do: - - /* Note: in the case of the "old" kernel protocol, base_ptr must - be == 0x90000 at this point; see the previous sample code */ - - seg = base_ptr >> 4; - - cli(); /* Enter with interrupts disabled! */ - - /* Set up the real-mode kernel stack */ - _SS = seg; - _SP = heap_end; - - _DS = _ES = _FS = _GS = seg; - jmp_far(seg+0x20, 0); /* Run the kernel */ - -If your boot sector accesses a floppy drive, it is recommended to -switch off the floppy motor before running the kernel, since the -kernel boot leaves interrupts off and thus the motor will not be -switched off, especially if the loaded kernel has the floppy driver as -a demand-loaded module! - - -**** ADVANCED BOOT LOADER HOOKS - -If the boot loader runs in a particularly hostile environment (such as -LOADLIN, which runs under DOS) it may be impossible to follow the -standard memory location requirements. Such a boot loader may use the -following hooks that, if set, are invoked by the kernel at the -appropriate time. The use of these hooks should probably be -considered an absolutely last resort! - -IMPORTANT: All the hooks are required to preserve %esp, %ebp, %esi and -%edi across invocation. - - realmode_swtch: - A 16-bit real mode far subroutine invoked immediately before - entering protected mode. The default routine disables NMI, so - your routine should probably do so, too. - - code32_start: - A 32-bit flat-mode routine *jumped* to immediately after the - transition to protected mode, but before the kernel is - uncompressed. No segments, except CS, are guaranteed to be - set up (current kernels do, but older ones do not); you should - set them up to BOOT_DS (0x18) yourself. - - After completing your hook, you should jump to the address - that was in this field before your boot loader overwrote it - (relocated, if appropriate.) - - -**** 32-bit BOOT PROTOCOL - -For machine with some new BIOS other than legacy BIOS, such as EFI, -LinuxBIOS, etc, and kexec, the 16-bit real mode setup code in kernel -based on legacy BIOS can not be used, so a 32-bit boot protocol needs -to be defined. - -In 32-bit boot protocol, the first step in loading a Linux kernel -should be to setup the boot parameters (struct boot_params, -traditionally known as "zero page"). The memory for struct boot_params -should be allocated and initialized to all zero. Then the setup header -from offset 0x01f1 of kernel image on should be loaded into struct -boot_params and examined. The end of setup header can be calculated as -follow: - - 0x0202 + byte value at offset 0x0201 - -In addition to read/modify/write the setup header of the struct -boot_params as that of 16-bit boot protocol, the boot loader should -also fill the additional fields of the struct boot_params as that -described in zero-page.txt. - -After setupping the struct boot_params, the boot loader can load the -32/64-bit kernel in the same way as that of 16-bit boot protocol. - -In 32-bit boot protocol, the kernel is started by jumping to the -32-bit kernel entry point, which is the start address of loaded -32/64-bit kernel. - -At entry, the CPU must be in 32-bit protected mode with paging -disabled; a GDT must be loaded with the descriptors for selectors -__BOOT_CS(0x10) and __BOOT_DS(0x18); both descriptors must be 4G flat -segment; __BOOS_CS must have execute/read permission, and __BOOT_DS -must have read/write permission; CS must be __BOOT_CS and DS, ES, SS -must be __BOOT_DS; interrupt must be disabled; %esi must hold the base -address of the struct boot_params; %ebp, %edi and %ebx must be zero. |