Re: Handling >4MB kernels on cats (Was: CVS commit: src)

[Andrew Doran <ad%netbsd.org@localhost>]

On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 07:52:50PM +0900, Izumi Tsutsui wrote:
> abs%NetBSD.org@localhost wrote:
> 
> >     I'm quite taken by the idea of having a boot option to tell a
> >     kernel to prompt to load a ramdisk after autoconfig - a
> >     generalised version of what atari does now with its 'md2'.
> > 
> >     - It should be completely MI, so all ports benefit
> >     - You gain access to all compiled in kernel drivers - eg: USB
> >     - You can drop the distinction between INSTALL and GENERIC kernels

I'd object to this because we already have an MI way to do it: have the
boot loader load miniroot.kmod.

It's not hard to implement support for that in non-x86 boot loaders. I
outlined the needed changes on tech-kern a couple of months ago.

> But if ABLE/Cyclone support booting from CD-ROM, it would be
> much easier to provide an install ISO image using cd9660 root
> and mfs/tmpfs, as -current i386.

Agree. Ramdisks are a great tool but they suck for automated/assisted
installs. Maintaining them wastes lots of our time and places restrictions
on what the installer can do.

Thanks,
Andrew