Subject: Re: some cdboot nits
To: Hubert Feyrer <hubert@feyrer.de>
From: David Laight <david@l8s.co.uk>
List: tech-install
Date: 06/29/2005 21:06:17
On Tue, Jun 28, 2005 at 01:30:19AM +0200, Hubert Feyrer wrote:
> 
> So if we could get rid of these extra key presses, we could probably 
> easily start shuffling src/distrib/i386 around (oh no wait, we need 
> 'makefs -t cd9660' with boot-support first!!! David? :)).

Why not use a kernel with an internal ramdisk?
That would save having to work out how to generate the iso image
with correct file permissions, and also leave a kernel it is easy to
netboot.

There is a slight lurking problem that large embedded ramdisks hit
some limit - maybe the memory hole at 15Mb? - so maybe the kernel
load address needs changing for large kernels.

I have thought that we could generate:

1) A large install kernel that is basically GENERIC for CD boot
2) A 2.8Mb image that may be missing some devices, but can be used to
   boot/install common PCI systems.
3) A 1.4Mb image that will boot/install old (ISA) systems with <16Mb memory,
   again, missing many devices.

Both 2 and 3 are better places to start than a full GENERIC for anyone
trying to build a small kernel.

	David

-- 
David Laight: david@l8s.co.uk