Subject: Re: in-kernel x86 real-mode emulator
To: Blair Sadewitz <blair.sadewitz@gmail.com>
From: Michael Lorenz <macallan@netbsd.org>
List: tech-kern
Date: 01/08/2007 14:21:39
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Hello,

On Jan 8, 2007, at 13:51, Blair Sadewitz wrote:

> http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/dev/x86_emulator.html
>
> Scitechsoft (the current maintainers of x86emu) has a patch which adds
> x86emu to the linux kernel so that any platform can execute real-mode
> instructions.  That could be a great boon for video cards on many of
> our platforms!
>
> Would this be as feasible for us as it is with linux?  I'd like the
> opinion of someone who does real work with this stuff.

I don't think it would be all that useful unless you want multi-headed 
wsdisplay or don't mind booting with a console that's dead until the 
kernel sets up the graphics board.
There's already an x86 emulator in XFree86 which ( in theory at least ) 
allows cold-booting any additional heads.
It would be helpful if you insist on wsfb in X though, or if we move 
graphics acceleration for X into the kernel so userland doesn't need 
access to registers anymore.

have fun
Michael

( I think tech-kern@ is more appropriate )
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