virtualized boot loader

virtualized boot loader

[firewatcher]

Hi all,

When a box is powered on, first bios is loaded and executed, then the boot loader, then the operating system. 

Now with the introduction of VMM, the boot loader first loads the VMM, then loads the OS.

Why not implement a boot loader which is itself a VMM? That is, the boot loader can fulfil its traditional function, as to
select to load an OS separately, but also, it can function as a VMM, which can load two or more OSes as guest OSes simultaneously.

I have started a project with the name vGRUB, to enhance GRUB with the virtualization functions of XEN. The aim of the project is to
simplify the hierachy of software. That is, vGRUB is the firmware that between bios and OSes.

vGRUB equals GRUB plus XEN.

I am anxious for all your suggestions. Thanks a lot.

FireWatcher


	

Re: virtualized boot loader

[Sandesh]

On Sat, 2008-06-28 at 22:30 +0800, firewatcher wrote:

> Why not implement a boot loader which is itself a VMM? That is, the
> boot loader can fulfil its traditional function, as to
> select to load an OS separately, but also, it can function as a VMM,
> which can load two or more OSes as guest OSes simultaneously.
The concept of bootloader is to provide a control for selecting and
loading one of the installed program, and usually that program is
usually the OS. 

In case of machine installed xen hypervisor (VMM), the first thing that
the bootloader loads is the hypervisor itself.This in turn will start
the linux OS which is nothing but a privileged domain called dom0. 

So according to me i dont think it makes any practical sense to
incorporate bootloader with VMM functionality. Moreover you cannot bring
up a domain without the hypervisor being loaded in the first place, it
completely overrides the xen architecture. 

> I have started a project with the name vGRUB, to enhance GRUB with the
> virtualization functions of XEN. The aim of the project is to
> simplify the hierachy of software. That is, vGRUB is the firmware that
> between bios and OSes. 

As i do not get the complete perspective of your idea, all i can do is
suggest you to investigate xen before you actually commit to this
project.

Regards,
  Sandesh
\m/   \m/


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virtualized boot loader

[firewatcher]

Hi all,

When a box is powered on, first bios is loaded and executed, then the boot loader, then the operating system. 

Now with the introduction of VMM, the boot loader first loads the VMM, then loads the OS.

Why not implement a boot loader which is itself a VMM? That is, the boot loader can fulfil its traditional function, as to
select to load an OS separately, but also, it can function as a VMM, which can load two or more OSes as guest OSes simultaneously.

I have started a project with the name vGRUB, to enhance GRUB with the virtualization functions of XEN. The aim of the project is to
simplify the hierachy of software. That is, vGRUB is the firmware that between bios and OSes.

vGRUB equals GRUB plus XEN.

I am anxious for all your suggestions. Thanks a lot.

FireWatcher


	

Re: virtualized boot loader

[Mark Williamson]

> When a box is powered on, first bios is loaded and executed, then the boot
> loader, then the operating system.
>
> Now with the introduction of VMM, the boot loader first loads the VMM, then
> loads the OS.
>
> Why not implement a boot loader which is itself a VMM? That is, the boot
> loader can fulfil its traditional function, as to select to load an OS
> separately, but also, it can function as a VMM, which can load two or more
> OSes as guest OSes simultaneously.
>
> I have started a project with the name vGRUB, to enhance GRUB with the
> virtualization functions of XEN. The aim of the project is to simplify the
> hierachy of software. That is, vGRUB is the firmware that between bios and
> OSes.
>
> vGRUB equals GRUB plus XEN.
>
> I am anxious for all your suggestions. Thanks a lot.

It's a good concept.  FYI, there are companies doing something similar to this 
at the moment, since they're putting Xen in flash on their systems - although 
that's almost more like making Xen the *bios*.

Question: with Xen you need a dom0 running in the background in order to 
support multiple virtual machines.  Where do you see it fitting in your 
model?  Would it be loaded by vGRUB?  Part of vGRUB?

Cheers,
Mark

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