generic BIOS-less boot (Re: [PATCH] New x86_64 EFI patch)

[Robert Millan <rmh@aybabtu.com>]

On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 02:05:13AM +0800, Bean wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Here are the information gathered in real mode:
> 
> memory map information
> video information
> monitor information (edid)
> hard disk information
> perhaps more
> 
> The first two can be retrieved in grub, others are optional, kernel
> can normally get the value itself.
> 
> Perhaps we can write a generic protected mode linux loader for i386.
> Functions such as claiming memory, getting memory map and the like can
> be wrapped in platform dependent call arch_xxx.

I was wondering if maybe it would be simpler to emulate the BIOS (and use
stubs where suitable).  Memory map would be simple to produce since we
already have this information which we used to initialize our heap.  As
for video information, do you have more details (or know a document that
explains what's probed for)?  If it's only for vesa modes maybe we could
just stub it.

-- 
Robert Millan

<GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call!
<DRM> What good is a phone call… if you are unable to speak?
(as seen on /.)