[RFC] ARM VM System Sepcification

[grant.likely@linaro.org (Grant Likely)]

On Mon, Mar 24, 2014 at 2:03 AM, Ian Campbell <Ian.Campbell@citrix.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 2014-03-22 at 12:23 +0000, Grant Likely wrote:
>> That isn't actually my position. I absolutely think that VMs /should/
>> implement persistent variables, but the variables are a property of a VM
>> instance, not of the disk image. As far as this spec is concerned, I
>> think portable disk images should operate under the assumption of an
>> empty set of variables, and therefore follow the removable disk
>> requirements in the UEFI spec.
>
> Just to be sure I understand. You position is:
>      1. A VM image downloaded from www.distro.org should neither contain
>         nor expect any persistent variables to be present.

yes

>      2. After a VM image is instantiated into a specific VM instance and
>         booted then it is at liberty to set persistent variables (either
>         on first boot or as part of an upgrade) and the VM should ensure
>         that those variables a retained over reboot for that specific
>         instance.

yes

>      3. If a VM does not preserve those variables then the instance
>         should have some sane functional fallback (implied by the
>         removable disk requirements from the UEFI spec).

yes

> Is that right? I'm pretty sure you meant (1), reasonably sure you meant
> (2) and not at all sure you meant (3) ;-)
>
> Ian.
>