[Qemu-devel] ROM sources and checkout dates or versions

[Qemu-devel] ROM sources and checkout dates or versions

[Guillem Jover]

Hi,

We've a problem packaging current qemu sources for Debian, as they
contain binaries without sources (namely the roms), thus forcing us
to repackage the upstream tarball to remove them. Also due to that,
we've started depending on an external package providing the Bochs
bios binary, but then now we have some problems with the emulated
network card. See for example:

	<http://bugs.debian.org/285752>
	<http://bugs.debian.org/284132>

I'd like to know if it would be possible to include the sources for
those roms, so we can easily reproduce the same binaries from source,
and be able to use the pristine source tarball as well. Otherwise
having the checkout dates or exact version used would be of help,
although a bit cumbersome.

thanks,
guillem

Re: [Qemu-devel] ROM sources and checkout dates or versions

[Fabrice Bellard]

Guillem Jover wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> We've a problem packaging current qemu sources for Debian, as they
> contain binaries without sources (namely the roms), thus forcing us
> to repackage the upstream tarball to remove them. Also due to that,
> we've started depending on an external package providing the Bochs
> bios binary, but then now we have some problems with the emulated
> network card. See for example:
> 
> 	<http://bugs.debian.org/285752>
> 	<http://bugs.debian.org/284132>
> 
> I'd like to know if it would be possible to include the sources for
> those roms, so we can easily reproduce the same binaries from source,
> and be able to use the pristine source tarball as well. Otherwise
> having the checkout dates or exact version used would be of help,
> although a bit cumbersome.

Hi,

It is a bad idea to use the BIOSes from Bochs because QEMU has specific 
patches. Moreover, the recent Bochs BIOS may be incompatible with QEMU 
(I need to look at them). You should include the QEMU BIOSes as-is in an 
architecture independent Debian package.

I am relunctant to provide the source code because it would duplicate 
the code from Bochs and it would need a build process I am not ready to 
support. The provided diffs are suffisant to build the BIOS because they 
give the date and CVS version of the corresponding Bochs code.

Fabrice.

Re: [Qemu-devel] ROM sources and checkout dates or versions

[Guillem Jover]

Hi,

On Thu, Dec 23, 2004 at 11:26:12PM +0100, Fabrice Bellard wrote:
> It is a bad idea to use the BIOSes from Bochs because QEMU has specific 
> patches.

As I maintain the Debian Bochs packages as well, I have applied
those patches already, no problem here. :>

> Moreover, the recent Bochs BIOS may be incompatible with QEMU 
> (I need to look at them).

Well, yes that seems to be what we are experiencing. I'll try
latest Bochs CVS snapshots.

> You should include the QEMU BIOSes as-is in an 
> architecture independent Debian package.
> 
> I am relunctant to provide the source code because it would duplicate 
> the code from Bochs and it would need a build process I am not ready to 
> support.

Yes I can understand, and it would duplicate the code as well on
Debian, but we'll need those sources anyway if we have to provide a
standalone package for the BIOSes, we cannot ship binaries without
sources.

At least for Debian needs, just providing the sources in tarball
form and not supporting the build process would be just fine,
although suboptimal for all. But we can understand you may not
want that. =)

> The provided diffs are suffisant to build the BIOS because they 
> give the date and CVS version of the corresponding Bochs code.

Ok, if the patches are resyned on every release that would be enough.

thanks,
guillem