Use Linux kernel as bootloader for ARM

Registered by Eric Miao

With a small block of basic hardware setup code in front of the kernel and kexec, the Linux kernel itself can be used as a full featured bootloader. The idea was inspired by talks in ELC this year, Linux without a boot loader - by Greg Ungerer, and Kexec - Ready for Embedded Linux? by Magnus Damm.

Blueprint information

Status:
Not started
Approver:
Hugh Blemings
Priority:
Medium
Drafter:
Eric Miao
Direction:
Approved
Assignee:
Eric Miao
Definition:
Approved
Series goal:
Accepted for maverick
Implementation:
Not started
Milestone target:
milestone icon ubuntu-10.10

Related branches

Sprints

Whiteboard

Work items for ubuntu-10.10:
[eric.y.miao] Embed HW init code to kernel header so kernel can boot without bootloader: POSTPONED
[eric.y.miao] Optimization of both size and performance for the kernel based bootloader: POSTPONED
[eric.y.miao] Packaging issues e.g. initramfs being built into the kernel itself: POSTPONED

[04-21-2010 ncommander]: This ties into ARM softbootloader; maybe we want to merge the two sessions together into one larger one?

[ericm]: OK, I'll update softbootloader to reflect the work needs to be done on kernel side.
[05-19-2010 ericm]: The soft bootloader can be independent of this work, and move the work items back here to track them in the kernel-team.

(?)

Work Items