Re: Multiple kernel boot in linuxboot.cfg

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 21:22:22 +0100, David Pye <[email protected]> wrote:
> Well, after discussing this one with ShALLaX, (mr Gentoox) and a few other
> #xbox-linux denizens, (I haven't managed to grab Mr Xebian yet), here's
> another idea.
> 
> Adopt grub's syntax a bit more closely, and have a new config file for the new
> cromwell parser e.g. linux.cfg or whatever.
> 
> If it exists, new cromwell will parse it. If it DOESNT exist, the existing
> parser code will seek out linuxboot.cfg and parse it as presently.
> 
> That way, distributors can ship both linuxboot.cfg and linux.cfg (name subject
> to discussion!), thus allowing new and old cromwells to work (and new
> cromwells to take advantage of multiple boot options). This also keeps
> xbeboot in the game, until someone steps up to change its parser to support
> the new format.
> 
> Eventually, one hopes, when the old cromwells are phased out, we can remove
> the linuxboot.cfg, and the old parser code, MAYBE.
> 
> Opinions? :)
> 
> David


I think by far this will save everyone lots of hassle. There is
already a large portion of grub code present in cromwell so it just
"makes sense" that the parser and file format should match.

The benefits of this:
  1)  The file format is straight forward
  2)  There is plenty of material already google'able
  3)  You can always just say man grub/ man menu.lst if they need info
on adding kernels et al
  4)  Some kernel packages available from distributions directly
modify the menu.lst to add new kernels (especially nice if distros
start to ship xbox compatible kernels)

The Cons:
  1)  Someone has to port it and the initial difference may not be as
straightforward as desired
  2)  You may have to keep another tree in sync with grub in case of changes


So the question becomes a larger one: What is the future of xbox-linux?

If the goal is merely to morph into a state that vendors find you easy
to mold into their respective distributions, then I would certainly
choose grub. If the goal is to be simple for everyone to code and
maintain a firmware replacement then create a new file format and
parser.

tjfontaine


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