Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:38:43 -0600 From: Ian Lepore <freebsd@damnhippie.dyndns.org> To: obrien@FreeBSD.ORG Cc: Arthur Mesh <arthurmesh@gmail.com>, Mark Murray <markm@FreeBSD.ORG>, Doug Barton <dougb@FreeBSD.ORG>, freebsd-rc@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: svn commit: r239598 - head/etc/rc.d Message-ID: <1346960323.59094.180.camel@revolution.hippie.lan> In-Reply-To: <20120906190239.GG13179@dragon.NUXI.org> References: <201208222337.q7MNbORo017642@svn.freebsd.org> <5043E449.8050005@FreeBSD.org> <20120904220126.GA85339@dragon.NUXI.org> <50468326.8070009@FreeBSD.org> <20120906164514.GA14757@dragon.NUXI.org> <1346951961.59094.158.camel@revolution.hippie.lan> <20120906190239.GG13179@dragon.NUXI.org>
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On Thu, 2012-09-06 at 12:02 -0700, David O'Brien wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 06, 2012 at 11:19:21AM -0600, Ian Lepore wrote:
> > The kenv application may be available, but on any platform that
> > lacks /boot/loader it's likely to produce empty output. Because the
> > kernel environment is typically empty, an embedded system may not even
> > have the kenv binary installed.
>
> The FreeBSD kernel expects to be loaded by /boot/loader and for it to
> provided a suitable environment.
>
>From 'man 8 boot' ...
However, it is possible to dispense with the third stage
altogether, either by specifying a kernel name in the boot block
parameter file, /boot.config, or, unless option -n is set, by
hitting a key during a brief pause (while one of the characters
-, \, |, or / is displayed) before loader(8) is invoked.
Booting will also be attempted at stage two, if the third stage
cannot be loaded.
Dispensing with loader(8) still seems to be sanctioned.
> If one has chosen to not use /boot/loader (or include 'kenv' on their
> embedded boot media), they're already gone so far down the path of
> customization that hacking 'initrandom' should be expected.
It's not a choice thing. /boot/loader just isn't an option on any of
the non-x86 systems I work with. That's not just embedded systems -- my
ARM-based DreamPlug, a small off the shelf general purpose computer, can
only load a kernel.bin file. It'd be nice to have /boot/loader working
some day, but it's just not even possible right now.
-- Ian
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