[9fans] Startup kernel thoughts

["Chris Hollis-Locke" <chris@cjl1.demon.co.uk>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <presotto@closedmind.org>
To: <9fans@cse.psu.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 7:58 PM
Subject: Re: [9fans] one reason ideas from Plan 9 didn't catch on


>
> The startup kernel for next release isn't going to fit on a floppy if we
> don't change things.  We're (jmk and I mostly) considering suggestions
> for what to do.

Given load-time driver linkage (I'm not sure of the value of completely
'dynamic' loading) a first step could be a probe that details a manifest
of files to download and put on the install floppy.

In true Plan 9 style, the manifest could be a list of rc commands for
constructing the floppy
(not sure how you'd get them from the target h/w to a p9 box though -
probably write them back to the floppy you ran the probe from)
The probe could be kept up-to-date with the available kernels/drivers, so could
also be used as a "can this hardware run Plan 9?" test program.

The obvious downsides are
* it adds several steps to the install procedure
* individual drivers are fatter, though only the required drivers
  are on the floppy.
* god-knows who would have the time to implement/maintain it!