Hi, I want to take part in the GSOC2008, and I find All Virtual All The Time (AVATT) covered by coreboot is interesting. But I have some questions.
1. Since booting to Linux from coreboot is a solved problem, this project emphasizes on the virtualization technique. What we all need is to squeeze kvm modules and their user space helpers into an initramfs and build the kernel as a payload. So there's little relationship with the coreboot project, we just build a minimal Linux system with kvm support. Is it right?
2. If that is the case, the minimal Linux system in payload behaves as the host system. And finally there may be several guest systems running on it. So we should build all the device drivers in the host system (payload) that finally may be used on the virtual guest system. This increases the size of payload. Is this a critical problem?
3. Implement configuration system to select which guest system or which guest system group to boot into?
4. Is it a good idea to use Xen instead of kvm because Xen does not need VT support in CPU?
------------------ Some info: I'm studying in Shanghai Ship and Shipping Research Institute majoring in Communication and Information System. I will graduate this summer, and after that work in this Insitute. I've used Linux (mainly Gentoo) for about 2.5 years, and written some simple char device drivers. I didn't tinker with virtualization techniques except installing a Linux on Xen (deleted after because of slowness of my machine). I haven't do big projects before. I don't know how diffcult to accomplish this project and how to estimate the milestones. So could somebody give some suggestions?
Thanks a lot.
-
F