[LinuxBIOS] [PATCH] v3: Kconfig payload options and README improvements

[Uwe Hermann]

Hi,

here's a patch for v3 which reworks the payload selection in
'make menuconfig'. After the patch there are two simple options you
can use:

 - Payload file

   You specify a path and filename for the payload.
   Default: payload.elf in the current directory.

   _How_ you create this payload does not matter; manual building,
   using a pre-built image from somewhere, using buildrom or lbdistro
   to create one etc. etc.

 - No payload

   This will create an "empty" image without any payload. You can later
   add a payload from the command line using the 'lar' utility.
   Something like 'lar add payload.elf linuxbios.rom' will add it...

   This is useful for multiple purposes:

    - Other "payload-projects" such as GNUFI or Open Firmware etc. can
      use LinuxBIOS as low-level bootstrap and incorporate LinuxBIOS
      in their own build process. They use the "empty" LinuxBIOS image
      as a base and use 'lar' to insert their own GNUFI / OFW / whatever
      image.

    - Linux distributions can ship 'linuxbios' packages which come with
      /usr/bin/lar and "empty" pre-built images for all supported
      mainboards somewhere in /usr/share, e.g.

      /usr/share/linuxbios/images/lb_empty_asus_a8n_e.rom
      /usr/share/linuxbios/images/lb_empty_tyan_s2882.rom
      /usr/share/linuxbios/images/lb_empty_gigabyte_ga_6bxc_256k.rom
      /usr/share/linuxbios/images/lb_empty_gigabyte_ga_6bxc_512k.rom
      etc.

      The user can then use those pre-built images and the 'lar' tool
      to insert any desired payload into the "final" image before
      flashing it.

      Heck, the distributions could even ship default payloads in
      /usr/share/linuxbios/payloads.


We definately need some more discussion on the payload handling, but I
think this patch is a good start. This system is flexible enough to
manage any use case you can imagine, IMO.

I documented the proposed procedure in the README in the patch, comments
welcome.


Uwe.
-- 
http://www.hermann-uwe.de  | http://www.holsham-traders.de
http://www.crazy-hacks.org | http://www.unmaintained-free-software.org
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