[SeaBIOS] [PATCH] boot: add serial-friendly alternatives for invoking the boot menu

[Kevin O'Connor]

On Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 06:39:44PM +0100, Paolo Bonzini wrote:
> On 11/03/2015 18:24, Kevin O'Connor wrote:
> > On Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 05:42:18PM +0100, Paolo Bonzini wrote:
> >> I have no problem with changing the key; the problem I have with ESC is
> >> that I'm going to add F12 for network boot, and then I would like ESC+@
> >> to trigger network boot.  ESC for the boot menu would clash.  With my
> >> full patches, the default message would be like this:
> > 
> > Can you explain that "network boot" feature further?
> 
> It prioritizes NIC option ROMs over other options, trying all network
> cards before falling back to HD, CD/DVD and non-NIC option ROMs.

How will you know which option ROMs are NIC option roms?

> It's a common feature on a real machine, to the point that the SMBIOS
> tables have a special bit for "network boot can be done with F12".  This
> makes sense mostly for Coreboot, though some people requested it on
> virtual machines as well.
> 
> > I think the message should be
> > as succinct as possible - hit this key to stop the default boot -
> > otherwise the default boot is going to happen.  I don't think we
> > should make that initial prompt any more complex.  Once the user stops
> > the default boot (by hitting ESC, F12, whatever) then a more detailed
> > explanation and more detailed options can be provided.
> 
> What about this:
> 
> - for now, change the default key to "ESC" and the default message to
> "Press ESC for boot menu".
> 
> - in my next round of patches, add "Press N for network boot" in the
> boot menu.

Works for me.

> - also in my next round of patches, support the F12 key for direct
> network boot but keep it "secret".  It's the same as real machines
> anyway.  Maybe support ESC+@ in addition to ESC+N too, but that seems
> overengineered.

If you want, but I'd personally hold off on that until someone screems
for it.

Thanks,
-Kevin