Книга: Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical, Real-World Approach
5.1.3. Bootstrap Loader
5.1.3. Bootstrap Loader
Not to be confused with a bootloader, many architectures use a bootstrap loader (or second-stage loader) to load the Linux kernel image into memory. Some bootstrap loaders perform checksum verification of the kernel image, and most perform decompression and relocation of the kernel image. The difference between a bootloader and a bootstrap loader in this context is simple: The bootloader controls the board upon power-up and does not rely on the Linux kernel in any way. In contrast, the bootstrap loader's primary purpose in life is to act as the glue between a board-level bootloader and the Linux kernel. It is the bootstrap loader's responsibility to provide a proper context for the kernel to run in, as well as perform the necessary steps to decompress and relocate the kernel binary image. It is similar to the concept of a primary and secondary loader found in the PC architecture.
Figure 5-2 makes this concept clear. The bootstrap loader is concatenated to the kernel image for loading.
Figure 5-2. Composite kernel image for ARM XScale
In the example we have been studying, the bootstrap loader consists of the binary images shown in Figure 5-2. The functions performed by this bootstrap loader include the following:
• Low-level assembly processor initialization, which includes support for enabling the processor's internal instruction and data caches, disabling interrupts, and setting up a C runtime environment. These include head.o and head-xscale.o.
• Decompression and relocation code, embodied in misc.o.
• Other processor-specific initialization, such as big-endian.o, which enables the big endian mode for this particular processor.
It is worth noting that the details we have been examining in the preceding sections are specific to the ARM/XScale kernel implementation. Each architecture has different details, although the concepts are similar. Using a similar analysis to that presented here, you can learn the requirements of your own architecture.
Оглавление книги
- CE Boot Loader Architecture
- Choosing, Configuring, and Installing the Boot Loader
- Runtime Errors, Boot Loader Problems, and Kernel Oops
- Chapter 7. Bootloaders
- 2.1.1. BIOS Versus Bootloader
- 6.4.3. Bootloader Support for initrd
- 7.1. Role of a Bootloader
- 7.2. Bootloader Challenges
- 7.3. A Universal Bootloader: Das U-Boot
- 7.5. Other Bootloaders
- 7.5.3. Still More Bootloaders
- 15.4.3. Debugging Bootloader