Re: Boot code of linuxppc v. netbsd

[ws%kurt.tools.de@localhost (Wolfgang Solfrank)]

> Notice that we are expecting five parameters instead of three.  Could it
> possibly be that Apple's OF is not providing five?

That was one of my speculations in one of my previous mails.

> As an aside, in arch/powerpc/powerpc/ofwmagic.S we say:
> /*
>  * Magic note section used by OpenFirmware.
>  */
> [snip]
>         # note descriptor
> 
>         # real mode (-1) or virtual mode (0)
>         .long   0
> 
> Is this ignored?

Well, it _is_ ignored in machines with firmware by firmworks (at least all
that I know of).  To be exact, newer versions of the firmware, at least in
my firepower machine, didn't ignore it.  If you requested real mode by
setting the value to -1, the firmware would determine that it is in the wrong
mode and reboot.  However, since the firmware couldn't handle real mode, it
would boot again in virtual mode, read the boot code, determine, it's in the
wrong mode, boot again, etc. etc....

> Also, I note that a vmlinux.coff has only a .text, .data,
> and .bss while we have seven or so sections.  Cutting corners for poor old
> Apple again?

This shouldn't matter.

Ciao,
Wolfgang
-- 
ws%TooLs.DE@localhost     (Wolfgang Solfrank, TooLs GmbH)       +49-228-985800