Re: [RFC PATCH] x86/boot: make ELF kernel multiboot-able

[Daniel Kiper]

On Thu, Feb 16, 2017 at 09:00:05PM -0800, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> On 02/16/17 15:27, Daniel Kiper wrote:
> > That is obvious. Do you think that Multiboot/Multiboot2 protocols are
> > substantially suboptimal?
>
> Yes.  They push a lot of things into the bootloader for no good reason,

I have not seen anything in Multiboot(2) specs which stipulates that every
bootloader must implement all features. If somebody needs minimal Multiboot(2)
compatible bootloader he/she can do that. Just parse Multiboot(2) header and
provide, let's call it in that way, empty boot data. Is it difficult?

> thus tying the kernel's hands and making the whole boot process more
> fragile.

Every kernel may take from the bootloader via Multiboot(2) what it needs.
No more no less. There is no requirement to use all data provided by
the bootloader.

> It isn't either like Grub has been very good about keeping to any spec,
> their own or others.

Could you be more precise?

Daniel