> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:astlinux-users- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kristian Kielhofner > Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 12:20 PM > To: Discussion of AstLinux - Asterisk on Compact Flash > Subject: [Astlinux-users] New Image Format > > Hello Everyone, > > I would like to update everyone on the status of the new image > format I > am developing. > > It became obvious throughout the course of working with this new > development environment that there would need to be some flexibility in > the image format. I hope I have found a pretty good solution to that > problem... > > Old image format: > > - writes directly to CF > - uses GRUB > - difficult to upgrade, re-partition, etc > > New Image format: > > - install AstLinux loader on vfat formatted CF > - boot kexec kernel using syslinux > - boot AstLinux kernel using kexec > - mount root, kd, etc. filesystems using loopback/union > > > Here is how it would look: > > CF: > > /bzImage (kexec kernel) - part of AstLinux loader > /syslinux.cfg - AstLinux loader/AstLinux config file > /AstLinux-0.4.0.img - AstLinux root filesystem > /AstLinux-0.4.0.img.sha1 - checksum > /kd.img - AstLinux keydisk (can be stored anywhere) > > In this scenario, to upgrade, all you would have to do is download a > new AstLinux image: > > CF: > > /bzImage (kexec kernel) - part of AstLinux loader > /syslinux.cfg - AstLinux loader/AstLinux config file > /AstLinux-0.4.0.img - AstLinux root filesystem > /AstLinux-0.4.0.img.sha1 - checksum > /AstLinux-0.4.1.img - AstLinux root filesystem > /AstLinux-0.4.1.img.sha1 - checksum > /kd.img - AstLinux keydisk (can be stored anywhere) > > The AstLinux loader/kexec kernel (and it's initrd) would > automatically > find the newest AstLinux image and verify it's checksum. It would then > mount the image and boot it for you automatically. Of course, your > keydisk would remain compatible. > > There are several advantages to using kexec/syslinux: > > - Boot AstLinux over the network. While you could always do this with > PXE, this is much more flexible because you can load the AstLinux image > from anywhere (within the capabilities of the AstLinux loader). This > includes FTP, TFTP, HTTP, NFS, etc. > > - No fixed image format. The actual CF/HD is always formatted vfat, so > you don't have to worry about partition tables, etc. > > - Easy upgrades. This would not be possible without kexec. > > - Faster reboots. Most people use kexec just to speed up reboots. > Sounds good to me! > > I should have this all working in the next day or so, but I would > like > everyone's input for suggestions, etc. > > -- > Kristian Kielhofner > _______________________________________________ > Astlinux-users mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.kriscompanies.com/mailman/listinfo/astlinux-users > > Donations to support AstLinux are graciously accepted via PayPal to > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Let me know what's needed to test the PXE with the new method and I'll post feedback. Also, trying to add free-pascal to the image (old method) I ran out of room, can you also post the information on how to change the size of the image with the new method? Keep up the good work :) Alejo. _______________________________________________ Astlinux-users mailing list [email protected] http://lists.kriscompanies.com/mailman/listinfo/astlinux-users Donations to support AstLinux are graciously accepted via PayPal to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
