Re: [Xen-devel] Using LinuxBIOS as virtual firmware

Keir Fraser
Sat, 15 Jul 2006 07:38:04 -0000

On 15 Jul 2006, at 01:40, Lu, Yinghai wrote:

> Is it a good way?
>
> Any comment?

It would be helpful to have a clearer explanation of the limitations of
the current firmware, the benefits of your new approach, and likely
effort and steps needed to get there. Also to compare that with the
difficulty of solving any current problems by simply patching the
current code base.

For example, if the only aim is to emulate AMD64 platforms more
accurately, maybe that is best done by evolving the current code. But
moving to LinuxBIOS might have other benefits too -- if so they need
explaining.

Bear in mind also there''s an increasing amount of work going into
hvmloader (e.g., SMBIOS patches) that will probably be impacted by a
move to a whole new firmware architecture.

  -- Keir