Re: For comment: draft BIOS use document for the kernel

[Richard B. Johnson]

On Fri, 22 Jun 2001, Alan Cox wrote:

> > I could not find any reference to BIOS int 0x15, function 0x87, block-
> > move, used to copy the kernel to above the 1 megabyte real-mode
> > boundary. I think this is still used.
> 
> I dont think the kernel has ever used it. The path has always been to enter
> 32bit mode then relocate/uncompress the kernel, then run it
> 

Then how does 1.44 megabytes of data from a floppy disk (that won't
fit below 1 megabyte), that is accessed in real-mode, ever get to
above 1 megabyte where it can be decompressed?

I think LILO copies each buffer read from a below 1 Megabyte buffer
(which is the only place the floppy can put its data via the BIOS),
to above 1 megabyte using the BIOS block-move function.

Cheers,
Dick Johnson

Penguin : Linux version 2.4.1 on an i686 machine (799.53 BogoMips).

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