Booting Linux: The History and the Future

The IA-32 Linux boot process has since 1991 evolved from using boot floppy to Shoelace and now LILO. We will discuss the history of the boot process and some of the features intended for the future. We will cover new features such as the ability to launch a new Linux kernel within Linux without resetting the system as well as numerous other new features to enhance the IA-32 boot process. We will also cover some commonly misunderstood current features including initrd and "big" image support.

Werner Almesberger, Ph.D.

Werner received his master's in Computer Science from ETH Zurich in 1992. From 1993 to 1994 he developed ATM switch control software at the IBM Zurich Research Lab. He completed his Ph.D. in Communication Systems at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne) in 1999.

He became addicted to Linux with kernel version 0.12 in 1992, and quickly became involved in very interesting kernel work including; file systems, device drivers, and the LILO bootloader. His ongoing involvement includes; the LILO bootloader, the psmisc tools, ATM and Differentiated Services on Linux, as well as a bit of hacking on the Linux-7110 project bringing Linux to PDA such as the Psion palmtop.

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