Meta Boot Loader

[Raghunandan, Makaram]

The VxWorks boot image that is on the Flash ROM of IXP1200 Evaluation system
does exactly what you need. The initial boot loader comes up initializes the
Chip, and, the Ethernet NIC. After that the full suite of VxWorks is pulled
over from the network. Now, in your case, you can use this method to load
your OS rather than the default file.
Another alternative is to use the Angel Debug Monitor that is also loaded on
the FalshROM. The ARM SDT (from ARM LTD.) can be used in conjuction with
this to load any program on to the StrongARM core.

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott C. Karlin [mailto:scott at CS.Princeton.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 8:27 PM
To: ixp1200 at CS.Princeton.EDU
Subject: Meta Boot Loader


We'd like to begin porting our own operating system (Scout)
to the StrongARM core of the IXP1200.  To do this we'll
need a way to get code into the device.  We have a couple
of thoughts on this and would like to get some feedback
(especially from the Intel folks who are on the list).
We basically need a way to load a raw image into the core
and start running it.  We are not using VxWorks or eCOS.

Approaches:

   1.  Purchase or lease a NetROM device.
   2.  Use a device programmer to program the flash EEPROM.
       Is the flash in a socket?  The chip packaging looks
       unfamiliar.
   3.  Use a Meta Boot Loader.  This is code that runs
       under VxWorks.  The preprogrammed boot loader in
       ROM can load the meta boot loader which will, in
       turn, load our OS code.  

Number 3 has the advantage that it is an all software solution.
The problem is that it appears to need a VxWorks executable
(the meta boot loader) but we aren't interested in purchasing
a license for this one little program.  Is this something
that someone else has done (or could do)?

-Scott

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Scott C. Karlin                             Princeton University
Graduate Student                            Department of Computer Science
Voice: (609) 258-5386                       35 Olden Street
Email: scott at cs.princeton.edu               Princeton, NJ 08544-2087
WWW:   http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~scott
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