Re: Debian install issues with i386 EFI based system
On Wed, Dec 12, 2007 at 10:20:13AM -0600, Charles Abdouch wrote:
> We're actually doing our own EFI Based BIOS.
Who's "we" ? (sorry for having missed some context)
> We considered using LinuxBIOS
> but there isn't any Intel support for it.
Well, no, but I'm told AMD is strongly backing it up.
> Also there were other problems
> with using LinuxBIOS based on it using GPL instead of LGPL due to some
> licensed code we would have to include with it
Have you talked to the LinuxBIOS developers about this? I heard they were
going to relicense payload-usable code. Actually, they had plans to make
a library out of it.
> as well as Windows support.
This changed a lot after last summer's GSoC (aimed at making Vista bootable),
I'd encourage you to recheck.
> We're currently adding our own version of CSM (Legacy Support), but other
> then a couple of minor packaging and program issues, Linux supports an
> EFI-Only BIOS very well.
It may do, but the whole model is designed with lockdown and restrictions
in mind (why would you want a memory curtain in your firmware? oh well).
Since you mention Linux, maybe you're interested in Torvalds opinion on EFI:
http://kerneltrap.org/node/6884
I find this line particularly insightful:
"not that I'd ever claim that the BIOS is wonderful either, but at least
everybody knows that the BIOS is just a bootloader, and doesn't try to
make it anything else."
--
Robert Millan
<GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call!
<DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak?
(as seen on /.)
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