loading linux kernel from my own bootloader

[sp3tsnaz]

how can i start linux kernel from my own bootloader ? i have already formatted my flash drive to ext3 and pasted the compiled kernel there. . now how can i load linux from my assembly code ? examples are much welcome // Thankyou in advance ..

Regards,
Mohsin.

[KotuxGuy]

It looks like Linux is Multiboot compliant.

[quok]

Um, what? No, linux certainly is not multiboot compliant. Linux uses its own boot protocol, which for x86 is fairly well documented. Newer kernels have both 16-bit and 32-bit entry points. Look at Documentation/x86/boot.txt in the linux kernel source.

[KotuxGuy]

Whoops, my bad.

[Selenic]

Yeah, if you want to load Linux you'll have to implement the bzImage format. From looking at it briefly, it doesn't look too complicated - there's a decompression stub that handles all the interesting stuff in the kernel image, you just have to find out how to locate the entry point and how to pass parameters/modules/whatever.

[sp3tsnaz]

can someone please give me an example ? i have tried searching alot .. all i get is theory

[quok]

can someone please give me an example ? i have tried searching alot .. all i get is theory

Sure, look at the grub source code. But really, the boot protocol as documented in Documentation/x86/boot.txt should be more than enough.

[sp3tsnaz]

so if i have a 32 bit operating system , do i have to call start_32 to get linux kernel running ?

[Love4Boobies]

For the third time, read boot.txt. Stop bugging us until you've read it.