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[novaboot.git] / README.md

# NAME

novaboot - A tool for booting various operating systems on various hardware or in qemu

# SYNOPSIS

__novaboot__ \[ options \] \[--\] script...

__./script__ \[ options \]

__novaboot__ --help

# DESCRIPTION

This program makes it easier to boot NOVA or other operating system
(OS) in different environments. It reads a so called novaboot script
and uses it either to boot the OS in an emulator (e.g. in qemu) or to
generate the configuration for a specific bootloader and optionally to
copy the necessary binaries and other needed files to proper
locations, perhaps on a remote server. In case the system is actually
booted, its serial output is redirected to standard output if that is
possible.

A typical way of using novaboot is to make the novaboot script
executable and set its first line to _\#!/usr/bin/env novaboot_. Then,
booting a particular OS configuration becomes the same as executing a
local program - the novaboot script.

With `novaboot` you can:

1. Run an OS in Qemu. This is the default action when no other action is
specified by command line switches. Thus running `novaboot ./script`
(or `./script` as described above) will run Qemu and make it boot the
configuration specified in the _script_.
2. Create a bootloader configuration file (currently supported
bootloaders are GRUB, GRUB2 and Pulsar) and copy it with all other
files needed for booting to another, perhaps remote, location.

        ./script --server --iprelay=192.168.1.2

    This command copies files to a TFTP server specified in the
    configuration file and uses TCP/IP-controlled relay to reset the test
    box and receive its serial output.

3. Run DHCP and TFTP server on developer's machine to PXE-boot NOVA from
it. E.g.

        ./script --dhcp-tftp

    When a PXE-bootable machine is connected via Ethernet to developer's
    machine, it will boot the configuration described in _script_.

4. Create bootable ISO images. E.g.

        novaboot --iso -- script1 script2

    The created ISO image will have GRUB bootloader installed on it and
    the boot menu will allow selecting between _script1_ and _script2_
    configurations.

# PHASES AND OPTIONS

Novaboot performs its work in several phases. Each phase can be
influenced by several options, certain phases can be skipped. The list
of phases (in the execution order) and the corresponding options
follows.

## Configuration reading phase

After starting, novaboot reads configuration files. By default, it
searches for files named `.novaboot` starting from the directory of
the novaboot script (or working directory, see bellow) and continuing
upwards up to the root directory. The configuration files are read in
order from the root directory downwards with latter files overriding
settings from the former ones.

In certain cases, the location of the novaboot script cannot be
determined in this early phase. This happens either when the script is
read from the standard input or when novaboot is invoked explicitly
and options precede the script name, as in the example ["4."](#4.) above.
In this case the current working directory is used as a starting point
for configuration file search.

- \-c, --config=<filename>

    Use the specified configuration file instead of the default one(s).

## Command line processing phase

- \--dump-config

    Dump the current configuration to stdout end exits. Useful as an
    initial template for a configuration file.

- \-h, --help

    Print short (__\-h__) or long (__\--help__) help.

- \-t, --target=<target>

    This option serves as a user configurable shortcut for other novaboot
    options. The effect of this option is the same as the options stored
    in the `%targets` configuration variable under key _target_. See
    also ["CONFIGURATION FILE"](#CONFIGURATION FILE).

## Script preprocessing phase

This phases allows to modify the parsed novaboot script before it is
used in the later phases.

- \-a, --append=<parameters>

    Appends a string to the first "filename" line in the novaboot script.
    This can be used to append parameters to the kernel's or root task's
    command line.

- \-b, --bender

    Use `bender` chainloader. Bender scans the PCI bus for PCI serial
    ports and stores the information about them in the BIOS data area for
    use by the kernel.

- \--chainloader=<chainloader>

    Chainloader that is loaded before the kernel and other files specified
    in the novaboot script. E.g. 'bin/boot/bender promisc'.

- \--dump

    Prints the content of the novaboot script after removing comments and
    evaluating all _\--scriptmod_ expressions. Exit after reading (and
    dumping) the script.

- \--scriptmod=_perl expression_

    When novaboot script is read, _perl expression_ is executed for every
    line (in $\_ variable). For example, `novaboot
    --scriptmod=s/sigma0/omega6/g` replaces every occurrence of _sigma0_
    in the script with _omega6_.

    When this option is present, it overrides _$script\_modifier_ variable
    from the configuration file, which has the same effect. If this option
    is given multiple times all expressions are evaluated in the command
    line order.

- \--strip-rom

    Strip _rom://_ prefix from command lines and generated config files.
    The _rom://_ prefix is used by NUL. For NRE, it has to be stripped.

## File generation phase

In this phase, files needed for booting are generated in a so called
_build directory_ (see TODO). In most cases configuration for a
bootloader is generated automatically by novaboot. It is also possible
to generate other files using _heredoc_ or _"<"_ syntax in novaboot
scripts. Finally, binaries can be generated in this phases by running
`scons` or `make`.

- \--build-dir=<directory>

    Overrides the default build directory location.

    The default build directory location is determined as follows: If the
    configuration file defines the `$builddir` variable, its value is
    used. Otherwise, it is the directory that contains the first processed
    novaboot script.

- \-g, --grub\[=_filename_\]

    Generates grub bootloader menu file. If the _filename_ is not
    specified, `menu.lst` is used. The _filename_ is relative to the
    build directory (see __\--build-dir__).

- \--grub-preamble=_prefix_

    Specifies the _preable_ that is at the beginning of the generated
    GRUB or GRUB2 config files. This is useful for specifying GRUB's
    timeout.

- \--grub-prefix=_prefix_

    Specifies _prefix_ that is put in front of every file name in GRUB's
    `menu.lst`. The default value is the absolute path to the build directory.

    If the _prefix_ contains string $NAME, it will be replaced with the
    name of the novaboot script (see also __\--name__).

- \--grub2\[=_filename_\]

    Generate GRUB2 menuentry in _filename_. If _filename_ is not
    specified `grub.cfg` is used. The content of the menuentry can be
    customized with __\--grub-preable__, __\--grub2-prolog__ or
    __\--grub\_prefix__ options.

    In order to use the the generated menuentry on your development
    machine that uses GRUB2, append the following snippet to
    `/etc/grub.d/40\_custom` file and regenerate your grub configuration,
    i.e. run update-grub on Debian/Ubuntu.

        if [ -f /path/to/nul/build/grub.cfg ]; then
          source /path/to/nul/build/grub.cfg
        fi

- \--grub2-prolog=_prolog_

    Specifies text _preable_ that is put at the begiging of the entry
    GRUB2 entry.

- \--name=_string_

    Use the name _string_ instead of the name of the novaboot script.
    This name is used for things like a title of grub menu or for the
    server directory where the boot files are copied to.

- \--no-file-gen

    Do not generate files on the fly (i.e. "<" syntax) except for the
    files generated via "<<WORD" syntax.

- \-p, --pulsar\[=mac\]

    Generates pulsar bootloader configuration file named `config-_mac_`
    The _mac_ string is typically a MAC address and defaults to
    _novaboot_.

- \--scons\[=scons command\]

    Runs _scons_ to build files that are not generated by novaboot
    itself.

- \--gen-only

    Exit novaboot after file generation phase.

## Target connection check

If supported by the target, the connection to it is made and it is
checked whether the target is not occupied by another novaboot
user/instance.

## File deployment phase

In some setups, it is necessary to copy the files needed for booting
to a particular location, e.g. to a TFTP boot server or to the
`/boot` partition.

- \-d, --dhcp-tftp

    Turns your workstation into a DHCP and TFTP server so that NOVA
    can be booted via PXE BIOS on a test machine directly connected by
    a plain Ethernet cable to your workstation.

    The DHCP and TFTP servers require root privileges and `novaboot`
    uses `sudo` command to obtain those. You can put the following to
    _/etc/sudoers_ to allow running the necessary commands without
    asking for password.

        Cmnd_Alias NOVABOOT = /bin/ip a add 10.23.23.1/24 dev eth0, /bin/ip l set dev eth0 up, /usr/sbin/dhcpd -d -cf dhcpd.conf -lf dhcpd.leases -pf dhcpd.pid, /usr/sbin/in.tftpd --foreground --secure -v -v -v *, /usr/bin/touch dhcpd.leases
        your_login ALL=NOPASSWD: NOVABOOT

- \-i, --iso\[=filename\]

    Generates the ISO image that boots NOVA system via GRUB. If no filename
    is given, the image is stored under _NAME_.iso, where _NAME_ is the name
    of the novaboot script (see also __\--name__).

- \--server\[=\[\[user@\]server:\]path\]

    Copy all files needed for booting to another location (implies __\-g__
    unless __\--grub2__ is given). The files will be copied (by __rsync__
    tool) to the directory _path_. If the _path_ contains string $NAME,
    it will be replaced with the name of the novaboot script (see also
    __\--name__).

- \--concat

    If __\--server__ is used and its value ends with $NAME, then after
    copying the files, a new bootloader configuration file (e.g. menu.lst)
    is created at _path-wo-name_, i.e. the path specified by __\--server__
    with $NAME part removed. The content of the file is created by
    concatenating all files of the same name from all subdirectories of
    _path-wo-name_ found on the "server".

- \--rsync-flags=_flags_

    Specifies which _flags_ are appended to `rsync` command line when
    copying files as a result of _\--server_ option.

## Target power-on and reset phase

- \--iprelay=_addr\[:port\]_

    Use IP relay to reset the machine and to get the serial output. The IP
    address of the relay is given by _addr_ parameter.

    Note: This option is expected to work with HWG-ER02a IP relays.

- \--on, --off

    Switch on/off the target machine. Currently works only with
    __\--iprelay__.

- \-Q, --qemu=_qemu-binary_

    The name of qemu binary to use. The default is 'qemu'.

- \--qemu-append=_flags_

    Append _flags_ to the default qemu flags (QEMU\_FLAGS variable or
    `-cpu coreduo -smp 2`).

- \-q, --qemu-flags=_flags_

    Replace the default qemu flags (QEMU\_FLAGS variable or `-cpu coreduo
    -smp 2`) with _flags_ specified here.

## Interaction with the bootloader on the target

See __\--serial__. There will be new options soon.

## Target's output reception phase

- \-s, --serial\[=device\]

    Use serial line to control GRUB bootloader and to see the output
    serial output of the machine. The default value is `/dev/ttyUSB0`.

See also __\--iprelay__.

## Termination phase

Daemons that were spwned (`dhcpd` and `tftpd`) are killed here.

# NOVABOOT SCRIPT SYNTAX

The syntax tries to mimic POSIX shell syntax. The syntax is defined with the following rules.

Lines starting with "\#" are ignored.

Lines that end with "\\" are concatenated with the following line after
removal of the final "\\" and leading whitespace of the following line.

Lines in the form _VARIABLE=..._ (i.e. matching '^\[A-Z\_\]+=' regular
expression) assign values to internal variables. See VARIABLES
section.

Otherwise, the first word on the line represents the filename
(relative to the build directory (see __\--build-dir__) of the module to
load and the remaining words are passed as the command line
parameters.

When the line ends with "<<WORD" then the subsequent lines until the
line containing only WORD are copied literally to the file named on
that line.

When the line ends with "< CMD" the command CMD is executed with
`/bin/sh` and its standard output is stored in the file named on that
line. The SRCDIR variable in CMD's environment is set to the absolute
path of the directory containing the interpreted novaboot script.

Example:
  \#!/usr/bin/env novaboot
  WVDESC=Example program
  bin/apps/sigma0.nul S0\_DEFAULT script\_start:1,1 \\
    verbose hostkeyb:0,0x60,1,12,2
  bin/apps/hello.nul
  hello.nulconfig <<EOF
  sigma0::mem:16 name::/s0/log name::/s0/timer name::/s0/fs/rom ||
  rom://bin/apps/hello.nul
  EOF

This example will load three modules: sigma0.nul, hello.nul and
hello.nulconfig. sigma0 gets some command line parameters and
hello.nulconfig file is generated on the fly from the lines between
<<EOF and EOF.

## VARIABLES

The following variables are interpreted in the novaboot script:

- BUILDDIR

    Novaboot chdir()s to this directory before file generation phase. The
    directory name specified here is relative to the build directory
    specified by other means (see ["--build-dir"](#--build-dir)).

- WVDESC

    Description of the wvtest-compliant program.

- WVTEST\_TIMEOUT

    The timeout in seconds for WvTest harness. If no complete line appears
    in the test output within the time specified here, the test fails. It
    is necessary to specify this for long running tests that produce no
    intermediate output.

- QEMU

    Use a specific qemu binary (can be overriden with __\-Q__) and flags
    when booting this script under qemu. If QEMU\_FLAGS variable is also
    specified flags specified in QEMU variable are replaced by those in
    QEMU\_FLAGS.

- QEMU\_FLAGS

    Use specific qemu flags (can be overriden with __\-q__).

- HYPERVISOR\_PARAMS

    Parameters passed to hypervisor. The default value is "serial", unless
    overriden in configuration file.

- KERNEL

    The kernel to use instead of NOVA hypervisor specified in the
    configuration file. The value should contain the name of the kernel
    image as well as its command line parameters. If this variable is
    defined and non-empty, the variable HYPERVISOR\_PARAMS is not used.

# CONFIGURATION FILE

Novaboot can read its configuration from a file. Configuration file
was necessary in early days of novaboot. Nowadays, an attempt is made
to not use the configuration file because it makes certain novaboot
scripts unusable on systems without (or with different) configuration
file. The only recommended use of the configuration file is to specify
custom\_options (see bellow).

If you decide to use the configuration file, it is looked up, by
default, in files named `.novaboot` as described in ["Configuration reading phase"](#Configuration reading phase). Alternatively, its location can be specified with the
__\-c__ switch or with the NOVABOOT\_CONFIG environment variable. The
configuration file has perl syntax and should set values of certain
Perl variables. The current configuration can be dumped with the
__\--dump-config__ switch. Some configuration variables can be overriden
by environment variables (see below) or by command line switches.

Documentation of some configuration variables follows:

- $builddir

    Build directory location relative to the location of the configuration
    file.

- %targets

    Hash of shortcuts to be used with the __\--target__ option. If the hash
    contains, for instance, the following pair of values

        'mybox' => '--server=boot:/tftproot --serial=/dev/ttyUSB0 --grub',

    then the following two commands are equivalent:

        ./script --server=boot:/tftproot --serial=/dev/ttyUSB0 --grub
        ./script -t mybox

# ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

Some options can be specified not only via config file or command line
but also through environment variables. Environment variables override
the values from configuration file and command line parameters
override the environment variables.

- NOVABOOT\_CONFIG

    Name of the novaboot configuration file to use instead of the default
    one(s).

- NOVABOOT\_BENDER

    Defining this variable has the same meaning as __\--bender__ option.

# AUTHORS

Michal Sojka <sojka@os.inf.tu-dresden.de>