3 novaboot - Boots a locally compiled operating system on a remote
10 **novaboot** \[option\]... \[--\] script...
12 **./script** \[option\]...
16 This program makes booting of a locally compiled operating system (OS)
17 (e.g. NOVA or Linux) on remote targets as simple as running a program
18 locally. It automates things like copying OS images to a TFTP server,
19 generation of bootloader configuration files, resetting of target
20 hardware or redirection of target's serial line to stdin/out. Novaboot
21 is highly configurable and it makes it easy to boot a single image on
22 different targets or different images on a single target.
24 Novaboot operation is controlled by command line options and by a so
25 called novaboot script, which can be thought as a generalization of
26 bootloader configuration files (see ["NOVABOOT SCRIPT SYNTAX"](#novaboot-script-syntax)).
27 Typical way of using novaboot is to make the novaboot script
28 executable and set its first line to _#!/usr/bin/env novaboot_. Then,
29 booting a particular OS configuration becomes the same as executing a
30 local program - the novaboot script.
32 Novaboot uses configuration files to, among other things, define
33 command line options needed for different targets. Users typically use
34 only the **-t**/**--target** command line option to select the target.
35 Internally, this option expands to the pre-configured options.
36 Configuration files are searched at multiple places, which allows to
37 have per-system, per-user or per-project configurations. Configuration
38 file syntax is described in section ["CONFIGURATION FILE"](#configuration-file).
40 Simple examples of using `novaboot`:
42 1. Run an OS in Qemu. This is the default action when no other action is
43 specified by command line switches. Thus running `novaboot myos` (or
44 `./myos` as described above) will run Qemu and make it boot the
45 configuration specified in the `myos` script.
46 2. Create a bootloader configuration file (currently supported
47 bootloaders are GRUB, GRUB2, ISOLINUX, Pulsar and U-Boot) and copy it
48 with all other files needed for booting to a remote boot server. Then
49 use a TCP/IP-controlled relay/serial-to-TCP converter to reset the
50 target and receive its serial output.
52 ./myos --grub2 --server=192.168.1.1:/tftp --iprelay=192.168.1.2
54 3. Run DHCP and TFTP server on developer's machine to boot the target
59 This is useful when no network infrastructure is in place and
60 the target is connected directly to developer's box.
62 4. Create bootable ISO image.
64 novaboot --iso -- script1 script2
66 The created ISO image will have ISOLINUX bootloader installed on it
67 and the boot menu will allow selecting between _script1_ and
68 _script2_ configurations.
72 Novaboot performs its work in several phases. Each phase can be
73 influenced by several command line options, certain phases can be
74 skipped. The list of phases (in the execution order) and the
75 corresponding options follows.
77 ## Configuration reading phase
79 After starting, novaboot reads configuration files. Their content is
80 described in section ["CONFIGURATION FILE"](#configuration-file). By default,
81 configuration is read from two locations. First from the configuration
82 directory and second from `.novaboot` files along the path to the
83 current directory. The latter read files override settings from the
86 Configuration directory is determined by the content of
87 NOVABOOT\_CONFIG\_DIR environment variable and defaults to
88 `/etc/novaboot.d`. Files in this directory with names consisting
89 solely of English letters, numbers, dashes '-' and underscores '\_'
90 (note that dot '.' is not included) are read in alphabetical order.
92 Then novaboot searches for files named `.novaboot` starting from the
93 directory of the novaboot script (or working directory, see bellow)
94 and continuing upwards up to the root directory. The found
95 configuration files are then read in the opposite order (i.e. from the
96 root directory downwards). This allows to have, for example, user
97 specific configuration in `~/.novaboot` and project specific one in
98 `~/project/.novaboot`.
100 In certain cases, the location of the novaboot script cannot be
101 determined in this early phase. This happens either when the script is
102 read from the standard input or when novaboot is invoked explicitly as
103 in the example ["4."](#4) above. In this case the current working
104 directory is used as a starting point for configuration file search
105 instead of the novaboot script directory.
107 - -c, --config=_filename_
109 Use the specified configuration file instead of the default one(s).
111 ## Command line processing phase
115 Dump the current configuration to stdout end exit. Useful as an
116 initial template for a configuration file.
120 Print short (**-h**) or long (**--help**) help.
122 - -t, --target=_target_
124 This option serves as a user configurable shortcut for other novaboot
125 options. The effect of this option is the same as the options stored
126 in the `%targets` configuration variable under key _target_. See
127 also ["CONFIGURATION FILE"](#configuration-file).
129 ## Script preprocessing phase
131 This phases allows to modify the parsed novaboot script before it is
132 used in the later phases.
134 - -a, --append=_parameters_
136 Append a string to the first `load` line in the novaboot script. This
137 can be used to append parameters to the kernel's or root task's
138 command line. This option can appear multiple times.
142 Use `bender` chainloader. Bender scans the PCI bus for PCI serial
143 ports and stores the information about them in the BIOS data area for
146 - --chainloader=_chainloader_
148 Specifies a chainloader that is loaded before the kernel and other
149 files specified in the novaboot script. E.g. 'bin/boot/bender
154 Print the modules to boot and their parameters after this phase
155 finishes. Then exit. This is useful for seeing the effect of other
156 options in this section.
158 - -k, --kernel=`file`
160 Replace the first word on the first `load` line in the novaboot
163 - --scriptmod=_perl expression_
165 When novaboot script is read, _perl expression_ is executed for every
166 line (in $\_ variable). For example, `novaboot
167 \--scriptmod=s/sigma0/omega6/g` replaces every occurrence of _sigma0_
168 in the script with _omega6_.
170 When this option is present, it overrides _$script\_modifier_ variable
171 from the configuration file, which has the same effect. If this option
172 is given multiple times all expressions are evaluated in the command
175 ## File generation phase
177 In this phase, files needed for booting are generated in a so called
178 _build directory_ (see ["--build-dir"](#build-dir)). In most cases configuration
179 for a bootloader is generated automatically by novaboot. It is also
180 possible to generate other files using _heredoc_ or _"<"_ syntax in
181 novaboot scripts. Finally, binaries can be generated in this phases by
182 running `scons` or `make`.
184 - --build-dir=_directory_
186 Overrides the default build directory location.
188 The default build directory location is determined as follows: If the
189 configuration file defines the `$builddir` variable, its value is
190 used. Otherwise, it is the directory that contains the first processed
193 See also ["BUILDDIR"](#builddir) variable.
195 - -g, --grub\[=_filename_\]
197 Generates grub bootloader menu file. If the _filename_ is not
198 specified, `menu.lst` is used. The _filename_ is relative to the
199 build directory (see **--build-dir**).
201 - --grub-preamble=_prefix_
203 Specifies the _preable_ that is at the beginning of the generated
204 GRUB or GRUB2 config files. This is useful for specifying GRUB's
209 Specifies _prefix_ (e.g. `/srv/tftp`) that is put in front of every
210 file name in generated bootloader configuration files (or in U-Boot
213 If the _prefix_ contains string $NAME, it will be replaced with the
214 name of the novaboot script (see also **--name**).
216 If the _prefix_ contains string $BUILDDIR, it will be replaced with
217 the build directory (see also **--build-dir**).
221 Alias for **--prefix**.
223 - --grub2\[=_filename_\]
225 Generate GRUB2 menu entry in _filename_. If _filename_ is not
226 specified `grub.cfg` is used. The content of the menu entry can be
227 customized with **--grub-preamble**, **--grub2-prolog** or
228 **--grub\_prefix** options.
230 In order to use the the generated menu entry on your development
231 machine that uses GRUB2, append the following snippet to
232 `/etc/grub.d/40_custom` file and regenerate your grub configuration,
233 i.e. run update-grub on Debian/Ubuntu.
235 if [ -f /path/to/nul/build/grub.cfg ]; then
236 source /path/to/nul/build/grub.cfg
239 - --grub2-prolog=_prolog_
241 Specifies text that is put at the beginning of the GRUB2 menu entry.
243 - -m, --make\[=make command\]
245 Runs `make` to build files that are not generated by novaboot itself.
249 Use the name _string_ instead of the name of the novaboot script.
250 This name is used for things like a title of grub menu or for the
251 server directory where the boot files are copied to.
255 Do not run external commands to generate files (i.e. "<" syntax and
256 `run` keyword). This switch does not influence generation of files
257 specified with "<<WORD" syntax.
259 - -p, --pulsar\[=mac\]
261 Generates pulsar bootloader configuration file named `config-_mac_`
262 The _mac_ string is typically a MAC address and defaults to
265 - --scons\[=scons command\]
267 Runs `scons` to build files that are not generated by novaboot
272 Strip _rom://_ prefix from command lines and generated config files.
273 The _rom://_ prefix is used by NUL. For NRE, it has to be stripped.
277 Exit novaboot after file generation phase.
279 ## Target connection check
281 If supported by the target, the connection to it is made and it is
282 checked whether the target is not occupied by another novaboot
285 - --amt=_"\[user\[:password\]@\]host\[:port\]_
287 Use Intel AMT technology to control the target machine. WS management
288 is used to powercycle it and Serial-Over-Lan (SOL) for input/output.
289 The hostname or (IP address) is given by the _host_ parameter. If
290 _password_ is not specified, environment variable AMT\_PASSWORD is
291 used. The _port_ specifies a TCP port for SOL. If not specified, the
292 default is 16992. Default _user_ is admin.
294 - --iprelay=_addr\[:port\]_
296 Use TCP/IP relay and serial port to access the target's serial port
297 and powercycle it. The IP address of the relay is given by _addr_
298 parameter. If _port_ is not specified, it default to 23.
300 Note: This option is supposed to work with HWG-ER02a IP relays.
302 - -s, --serial\[=device\]
304 Target's serial line is connected to host's serial line (device). The
305 default value for device is `/dev/ttyUSB0`.
307 The value of this option is exported in NB\_NOVABOOT environment
308 variable to all subprocesses run by `novaboot`.
312 Specifies settings passed to `stty` invoked on the serial line
313 specified with **--serial** option. If this option is not given,
314 `stty` is called with `raw -crtscts -onlcr 115200` settings.
318 Command that mediates connection to the target's serial line. For
319 example `ssh server 'cu -l /dev/ttyS0'`.
321 - --remote-expect=_string_
323 Wait for reception of _string_ after establishing the the remote
324 connection before continuing.
326 ## File deployment phase
328 In some setups, it is necessary to copy the files needed for booting
329 to a particular location, e.g. to a TFTP boot server or to the
334 Turns your workstation into a DHCP and TFTP server so that the OS can
335 be booted via PXE BIOS (or similar mechanism) on the test machine
336 directly connected by a plain Ethernet cable to your workstation.
338 The DHCP and TFTP servers requires root privileges and `novaboot`
339 uses `sudo` command to obtain those. You can put the following to
340 _/etc/sudoers_ to allow running the necessary commands without asking
343 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 --listen --secure -v -v -v --pidfile tftpd.pid *, /usr/bin/touch dhcpd.leases, /usr/bin/pkill --pidfile=dhcpd.pid, /usr/bin/pkill --pidfile=tftpd.pid
344 your_login ALL=NOPASSWD: NOVABOOT
348 Starts a TFTP server on your workstation. This is similar to
349 **--dhcp-tftp** except that DHCP server is not started.
351 The TFTP server require root privileges and `novaboot` uses `sudo`
352 command to obtain those. You can put the following to _/etc/sudoers_
353 to allow running the necessary commands without asking for password.
355 Cmnd_Alias NOVABOOT = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd --listen --secure -v -v -v --pidfile tftpd.pid *, /usr/bin/pkill --pidfile=tftpd.pid
356 your_login ALL=NOPASSWD: NOVABOOT
360 Port to run the TFTP server on. Implies **--tftp**.
364 Generates the ISO image that boots NOVA system via GRUB. If no filename
365 is given, the image is stored under _NAME_.iso, where _NAME_ is the name
366 of the novaboot script (see also **--name**).
368 - --server\[=\[\[user@\]server:\]path\]
370 Copy all files needed for booting to another location. The files will
371 be copied (by **rsync** tool) to the directory _path_. If the _path_
372 contains string $NAME, it will be replaced with the name of the
373 novaboot script (see also **--name**).
375 - --rsync-flags=_flags_
377 Specifies which _flags_ are appended to `rsync` command line when
378 copying files as a result of _--server_ option.
382 If **--server** is used and its value ends with $NAME, then after
383 copying the files, a new bootloader configuration file (e.g. menu.lst)
384 is created at _path-wo-name_, i.e. the path specified by **--server**
385 with $NAME part removed. The content of the file is created by
386 concatenating all files of the same name from all subdirectories of
387 _path-wo-name_ found on the "server".
391 Use Intel AMT technology for IDE redirection. This allows the target
392 machine to boot from novaboot created ISO image. Implies **--iso**.
394 The experimental `amtider` utility needed by this option can be
395 obtained from https://github.com/wentasah/amtterm.
397 ## Target power-on and reset phase
399 At this point, the target is reset (or switched on/off). There is
400 several ways how this can be accomplished. Resetting a physical target
401 can currently be accomplished by the following options: **--amt**,
402 **--iprelay**, **--reset-cmd**.
406 Switch on/off the target machine and exit. The script (if any) is
407 completely ignored. Currently it works only with **--iprelay** or
410 - -Q, --qemu\[=_qemu-binary_\]
412 Boot the configuration in qemu. Optionally, the name of qemu binary
413 can be specified as a parameter.
415 - --qemu-append=_flags_
417 Append _flags_ to the default qemu flags (QEMU\_FLAGS variable or
418 `-cpu coreduo -smp 2`).
420 - -q, --qemu-flags=_flags_
422 Replace the default qemu flags (QEMU\_FLAGS variable or `-cpu coreduo
423 \-smp 2`) with _flags_ specified here.
427 Command that resets the target.
429 - --no-reset, --reset
431 Disable/enable reseting of the target.
433 ## Interaction with the bootloader on the target
435 - --uboot\[=_prompt_\]
437 Interact with U-Boot bootloader to boot the thing described in the
438 novaboot script. _prompt_ specifies the U-Boot's prompt (default is
439 "=> ", other common prompts are "U-Boot> " or "U-Boot# ").
440 Implementation of this option is currently tied to a particular board
441 that we use. It may be subject to changes in the future!
445 Command(s) to send the U-Boot bootloader before loading the images and
446 booting them. This option can be given multiple times. After sending
447 commands from each option novaboot waits for U-Boot _prompt_.
449 If the command contains string _$NB\_MYIP_ then this string is
450 replaced by IPv4 address of eth0 interface. Similarly _$NB\_PREFIX_ is
451 replaced with prefix given by **--prefix**.
453 See also `uboot` keyword in ["NOVABOOT SCRIPT SYNTAX"](#novaboot-script-syntax)).
455 - --uboot-addr _name_=_address_
457 Load address of U-Boot's `tftpboot` command for loading _name_,
458 where name is one of _kernel_, _ramdisk_ or _fdt_ (flattened device
461 - --uboot-cmd=_command_
463 Specifies U-Boot command used to execute the OS. If the command
464 contains strings `$kernel_addr`, `$ramdisk_addr`, `$fdt_addr`,
465 these are replaced with the addresses configured with **--uboot-addr**.
469 bootm $kernel_addr $ramdisk_addr $fdt_addr
471 or the `UBOOT_CMD` variable if defined in the novaboot script.
473 ## Target interaction phase
475 In this phase, target's serial output is redirected to stdout and if
476 stdin is a TTY, it is redirected to the target's serial input allowing
477 interactive work with the target.
481 When _string_ is sent by the target, novaboot exits. This option can
482 be specified multiple times, in which case novaboot exits whenever
483 either of the specified strings is sent.
485 If _string_ is `-re`, then the next **--exiton**'s _string_ is
486 treated as regular expression. For example:
488 --exiton -re --exiton 'error:.*failed'
490 - --exiton-re=_regex_
492 The same as --exiton -re --exiton _regex_.
494 - --exiton-timeout=_seconds_
496 By default **--exiton** waits for the string match forever. When this
497 option is specified, "exiton" timeouts after the specifies number of
498 seconds and novaboot returns non-zero exit code.
502 Setup things for interactive use of target. Your terminal will be
503 switched to raw mode. In raw mode, your system does not process input
504 in any way (no echoing of entered characters, no interpretation
505 special characters). This, among others, means that Ctrl-C is passed
506 to the target and does no longer interrupt novaboot. Use "~~."
507 sequence to exit novaboot.
511 When _string_ is received from the target, send the string specified
512 with the subsequent **--send\*** option to the target.
514 - --expect-re=_regex_
516 When target's output matches regular expression _regex_, send the
517 string specified with the subsequent **--send\*** option to the target.
519 - --expect-raw=_perl-code_
521 Provides direct control over Perl's Expect module.
525 Send _string_ to the target after the previously specified
526 **--expect\*** was matched in the target's output. The _string_ may
527 contain escape sequences such as "\\n".
529 Note that _string_ is actually interpreted by Perl, so it can contain
530 much more that escape sequences. This behavior may change in the
533 Example: `--expect='login: ' --send='root\n'`
535 - --sendcont=_string_
537 Similar to **--send** but continue expecting more input.
539 Example: `--expect='Continue?' --sendcont='yes\n'`
541 # NOVABOOT SCRIPT SYNTAX
543 The syntax tries to mimic POSIX shell syntax. The syntax is defined
544 with the following rules.
546 Lines starting with "#" and empty lines are ignored.
548 Lines that end with "\\" are concatenated with the following line after
549 removal of the final "\\" and leading whitespace of the following line.
551 Lines of the form _VARIABLE=..._ (i.e. matching '^\[A-Z\_\]+=' regular
552 expression) assign values to internal variables. See ["VARIABLES"](#variables)
555 Lines starting with `load` keyword represent modules to boot. The
556 word after `load` is a file name (relative to the build directory
557 (see **--build-dir**) of the module to load and the remaining words are
558 passed to it as the command line parameters.
560 When the `load` line ends with "<<WORD" then the subsequent lines
561 until the line containing solely WORD are copied literally to the file
562 named on that line. This is similar to shell's heredoc feature.
564 When the `load` line ends with "< CMD" then command CMD is executed
565 with `/bin/sh` and its standard output is stored in the file named on
566 that line. The SRCDIR variable in CMD's environment is set to the
567 absolute path of the directory containing the interpreted novaboot
570 Lines starting with `run` keyword contain shell commands that are run
571 during file generation phase. This is the same as the "< CMD" syntax
572 for `load` keyboard except that the command's output is not
573 redirected to a file. The ordering of commands is the same as they
574 appear in the novaboot script.
576 Lines starting with `uboot` represent U-Boot commands that are sent
577 to the target if **--uboot** option is given. Having a U-Boot line in
578 the novaboot script is the same as passing an equivalent
579 **--uboot-init** option to novaboot. The `uboot` keyword can be
580 suffixed with timeout specification. The syntax is `uboot:Ns`, where
581 `N` is the whole number of seconds. If the U-Boot command prompt does
582 not appear before the timeout, novaboot fails. The default timeout is
587 #!/usr/bin/env novaboot
588 load bzImage console=ttyS0,115200
589 run make -C buildroot
590 load rootfs.cpio < gen_cpio buildroot/images/rootfs.cpio "myapp->/etc/init.d/S99myapp"
592 Example (NOVA User Land - NUL):
594 #!/usr/bin/env novaboot
595 WVDESC=Example program
596 load bin/apps/sigma0.nul S0_DEFAULT script_start:1,1 \
597 verbose hostkeyb:0,0x60,1,12,2
598 load bin/apps/hello.nul
599 load hello.nulconfig <<EOF
600 sigma0::mem:16 name::/s0/log name::/s0/timer name::/s0/fs/rom ||
601 rom://bin/apps/hello.nul
604 This example will load three modules: `sigma0.nul`, `hello.nul` and
605 `hello.nulconfig`. sigma0 receives some command line parameters and
606 `hello.nulconfig` file is generated on the fly from the lines between
611 The following variables are interpreted in the novaboot script:
615 Novaboot chdir()s to this directory before file generation phase. The
616 directory name specified here is relative to the build directory
617 specified by other means (see ["--build-dir"](#build-dir)).
621 Assigning this variable has the same effect as specifying ["--exiton"](#exiton)
626 Parameters passed to hypervisor. The default value is "serial", unless
627 overridden in configuration file.
631 The kernel to use instead of the hypervisor specified in the
632 configuration file with the `$hypervisor` variable. The value should
633 contain the name of the kernel image as well as its command line
634 parameters. If this variable is defined and non-empty, the variable
635 HYPERVISOR\_PARAMS is not used.
639 If this variable is 1, the system is not booted. This is currently
640 only implemented for U-Boot bootloader where it is useful for
641 interacting with the bootloader without booting the system - e.g. for
646 Use a specific qemu binary (can be overridden with **-Q**) and flags
647 when booting this script under qemu. If QEMU\_FLAGS variable is also
648 specified flags specified in QEMU variable are replaced by those in
653 Use specific qemu flags (can be overridden with **-q**).
657 See ["--uboot-cmd"](#uboot-cmd).
661 Description of the WvTest-compliant program.
665 The timeout in seconds for WvTest harness. If no complete line appears
666 in the test output within the time specified here, the test fails. It
667 is necessary to specify this for long running tests that produce no
672 Novaboot can read its configuration from one or more files. By
673 default, novaboot looks for files in `/etc/novaboot.d` and files
674 named `.novaboot` as described in ["Configuration reading phase"](#configuration-reading-phase).
675 Alternatively, configuration file location can be specified with the
676 **-c** switch or with the NOVABOOT\_CONFIG environment variable. The
677 configuration file has Perl syntax (i.e. it is better to put `1;` as
678 a last line) and should set values of certain Perl variables. The
679 current configuration can be dumped with the **--dump-config** switch.
680 Some configuration variables can be overridden by environment
681 variables (see below) or by command line switches.
683 Supported configuration variables include:
687 Build directory location relative to the location of the configuration
692 Default target (see below) to use when no target is explicitly
693 specified on command line with the **--target** option.
697 Hash of target definitions to be used with the **--target** option. The
698 key is the identifier of the target, the value is the string with
699 command line options. For instance, if the configuration file contains:
701 $targets{'mybox'} = '--server=boot:/tftproot --serial=/dev/ttyUSB0 --grub',
703 then the following two commands are equivalent:
705 ./myos --server=boot:/tftproot --serial=/dev/ttyUSB0 --grub
708 # ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
710 Some options can be specified not only via config file or command line
711 but also through environment variables. Environment variables override
712 the values from configuration file and command line parameters
713 override the environment variables.
717 Name of the novaboot configuration file to use instead of the default
720 - NOVABOOT\_CONFIG\_DIR
722 Name of the novaboot configuration directory. When not specified
723 `/etc/novaboot.d` is used.
727 Defining this variable has the same meaning as **--bender** option.
731 Michal Sojka <sojka@os.inf.tu-dresden.de>