LOBOS (Linux OS Boots OS): Booting a Kernel in 32-bit Mode

LOBOS (Linux Os Boots OS) is a system call that allows a running Linux kernel to boot a new kernel, without leav-ing 32-bit protected mode and, in particular, without using the BIOS in any way. This capability in turn allows Linux to be used as a network bootstrap program and even as a BIOS, both of which we are working on now. In this pa-per we discuss how LOBOS works, how we use it, and how LOBOS makes Linux usable as a BIOS, replacing the proprietary PC BIOSes we have today. 1 . LOBOS has been used by two other groups as a reference imple-mentation for their Linux-boots-Linux system calls. One of these other implementations, bootimg, may become a part of the 2.4 kernel.