[OLPC-devel] NAND/JFFS2 support for Filo?

[Jim Gettys]

On Fri, 2006-05-19 at 11:22 -0400, Ivan Krstic wrote:
> Goodrich,Steven wrote:
> > he asked why we don't add NAND media support to
> > FILO, and simply use that to load the kernel from the NAND flash
> > device. 

Exactly.  And we have no way to prevent a malicious virus from doing so
(if it can get root privileges).  Also, first hand experience on the
iPAQ is that as people mess around (and we want the kids to be able to
mess around), they might overwrite a kernel there by accident.

I think we might be able to use the NAND flash for additional
functionality we want for kernel modules or other goodies, so long as
there is a way to "unbrick" a machine reliably (either from USB or
wireless).

> 
> In this scenario, if you deleted your kernel from the flash, your laptop
> turns into a brick. That's no good; if I understand correctly, the plan
> is to have the LinuxBIOS be able to reflash a laptop to a default state
> via some mechanism (PXE?).
> 

How about scp ;-)?  The feature of using Linux as bootloader is that it
opens up so many possibilities, and you end up writing exactly one
device driver (linux) and that driver is a production, high performance
driver, rather than something special purpose that usually runs slowly,
and unlikely to be as reliable.
                              - Jim

-- 
Jim Gettys
One Laptop Per Child