How does linux boot

From: by way of Ritesh Raj Sarraf (riteshsarraf_at_users.sourceforge.net)
Date: 10/22/04

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    Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 12:37:27 +0530
To: Debian User ML <debian-user@lists.debian.org>

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    Hi,
    I know the subject of this email might be pretty simple. But I've really got
    confused as to how Linux (or other OS's work). I'll be specific to linux.

    This is the way I understand.
    The computer is on. The BIOS loads the boot-loader. The boot-loader loads the
    kernel image. If the kernel image has modules, initrd also gets loaded so
    that appropriate modules can be loaded for the kernel to identify the
    hardware, filesystems etc etc...

    Now here is what confuses me !
    Say, My machine has a scsi disk in it. In normal scenarios it's obvious that
    I'll be using a modular kernel with initrd support shipped by my Linux
    distribution vendor. Fine till now.

    OS installation is done.. The kernel image, the initrd image etc are all
    stored on the disk.
    Now the boot loader loads and then loads the kernel image along with the
    initrd image.

    So, Is the boot-loader so smart and powerful (much more that the kernel) that
    it reads data from the disk without knowing the type of disk and the
    filesystem type ? I mean the kernel requires modules to be loaded to detect
    the type of disk (scsi or ide) , type of filesystem etc.. The boot-loader
    doesn't require anything ? Amazing.

    If yes, the boot-loader is smart enough. Why not use it's master-piece code
    into the kernel ? :-)

    If no, What have I missed to RTFM ? Any good docs ?

    rrs
    - - --
    Ritesh Raj Sarraf
    RESEARCHUT -- http://www.researchut.com
    Gnupg Key ID: 04F130BC
    "Stealing logic from one person is plagiarism, stealing from many is
    research".
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