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Root/branches/azimutz/Chazi/doc-azi/Modules.txt

1The possible info at the moment:
2
3Installation:
4 - get the source, compile; find modules at /sym/i386, with .dylib file extension.
5
6 - copy the .dylib files to a Modules folder created on your favorite Extra folder.
7
8 - update boot file or reinstall the booter completely in case it's too old;
9"old" in RC5 world means before rev 168 (atm).
10
11How to use?
12 - Check if a key is needed to activate the module you pretend to use.
13Modules are loaded at startup, before the Gui loads, providing they are located in
14the right place (check Issues below).
15
16---------------//---------------//---------------
17
18What are modules?
19 - good question! Well, can't add much on the "geek" side... need to study the stuff so
20i don't start dumping bs. The easy answer is they are like plugins, adding/replacing
21booter functionality. For instance: the Kernel Patcher (Kptchr) is around for some time,
22integrated on boot file like any other Chameleon function; with Modules support Kptchr
23can now live as a module, freeing the space it occupied on boot file
24(one of module's advantages).
25The booter will still perform as usual if a module fails to load.
26
27Featured modules:
28 - Symbols.dylib: first and always loaded. No key is foreseen for this module.
29No other module will work if this one fails to load.
30
31 - KernelPatcher.dylib:
32- "will" need PatchKernel=y to be enabled.
33 Note:*** this is still under consideration/testing so, for now the patcher is enabled by default***
34
35- features cpuid_set, commpage_stuff and lapic_init patches (atm).
36
37- as it is, Kptchr allows my Pentium D 925 to boot vanilla kernel, with the help of
38 -legacy flag; to enter x86_64 world i still need to patch the kernel, as the 925 has
39 no Supplemental SSE3 instructions. I assume that, the great majority of the
40 legacy/unsupported processors with at least SSE3 instructions,
41 will benefit of the same treatment!
42 Let's just say that the only patch needed by the 925 on Legacy Mode(*) is cpuid_set!
43
44- HelloWorld.dylib: just a notifier, i guess :P
45
46
47(*) For those who "missed" the lesson, Legacy Mode is the mode 32 bit only cpu's run on OS X.
48
49---------------//---------------//---------------
50
51Issues:
52 - modules may fail to load, if you have the booter on a separate device/partition and try
53to load modules from selected volume. Confirmed on MBR/boot0hfs install only.
54
55 - the Kernel Patcher can stop working due to changes on the kernel code, though that can be
56"previewed" to some extent. Just so you know what to expect.
57
58 - this is work in progress; i will add updates as Meklort commits and only if they are in
59functional state.
60
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62
63
64Smith@@'s news :D
65
66 « Sent to: Azimutz on: Fri 03/09/2010 at 05:55:08 »
67
68 "Hi azi, i've try last chazi with modules, it works like a charm ;)"
69
70-------/-/-------
71
72 Grazie Amico - Azi
73
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75
76 Huge thanks fly out to Meklort for this precious work!
77
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79
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81
82Azimutz
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