chris lee wrote:
>if windows can boot multiple OS kernels on the same system at the same
>time (NT Loader) and so can linux whats to stop someone from making a
>co-op bootloader to run both linux and windows on the same system at
>the same time?
>
Unfortunately, this isn't how it works.
A bootloader is nothing more than a piece of code that loads another
piece of code, usually off of some media or another.
PC bloatloaders know how to "bootstrap" from BIOS boot and legacy x86
real mode from the Master Boot Record (MBR) on your harddrive, loading
code (namely the Linux kernel or Microsoft's HAL microkernel) that
allows the CPU to go into protected mode and actually start to function.
That is all they do. They are glorified program loaders.
Bootstrapping is how a computer "boots" after turning itself on, through
to when the OS is loaded and the system is usable.
Running to Operating Systems simultaneously requires a hardware/CPU
Virtualizer.
You need something like:
A host based CPU Virtualizer (Ring 0 shim):
- VMWare
- Virtual PC (for Windows)
- Plex86
- coLinux
A Microkernel based virtualizer
- Xen, etc.
A CPU emulator
- QEMU
- Bochs
- VirtualPC (for Mac)
etc, etc.
Hope this helps.
- Ian C. Blenke <icblenke@nks.net> (813)594-0054
Networked Knowledge Systems - Director of Service Delivery
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