Linux Kernel Configuration

ONIE provides an environment in which a network operating system (NOS) installer can run. As such, the kernel must provide features and services useful for an installer. This places a number of requirements on the Linux kernel configuration.

Every platform must add platform support to the Linux kernel. What needs to be added exactly depends on the specific platform and CPU architecture.

For CPU architecture specific details see these sections:

• U-Boot Platform Linux Kernel and Device Tree Source

• x86 Linux Kernel and Integration

Generic Kernel Configuration

In addition to the platform-specific kernel code, ONIE requires a number of other configuration options to support an effective installation environment.

• Kernel features

  • Kexec – allows an installer to kexec(8) into its own kernel

• Networking

  • Driver for the Ethernet management interface

  • IPv4

  • IPv6

• File systems

  • vfat, which allows for installation from USB memory sticks

  • ext2, ext3, ext4

  • jffs2

  • squashfs

  • nfs

• Hardware support

  • PCIe

  • i2c EEPROMs

  • USB storage devices

  • SDHC

  • SATA