"Hot" Booting

SMurf7 · 09-05-2005, 12:39 PM

Hello,

Here's a hypothetical question:- Do you think it is possible to be able to shutdown Linux and then load another operating system (for example Windows) WITHOUT rebooting?

I know this may cause problems with hardware not reacting properly to the situation, but I'm just wondering. Maybe this has already been done and I simply don't know the correct term.

macemoneta · 09-05-2005, 12:54 PM

You can do this (with Linux) using the kexec functionality in the 2.6.13 kernel

The Windows issue will soon be avoidable (run Windows as a near-native performing guest - 3% overhead) with Xen on newer CPUs

Ashrack · 11-01-2006, 09:23 AM

Is it now possible to load Windows thru KEXEC when in LINUX?

pixellany · 11-01-2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashrack

Is it now possible to load Windows thru KEXEC when in LINUX?

This thread is over a year old, so don't necessarily expect to hear from the original people. A quick glance at the link for kexec says that is is for booting into a different kernel--not a whole different OS.
I would think that something like Xen or VMware would be the better choice if you don't like waiting for reboots.

Ashrack · 11-01-2006, 02:00 PM

Yes, but Windows also has a kernel. And as I was reading some of the documentation about KEXEC it should support Windows also if not now in the future.

pixellany · 11-01-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashrack

Yes, but Windows also has a kernel. And as I was reading some of the documentation about KEXEC it should support Windows also if not now in the future.

You already know WAY more than I do....
I have sometimes wondered what it would take to have 2 OSes running side-by-side (presumably in completely different regions of RAM) and just switch from one to another with a magic key. This is step beyond what the VM programs do.