Re: OSKit-Mach's kernel command line

[Roland McGrath]

> With the new boot code, oskit's environment searched for the root variable.
> You have to put a "--" after the "root=", i.e.
> 
> kernel /boot/oskit-mach.gz root=part:1:device:hd0 --
> 
> If you don't do that, the "root=" variable is in the argc and argv
> variables. It's explained in the comments in
> oskit/kern/x86/pc/base_multiboot_init_cmdline.c.

This is arguably a good thing.  Perhaps we should make the canonical example:
 
        kernel /boot/oskit-mach.gz root=part:1:device:hd0 -- autoboot
and/or: kernel /boot/oskit-mach.gz root=part:1:device:hd0 -- single

just to better illustrate the syntax.  What's after -- essentially winds up
as arguments to /libexec/runsystem, which can do whatever it wants with them.

OSKit-aware multiboot loaders such as oskit's netboot will compose the
command line for you using this convention.  e.g., it produces variables
before the -- for the console selection and gdb settings from netboot's own
state, and arguments after -- from the command line given at the netboot
prompt.

Perhaps we should give GRUB a way to do that as well.  e.g., use its
generic console and root directory selection features and have a way
to synthesize a "kernel var=val ... -- args" command line from "boot args".