linux-insides/Booting/README.md

Kernel Boot Process

This chapter describes the linux kernel boot process. Here you will see a series of posts which describes the full cycle of the kernel loading process:

• From the bootloader to kernel - describes all stages from turning on the computer to running the first instruction of the kernel.
• First steps in the kernel setup code - describes first steps in the kernel setup code. You will see heap initialization, query of different parameters like EDD, IST and etc...
• Video mode initialization and transition to protected mode - describes video mode initialization in the kernel setup code and transition to protected mode.
• Transition to 64-bit mode - describes preparation for transition into 64-bit mode and details of transition.
• Kernel Decompression - describes preparation before kernel decompression and details of direct decompression.
• Kernel load address randomization - describes randomization of the Linux kernel load address.

This chapter coincides with Linux kernel v4.17.