archlinux-s390x/README.md

Arch Linux s390x LPAR Boot Components

This repository contains the necessary files to boot Arch Linux on IBM System z (s390x) LPAR.

Structure

.
├── s390x/
│   └── boot/
│       ├── arch.prm              # Kernel parameters
│       ├── initrd.addrsize       # Memory layout for initrd
│       ├── vmlinuz-linux         # s390x kernel (needs to be added)
│       └── initramfs-linux.img   # s390x initrd (needs to be added)
├── generic.ins                   # IPL configuration file
├── .treeinfo                     # Boot media metadata
└── README.md                     # This file

Boot Files

• generic.ins - IPL configuration file that specifies:

  • Kernel location: s390x/boot/vmlinuz-linux at address 0x00000000
  • Initrd location: s390x/boot/initramfs-linux.img at address 0x02000000
  • Parameter file: s390x/boot/arch.prm
  • Address/size file: s390x/boot/initrd.addrsize

• arch.prm - Kernel boot parameters:

  • Console settings for both serial and virtual terminals
  • Arch ISO base directory and label

• initrd.addrsize - Memory layout:

  • Start address: 0x02000000
  • Maximum size: 0x10000000 (256MB)

• .treeinfo - Boot media metadata for SFTP boot

Todo

1. Build or obtain s390x versions of:
   • Linux kernel compiled for s390x
   • Initramfs with s390x userspace