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Rusty Russellf938d2c2007-07-26 10:41:02 -07001Welcome, friend reader, to lguest.
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3Lguest is an adventure, with you, the reader, as Hero. I can't think of many
45000-line projects which offer both such capability and glimpses of future
5potential; it is an exciting time to be delving into the source!
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7But be warned; this is an arduous journey of several hours or more! And as we
8know, all true Heroes are driven by a Noble Goal. Thus I offer a Beer (or
9equivalent) to anyone I meet who has completed this documentation.
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11So get comfortable and keep your wits about you (both quick and humorous).
12Along your way to the Noble Goal, you will also gain masterly insight into
13lguest, and hypervisors and x86 virtualization in general.
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15Our Quest is in seven parts: (best read with C highlighting turned on)
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17I) Preparation
18 - In which our potential hero is flown quickly over the landscape for a
19 taste of its scope. Suitable for the armchair coders and other such
20 persons of faint constitution.
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22II) Guest
23 - Where we encounter the first tantalising wisps of code, and come to
24 understand the details of the life of a Guest kernel.
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26III) Drivers
27 - Whereby the Guest finds its voice and become useful, and our
28 understanding of the Guest is completed.
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30IV) Launcher
31 - Where we trace back to the creation of the Guest, and thus begin our
32 understanding of the Host.
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34V) Host
35 - Where we master the Host code, through a long and tortuous journey.
36 Indeed, it is here that our hero is tested in the Bit of Despair.
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38VI) Switcher
39 - Where our understanding of the intertwined nature of Guests and Hosts
40 is completed.
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42VII) Mastery
43 - Where our fully fledged hero grapples with the Great Question:
44 "What next?"
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46make Preparation!
47Rusty Russell.