[PATCH 1/4 -mm] kexec based hibernation -v7 : kexec jump

[Rafael J. Wysocki]

On Sunday, 9 of December 2007, Pavel Machek wrote:
> Hi!
> 
> > This patch implements the functionality of jumping between the kexeced
> > kernel and the original kernel.
> > 
> > To support jumping between two kernels, before jumping to (executing)
> > the new kernel and jumping back to the original kernel, the devices
> > are put into quiescent state, and the state of devices and CPU is
> > saved. After jumping back from kexeced kernel and jumping to the new
> > kernel, the state of devices and CPU are restored accordingly. The
> > devices/CPU state save/restore code of software suspend is called to
> > implement corresponding function.
> > 
> > To support jumping without reserving memory. One shadow backup page
> > (source page) is allocated for each page used by new (kexeced) kernel
> > (destination page). When do kexec_load, the image of new kernel is
> > loaded into source pages, and before executing, the destination pages
> > and the source pages are swapped, so the contents of destination pages
> > are backupped. Before jumping to the new (kexeced) kernel and after
> > jumping back to the original kernel, the destination pages and the
> > source pages are swapped too.
> > 
> > A jump back protocol for kexec is defined and documented. It is an
> > extension to ordinary function calling protocol. So, the facility
> > provided by this patch can be used to call ordinary C function in real
> > mode.
> > 
> > A set of flags for sys_kexec_load are added to control which state are
> > saved/restored before/after real mode code executing. For example, you
> > can specify the device state and FPU state are saved/restored
> > before/after real mode code executing.
> > 
> > The states (exclude CPU state) save/restore code can be overridden
> > based on the "command" parameter of kexec jump. Because more states
> > need to be saved/restored by hibernating/resuming.
> > 
> > Signed-off-by: Huang Ying <ying.huang at intel.com>
> 
> I'm not kexec hacker... but maybe this is in good enough state to be
> merged? It is useful on its own: kexec jump and back means we can dump
> system then continue running, for example...

As far as I'm concerned, patches [1/4] and [2/4] can go.

The other two are not in that shape yet (especially the [3/4] patch).

Greetings,
Rafael