Building 4.4BSD Kernels with Config

Samuel J. Leffler and Michael J. Karels

Computer Systems Research Group
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California 94720

ABSTRACT

      This document describes the use of config(8) to configure and create bootable 4.4BSD system images. It discusses the structure of system configuration files and how to configure systems with non-standard hardware configurations. Sections describing the preferred way to add new code to the system and how the system's autoconfiguration process operates are included. An appendix contains a summary of the rules used by the system in calculating the size of system data structures, and also indicates some of the standard system size limitations (and how to change them). Other configuration options are also listed.

Revised July 5, 1993

Table of Contents

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• 2. CONFIGURATION FILE CONTENTS
  • 2.1. Machine type
  • 2.2. Cpu type
  • 2.3. System identification
  • 2.4. Timezone
  • 2.5. Maximum number of users
  • 2.6. Root file system location
  • 2.7. Hardware devices
  • 2.8. Pseudo devices
  • 2.9. System options
• 3. SYSTEM BUILDING PROCESS
  • 3.1. Creating a configuration file
  • 3.2. Constructing source code dependencies
  • 3.3. Building the system
  • 3.4. Sharing object modules
  • 3.5. Building profiled systems
• 4. CONFIGURATION FILE SYNTAX
  • 4.1. Global configuration parameters
  • 4.2. System image parameters
  • 4.3. Device specifications
  • 4.4. Pseudo-devices
• 5. SAMPLE CONFIGURATION FILES
  • 5.1. VAX-11/780 System
  • 5.2. VAX-11/750 with network support
  • 5.3. Miscellaneous comments
• 6. ADDING NEW SYSTEM SOFTWARE
  • 6.1. Modifying system code
  • 6.2. Adding non-standard system facilities
  • 6.3. Adding device drivers to 4.4BSD
• Footnotes