linux-kernel - [PATCH v2 2/2] docs: powerpc: Add ELF note documentation

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Date:   Thu, 29 Aug 2019 12:50:21 -0300
From:   "Maxiwell S. Garcia" <maxiwell@...ux.ibm.com>
To:     linuxppc-dev@...abs.org
Cc:     kvm-ppc@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-arch@...r.kernel.org, paulus@...abs.org, mpe@...erman.id.au,
        andmike@...ux.ibm.com, linuxram@...ibm.com, bauerman@...ux.ibm.com,
        cclaudio@...ux.ibm.com,
        "Maxiwell S. Garcia" <maxiwell@...ux.ibm.com>
Subject: [PATCH v2 2/2] docs: powerpc: Add ELF note documentation

The ELF note documentation describes the types and descriptors to be
used with the PowerPC namespace.

Signed-off-by: Maxiwell S. Garcia <maxiwell@...ux.ibm.com>
Signed-off-by: Claudio Carvalho <cclaudio@...ux.ibm.com>
---
 Documentation/powerpc/elfnote.rst | 42 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 42 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 Documentation/powerpc/elfnote.rst

diff --git a/Documentation/powerpc/elfnote.rst b/Documentation/powerpc/elfnote.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2a5c4beeb809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/powerpc/elfnote.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+==========================
+ELF Note PowerPC Namespace
+==========================
+
+The PowerPC namespace in an ELF Note of the kernel binary is used to store
+capabilities and information which can be used by a bootloader or userland.
+
+Types and Descriptors
+---------------------
+
+The types to be used with the "PowerPC" namesapce are defined in the
+include/uapi/asm/elfnote.h
+
+	1) PPC_ELFNOTE_CAPABILITIES
+
+Define the capabilities supported/required by the kernel. This type uses a
+bitmap as "descriptor" field. Each bit is described below:
+
+- Ultravisor-capable bit (PowerNV only).
+
+	#define PPCCAP_ULTRAVISOR_BIT (1 << 0)
+
+	Indicate that the powerpc kernel binary knows how to run in an
+	ultravisor-enabled system.
+
+	In an ultravisor-enabled system, some machine resources are now controlled
+	by the ultravisor. If the kernel is not ultravisor-capable, but it ends up
+	being run on a machine with ultravisor, the kernel will probably crash
+	trying to access ultravisor resources. For instance, it may crash in early
+	boot trying to set the partition table entry 0.
+
+	In an ultravisor-enabled system, a bootloader could warn the user or prevent
+   	the kernel from being run if the PowerPC ultravisor capability doesn't exist
+	or the Ultravisor-capable bit is not set.
+
+References
+----------
+
+arch/powerpc/include/asm/elfnote.h
+arch/powerpc/kernel/note.S
+
+
-- 
2.20.1