http_support_for_PXE [FreeBSD WIKI]

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===== http support for PXE =====

==== Abstract ====
Main purpose  of this project - to write extendable (as much  as possible - C) code wrappers to provided by PXE and UNDI APIs to support downloading of files via TCP-based protocols in preboot environment. Goal - to introduce  code, able to download and prepare booting of %%FreeBSD%% kernel from remote server via direct connection or http proxy.

==== Current tasks ====
  * Test behaviour of code with different parameters on different real machines.
  * Think about ipv6
  * Solve problem with loading of not compressed modules.
  * Add ability to parse directory listings
  * Update documentation.
  * Update assembler source, test more ISR correct working.
  * add Telnet client.
  * make PXE sockets API more similar to common sockets.

==== Subprojects ====

=== Hello PXE! ===
First project to test loading of user image, getting all usefull information and showing it.
Use BTX and libstand.

state: completed

=== memory allocation ===
Used for memory managment to provide memory allocation for downloaded files and send/receive buffers.
BTX memory allocation functions are used, pxe_mem module just a wrapper for them now.

state: to remove from project (reason - unnecessary module).

=== ip implementation ===
IP packet routing/sending.
Includes ICMP protocol for general testing of ip code (provides pxe_ping() function).
ARP resoltion of media addresses.

state: IPv4, ICMP echo ready. Need to update routing functions.

=== tcp implementation ===
Simple tcp implementation.
Includes handshaking, transmitting data and disconnecting.

state: completed, needs more testing and optimizing.

=== udp implementation ===
UDP supported on level of sockets and lower. Currently is used by DHCP/DNS/NFS.

state: completed.

=== minimalistic sockets ===
Provides flexible interface for usage in higher level applications (DNS, DHCP and http-client)
Similar to berkley sockets behaviour and function naming.
Client side functions socket(), connect(), send(), recv(), close() are planned to implement now.
Also added pxe_bind() and pxe_sendto() for DHCP and DNS clients.

state: completed, needs refactoring to be more similar to common sockets, testing.

=== DHCP client ===
There is own module to get information via DHCP from remote server.
Added functionality to use bootp() from libstand for same purposes.

state: completed.

=== DNS client ===
This client provides domain resolution, using pxe_gethostbyname() function.

state: completed, needs support for IPv6 and currently not supported resource records for it.

=== http-client ===
This is practically last stage of project.
Works with keep-alive connections (not keep-alive also supported, but not used now).

state: completed, both keep-alive and not keep-alive able servers supported.

=== kernel booting ===
Provide parameters to kernel and booting it.
httpfs filesystem implemented as filesystem for pxe device to load from.

state: base functionality works. Need to add directory listings and solve problem with not compressed modules.

=== telnet support module ===
Provides simplified telnet client from loader's console.

state: developing.

==== GSoC Timeline ====
  * **Prestage** (till the 25th of May): general PXE issues (calling UNDI functions, installing isr, irq handler), ICMP support (echo/reply)
  * **1st stage** (till the 30th of Juny, 1 month): TCP code, sockets, UDP support, DNS client.
  * **2nd stage** (1-14th of July, 2 weeks): http client and kernel booting.
  * **3rd stage** (the 15-31th of July, 2 weeeks): final testing.
  * 2 weeks - reserved.

==== Goals ====
  * simple PXE program loaded, DHCP, TFTP, http-server setuped. All is ready to begin coding and testing.
  * ICMP protocol (echo request/reply) implemented. Simple IP routing implemented.
  * first primitive and ugly implementation of sockets for UDP and simple DNS resolver (A and CNAME records supported) on it's base.
  * gateway/nameserver information is getting by DHCP client.
  * implementation of TCP module, that works in most cases as expected to work TCP.
  * http client written and tested. On base of it httpfs module created. It's possible to load (not boot) kernel and modules manually from BTX console.
  * booted kernel on emulators and finally on real machine till stage of mounting root file system.
  * booted kernel with RAM drive both in LAN and in Internet. Tested on Apache and nginx remote http-servers.
  * tested successful work of NFS loader with provided by pxe_http udpread()/udpsend() functions.
  * wrote overview documentation.

==== References ====
  * [[http://perforce.freebsd.org/depotTreeBrowser.cgi?FSPC=//depot/projects/soc2007/taleks%2dpxe%5fhttp&HIDEDEL=NO|pxe_http repository]] - this project repository.
  * [[http://blog.d-strict.com/pxeboot.tar.bz2|pxeboot.tar.bz2]](108 Kb) - latest test binary for this project
  * [[http://www.sics.se/~adam/uip/|uIP]] - The open-source uIP TCP/IP stack to tiny embedded 8-bit microcontrollers
  * [[http://syslinux.zytor.com/|Syslinux]] - includes pxelinux code.
  * [[http://www.pix.net/software/pxeboot/archive/pxespec.pdf|PXE 2.1 specifcication]] - Intel PXE 2.1 specification
  * [[http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/download.aspx?url=/11444/eng/PXESDK.exe&DwnldId=11444&ProductID=412&lang=eng|PXE SDK]] - Intel PXE SDK
  * [[http://www.etherboot.org/wiki/index.php|Etherboot/gPXE]] - project, related to network booting.

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