Normal and rescue mode

[Marco Gerards]

Hi,

After playing with PUPA for a while I got really confused.  I've
noticed that there is a "rescue mode" and a "normal mode".  It is not
clear to me why both modes exist and how modules are loaded into a
mode.

For example the "hello" module is loaded into normal mode, but the
"chainloader" module is loaded into rescue mode.  Can you please
explain me why both modes exist and how to use the modes, etc?

Another problem I encountered was using fatfs.  I made a floppy like
it was explained in the README file (well, I added some extra
modules).

After PUPA was loaded I've started rescue mode and tried to list the
files on a filesystem from there, with no success.  I put a FAT floppy in
the diskdrive and tried to list the files using these commands:

pupa rescue> root (fd0)
(fd0): Filesystem is unknown.
pupa rescue> ls (fd0)/foo
error: unknown filesystem

The root command seems to work (I can both boot from fd0 and hd0 using
root and chainloader).  The weird thing is that the floppy is not even
read (I don't see the LED that indicates that the floppy is read).

Of course I'm willing to have a look at this, but I hope you can tell
me a bit about PUPA (stuff that I need to know before I start
hacking).

GRUB for example has a shell that works in GNU/Linux, that would be
convenient to have for PUPA as well, it makes hacking a lot easier.
Perhaps I have a look at this tonight and if it is easy to write.
Another thing I want to have a look at is ext2fs, can I just copy the
driver from GRUB and change the interfaces so it works on PUPA or do
you want a rewrite?

I hope you understand that I'm not a GRUB or PUPA export and that I'm
not a great hacker, I just find GRUB and PUPA very exciting.  Same is
true for my terminology and my English :).

More stupid  questions will definitely follow.

Thanks,
Marco