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Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:35:29 +0000
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Subject: Re: A "diskless" Xen dom0 entirely in the ESP
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From: rptb1+alpine@pobox.com
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On 2024-11-11 18:33, Isaac Beckett wrote:
> On Nov 10, 2024, at 8:39 AM, rptb1+alpine@pobox.com wrote:
>> I'm interested in creating an Alpine Xen dom0 that runs entirely from the ESP partition (a.k.a. the EFI partition). ...
> 
> Okay, I’ve seen other folks discuss *how* you could accomplish this (One File Linux looks especially interesting)
> 
> But I’m curious as to *why* you want to do this. And why as a Xen dom0 specifically?

Three reasons:

1. To subvert and virtualize an existing system without modifying it 
(very much).  There are many reasons that might be useful, but I'm 
experimenting with PCI passthrough on a Steam Deck, running SteamOS as a 
domU.  I *could* of course repartition the Steam Deck's SSD and make 
space for a traditional partition, or boot from an external device, but 
then I started thinking what a flexible tool this might be, and how it 
could be handy to have always there on a portable system.

2. To learn in detail about Alpine and its boot process.

3. Because it would be a neat trick.

Unfortunately, there's probably not enough room in the Steam Deck's 
default ESP.

It probably doesn't have broad application.

I might be able to improve some of the documentation on the way through.