docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------ docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++ include/system/system.h | 1 - hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +-------------------------------- system/globals.c | 1 - system/vl.c | 4 -- qemu-options.hx | 7 --- 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-)
We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0
release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to
boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the
'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board
types which have all now been removed from QEMU.
Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org>
---
docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------
docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++
include/system/system.h | 1 -
hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +--------------------------------
system/globals.c | 1 -
system/vl.c | 4 --
qemu-options.hx | 7 ---
7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-)
diff --git a/docs/about/deprecated.rst b/docs/about/deprecated.rst
index d50645a0711..58bce715f9c 100644
--- a/docs/about/deprecated.rst
+++ b/docs/about/deprecated.rst
@@ -68,19 +68,6 @@ configurations (e.g. -smp drawers=1,books=1,clusters=1 for x86 PC machine) is
marked deprecated since 9.0, users have to ensure that all the topology members
described with -smp are supported by the target machine.
-``-old-param`` option for booting Arm kernels via param_struct (since 10.0)
-'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
-
-The ``-old-param`` command line option is specific to Arm targets:
-it is used when directly booting a guest kernel to pass it the
-command line and other information via the old ``param_struct`` ABI,
-rather than the newer ATAGS or DTB mechanisms. This option was only
-ever needed to support ancient kernels on some old board types
-like the ``akita`` or ``terrier``; it has been deprecated in the
-kernel since 2001. None of the board types QEMU supports need
-``param_struct`` support, so this option has been deprecated and will
-be removed in a future QEMU version.
-
User-mode emulator command line arguments
-----------------------------------------
diff --git a/docs/about/removed-features.rst b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
index d7c2113fc3e..b1b3d1b1b3f 100644
--- a/docs/about/removed-features.rst
+++ b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
@@ -560,6 +560,18 @@ the options along with the machine models they were intended for.
Use ``-run-with user=..`` instead.
+``-old-param`` option for booting Arm kernels via param_struct (since 10.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``-old-param`` command line option was specific to Arm targets:
+it was used when directly booting a guest kernel to pass it the
+command line and other information via the old ``param_struct`` ABI,
+rather than the newer ATAGS or DTB mechanisms. This option was only
+ever needed to support ancient kernels on some old board types
+like the ``akita`` or ``terrier``; it has been deprecated in the
+kernel since 2001. None of the board types QEMU supports need
+``param_struct`` support, so this option has been removed.
+
User-mode emulator command line arguments
-----------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/system/system.h b/include/system/system.h
index a7effe7dfd8..03a2d0e9005 100644
--- a/include/system/system.h
+++ b/include/system/system.h
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ extern int graphic_height;
extern int graphic_depth;
extern int display_opengl;
extern const char *keyboard_layout;
-extern int old_param;
extern uint8_t *boot_splash_filedata;
extern bool enable_cpu_pm;
extern QEMUClockType rtc_clock;
diff --git a/hw/arm/boot.c b/hw/arm/boot.c
index d391cd01bb1..525b31e1659 100644
--- a/hw/arm/boot.c
+++ b/hw/arm/boot.c
@@ -336,81 +336,6 @@ static void set_kernel_args(const struct arm_boot_info *info, AddressSpace *as)
WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
}
-static void set_kernel_args_old(const struct arm_boot_info *info,
- AddressSpace *as)
-{
- hwaddr p;
- const char *s;
- int initrd_size = info->initrd_size;
- hwaddr base = info->loader_start;
-
- /* see linux/include/asm-arm/setup.h */
- p = base + KERNEL_ARGS_ADDR;
- /* page_size */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 4096);
- /* nr_pages */
- WRITE_WORD(p, info->ram_size / 4096);
- /* ramdisk_size */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
-#define FLAG_READONLY 1
-#define FLAG_RDLOAD 4
-#define FLAG_RDPROMPT 8
- /* flags */
- WRITE_WORD(p, FLAG_READONLY | FLAG_RDLOAD | FLAG_RDPROMPT);
- /* rootdev */
- WRITE_WORD(p, (31 << 8) | 0); /* /dev/mtdblock0 */
- /* video_num_cols */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* video_num_rows */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* video_x */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* video_y */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* memc_control_reg */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* unsigned char sounddefault */
- /* unsigned char adfsdrives */
- /* unsigned char bytes_per_char_h */
- /* unsigned char bytes_per_char_v */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* pages_in_bank[4] */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* pages_in_vram */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* initrd_start */
- if (initrd_size) {
- WRITE_WORD(p, info->initrd_start);
- } else {
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- }
- /* initrd_size */
- WRITE_WORD(p, initrd_size);
- /* rd_start */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* system_rev */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* system_serial_low */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* system_serial_high */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* mem_fclk_21285 */
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- /* zero unused fields */
- while (p < base + KERNEL_ARGS_ADDR + 256 + 1024) {
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- }
- s = info->kernel_cmdline;
- if (s) {
- address_space_write(as, p, MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED, s, strlen(s) + 1);
- } else {
- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
- }
-}
-
static int fdt_add_memory_node(void *fdt, uint32_t acells, hwaddr mem_base,
uint32_t scells, hwaddr mem_len,
int numa_node_id)
@@ -760,11 +685,7 @@ static void do_cpu_reset(void *opaque)
cpu_set_pc(cs, info->loader_start);
if (!have_dtb(info)) {
- if (old_param) {
- set_kernel_args_old(info, as);
- } else {
- set_kernel_args(info, as);
- }
+ set_kernel_args(info, as);
}
} else if (info->secondary_cpu_reset_hook) {
info->secondary_cpu_reset_hook(cpu, info);
diff --git a/system/globals.c b/system/globals.c
index 9640c9511e9..98f9876d5d4 100644
--- a/system/globals.c
+++ b/system/globals.c
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ bool vga_interface_created;
Chardev *parallel_hds[MAX_PARALLEL_PORTS];
QEMUOptionRom option_rom[MAX_OPTION_ROMS];
int nb_option_roms;
-int old_param;
const char *qemu_name;
unsigned int nb_prom_envs;
const char *prom_envs[MAX_PROM_ENVS];
diff --git a/system/vl.c b/system/vl.c
index 3b7057e6c66..00f36947257 100644
--- a/system/vl.c
+++ b/system/vl.c
@@ -3524,10 +3524,6 @@ void qemu_init(int argc, char **argv)
prom_envs[nb_prom_envs] = optarg;
nb_prom_envs++;
break;
- case QEMU_OPTION_old_param:
- warn_report("-old-param is deprecated");
- old_param = 1;
- break;
case QEMU_OPTION_rtc:
opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(qemu_find_opts("rtc"), optarg,
false);
diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
index ab23f14d217..aa44b0e34ae 100644
--- a/qemu-options.hx
+++ b/qemu-options.hx
@@ -5347,13 +5347,6 @@ SRST
specified, the former is passed to semihosting as it always
takes precedence.
ERST
-DEF("old-param", 0, QEMU_OPTION_old_param,
- "-old-param old param mode\n", QEMU_ARCH_ARM)
-SRST
-``-old-param``
- Old param mode (ARM only).
-ERST
-
DEF("sandbox", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_sandbox, \
"-sandbox on[,obsolete=allow|deny][,elevateprivileges=allow|deny|children]\n" \
" [,spawn=allow|deny][,resourcecontrol=allow|deny]\n" \
--
2.43.0On 28/8/25 18:27, Peter Maydell wrote: > We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0 > release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to > boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the > 'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board > types which have all now been removed from QEMU. > > Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org> > --- > docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------ > docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++ > include/system/system.h | 1 - > hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +-------------------------------- > system/globals.c | 1 - > system/vl.c | 4 -- > qemu-options.hx | 7 --- > 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-) FYI this patch doesn't apply anymore.
On Tue, 2 Sept 2025 at 11:54, Philippe Mathieu-Daudé <philmd@linaro.org> wrote:
>
> On 28/8/25 18:27, Peter Maydell wrote:
> > We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0
> > release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to
> > boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the
> > 'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board
> > types which have all now been removed from QEMU.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org>
> > ---
> > docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------
> > docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++
> > include/system/system.h | 1 -
> > hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +--------------------------------
> > system/globals.c | 1 -
> > system/vl.c | 4 --
> > qemu-options.hx | 7 ---
> > 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-)
>
> FYI this patch doesn't apply anymore.
I think I wrote it on top of
https://patchwork.ozlabs.org/project/qemu-devel/patch/20250828162012.3307647-1-peter.maydell@linaro.org/
("linux-user: Drop deprecated -p option") -- the conflict
is only in the deprecated-features.rst docs. I'll fix this
up when I apply it to target-arm.next if the linux-user
patch hasn't hit upstream first.
-- PMM
On 28/8/25 18:27, Peter Maydell wrote: > We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0 > release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to > boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the > 'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board > types which have all now been removed from QEMU. > > Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org> > --- > docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------ > docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++ > include/system/system.h | 1 - > hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +-------------------------------- > system/globals.c | 1 - > system/vl.c | 4 -- > qemu-options.hx | 7 --- > 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-) > diff --git a/docs/about/removed-features.rst b/docs/about/removed-features.rst > index d7c2113fc3e..b1b3d1b1b3f 100644 > --- a/docs/about/removed-features.rst > +++ b/docs/about/removed-features.rst > @@ -560,6 +560,18 @@ the options along with the machine models they were intended for. > > Use ``-run-with user=..`` instead. > > +``-old-param`` option for booting Arm kernels via param_struct (since 10.0) s/since 10.0/removed in 10.2/ > +''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' > + > +The ``-old-param`` command line option was specific to Arm targets: > +it was used when directly booting a guest kernel to pass it the > +command line and other information via the old ``param_struct`` ABI, > +rather than the newer ATAGS or DTB mechanisms. This option was only > +ever needed to support ancient kernels on some old board types > +like the ``akita`` or ``terrier``; it has been deprecated in the > +kernel since 2001. None of the board types QEMU supports need > +``param_struct`` support, so this option has been removed. Reviewed-by: Philippe Mathieu-Daudé <philmd@linaro.org>
On 8/29/25 02:27, Peter Maydell wrote: > We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0 > release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to > boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the > 'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board > types which have all now been removed from QEMU. > > Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell<peter.maydell@linaro.org> > --- > docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------ > docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++ > include/system/system.h | 1 - > hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +-------------------------------- > system/globals.c | 1 - > system/vl.c | 4 -- > qemu-options.hx | 7 --- > 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-) Reviewed-by: Richard Henderson <richard.henderson@linaro.org> r~
On Thu, 28 Aug 2025 19:27, Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org> wrote:
>We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0
>release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to
>boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the
>'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board
>types which have all now been removed from QEMU.
>
>Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org>
>---
Reviewed-by: Manos Pitsidianakis <manos.pitsidianakis@linaro.org>
> docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------
> docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++
> include/system/system.h | 1 -
> hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +--------------------------------
> system/globals.c | 1 -
> system/vl.c | 4 --
> qemu-options.hx | 7 ---
> 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-)
>
>diff --git a/docs/about/deprecated.rst b/docs/about/deprecated.rst
>index d50645a0711..58bce715f9c 100644
>--- a/docs/about/deprecated.rst
>+++ b/docs/about/deprecated.rst
>@@ -68,19 +68,6 @@ configurations (e.g. -smp drawers=1,books=1,clusters=1 for x86 PC machine) is
> marked deprecated since 9.0, users have to ensure that all the topology members
> described with -smp are supported by the target machine.
>
>-``-old-param`` option for booting Arm kernels via param_struct (since 10.0)
>-'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
>-
>-The ``-old-param`` command line option is specific to Arm targets:
>-it is used when directly booting a guest kernel to pass it the
>-command line and other information via the old ``param_struct`` ABI,
>-rather than the newer ATAGS or DTB mechanisms. This option was only
>-ever needed to support ancient kernels on some old board types
>-like the ``akita`` or ``terrier``; it has been deprecated in the
>-kernel since 2001. None of the board types QEMU supports need
>-``param_struct`` support, so this option has been deprecated and will
>-be removed in a future QEMU version.
>-
> User-mode emulator command line arguments
> -----------------------------------------
>
>diff --git a/docs/about/removed-features.rst b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
>index d7c2113fc3e..b1b3d1b1b3f 100644
>--- a/docs/about/removed-features.rst
>+++ b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
>@@ -560,6 +560,18 @@ the options along with the machine models they were intended for.
>
> Use ``-run-with user=..`` instead.
>
>+``-old-param`` option for booting Arm kernels via param_struct (since 10.0)
>+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
>+
>+The ``-old-param`` command line option was specific to Arm targets:
>+it was used when directly booting a guest kernel to pass it the
>+command line and other information via the old ``param_struct`` ABI,
>+rather than the newer ATAGS or DTB mechanisms. This option was only
>+ever needed to support ancient kernels on some old board types
>+like the ``akita`` or ``terrier``; it has been deprecated in the
>+kernel since 2001. None of the board types QEMU supports need
>+``param_struct`` support, so this option has been removed.
>+
>
> User-mode emulator command line arguments
> -----------------------------------------
>diff --git a/include/system/system.h b/include/system/system.h
>index a7effe7dfd8..03a2d0e9005 100644
>--- a/include/system/system.h
>+++ b/include/system/system.h
>@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ extern int graphic_height;
> extern int graphic_depth;
> extern int display_opengl;
> extern const char *keyboard_layout;
>-extern int old_param;
> extern uint8_t *boot_splash_filedata;
> extern bool enable_cpu_pm;
> extern QEMUClockType rtc_clock;
>diff --git a/hw/arm/boot.c b/hw/arm/boot.c
>index d391cd01bb1..525b31e1659 100644
>--- a/hw/arm/boot.c
>+++ b/hw/arm/boot.c
>@@ -336,81 +336,6 @@ static void set_kernel_args(const struct arm_boot_info *info, AddressSpace *as)
> WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
> }
>
>-static void set_kernel_args_old(const struct arm_boot_info *info,
>- AddressSpace *as)
>-{
>- hwaddr p;
>- const char *s;
>- int initrd_size = info->initrd_size;
>- hwaddr base = info->loader_start;
>-
>- /* see linux/include/asm-arm/setup.h */
>- p = base + KERNEL_ARGS_ADDR;
>- /* page_size */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 4096);
>- /* nr_pages */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, info->ram_size / 4096);
>- /* ramdisk_size */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>-#define FLAG_READONLY 1
>-#define FLAG_RDLOAD 4
>-#define FLAG_RDPROMPT 8
>- /* flags */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, FLAG_READONLY | FLAG_RDLOAD | FLAG_RDPROMPT);
>- /* rootdev */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, (31 << 8) | 0); /* /dev/mtdblock0 */
>- /* video_num_cols */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* video_num_rows */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* video_x */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* video_y */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* memc_control_reg */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* unsigned char sounddefault */
>- /* unsigned char adfsdrives */
>- /* unsigned char bytes_per_char_h */
>- /* unsigned char bytes_per_char_v */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* pages_in_bank[4] */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* pages_in_vram */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* initrd_start */
>- if (initrd_size) {
>- WRITE_WORD(p, info->initrd_start);
>- } else {
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- }
>- /* initrd_size */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, initrd_size);
>- /* rd_start */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* system_rev */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* system_serial_low */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* system_serial_high */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* mem_fclk_21285 */
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- /* zero unused fields */
>- while (p < base + KERNEL_ARGS_ADDR + 256 + 1024) {
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- }
>- s = info->kernel_cmdline;
>- if (s) {
>- address_space_write(as, p, MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED, s, strlen(s) + 1);
>- } else {
>- WRITE_WORD(p, 0);
>- }
>-}
>-
> static int fdt_add_memory_node(void *fdt, uint32_t acells, hwaddr mem_base,
> uint32_t scells, hwaddr mem_len,
> int numa_node_id)
>@@ -760,11 +685,7 @@ static void do_cpu_reset(void *opaque)
> cpu_set_pc(cs, info->loader_start);
>
> if (!have_dtb(info)) {
>- if (old_param) {
>- set_kernel_args_old(info, as);
>- } else {
>- set_kernel_args(info, as);
>- }
>+ set_kernel_args(info, as);
> }
> } else if (info->secondary_cpu_reset_hook) {
> info->secondary_cpu_reset_hook(cpu, info);
>diff --git a/system/globals.c b/system/globals.c
>index 9640c9511e9..98f9876d5d4 100644
>--- a/system/globals.c
>+++ b/system/globals.c
>@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ bool vga_interface_created;
> Chardev *parallel_hds[MAX_PARALLEL_PORTS];
> QEMUOptionRom option_rom[MAX_OPTION_ROMS];
> int nb_option_roms;
>-int old_param;
> const char *qemu_name;
> unsigned int nb_prom_envs;
> const char *prom_envs[MAX_PROM_ENVS];
>diff --git a/system/vl.c b/system/vl.c
>index 3b7057e6c66..00f36947257 100644
>--- a/system/vl.c
>+++ b/system/vl.c
>@@ -3524,10 +3524,6 @@ void qemu_init(int argc, char **argv)
> prom_envs[nb_prom_envs] = optarg;
> nb_prom_envs++;
> break;
>- case QEMU_OPTION_old_param:
>- warn_report("-old-param is deprecated");
>- old_param = 1;
>- break;
> case QEMU_OPTION_rtc:
> opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(qemu_find_opts("rtc"), optarg,
> false);
>diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
>index ab23f14d217..aa44b0e34ae 100644
>--- a/qemu-options.hx
>+++ b/qemu-options.hx
>@@ -5347,13 +5347,6 @@ SRST
> specified, the former is passed to semihosting as it always
> takes precedence.
> ERST
>-DEF("old-param", 0, QEMU_OPTION_old_param,
>- "-old-param old param mode\n", QEMU_ARCH_ARM)
>-SRST
>-``-old-param``
>- Old param mode (ARM only).
>-ERST
>-
> DEF("sandbox", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_sandbox, \
> "-sandbox on[,obsolete=allow|deny][,elevateprivileges=allow|deny|children]\n" \
> " [,spawn=allow|deny][,resourcecontrol=allow|deny]\n" \
>--
>2.43.0
>
>
On 28/08/2025 18.27, Peter Maydell wrote: > We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0 > release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to > boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the > 'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board > types which have all now been removed from QEMU. > > Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org> > --- > docs/about/deprecated.rst | 13 ------ > docs/about/removed-features.rst | 12 +++++ > include/system/system.h | 1 - > hw/arm/boot.c | 81 +-------------------------------- > system/globals.c | 1 - > system/vl.c | 4 -- > qemu-options.hx | 7 --- > 7 files changed, 13 insertions(+), 106 deletions(-) Reviewed-by: Thomas Huth <thuth@redhat.com>
Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org> writes: > We deprecated the command line option -old-param for the 10.0 > release, which allows us to drop it in 10.2. This option was used to > boot Arm targets with a very old boot protocol using the > 'param_struct' ABI. We only ever needed this on a handful of board > types which have all now been removed from QEMU. > > Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org> Reviewed-by: Alex Bennée <alex.bennee@linaro.org> -- Alex Bennée Virtualisation Tech Lead @ Linaro
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