[PATCH v4] INSTALL: remove unsupported XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT from documentation

dmukhin@xen.org posted 1 patch 5 days, 10 hours ago
Patches applied successfully (tree, apply log)
git fetch https://gitlab.com/xen-project/patchew/xen tags/patchew/20260120185904.979992-2-dmukhin@ford.com
INSTALL | 19 ++++++-------------
1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)
[PATCH v4] INSTALL: remove unsupported XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT from documentation
Posted by dmukhin@xen.org 5 days, 10 hours ago
From: Denis Mukhin <dmukhin@ford.com> 

Remove XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT explanation and also correct information in
the entire "Xen Hypervisor" section.

Amends: 37339ba9ef46 ("automation: Remove XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT leftovers")
Suggested-by: Stefano Stabellini <sstabellini@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Denis Mukhin <dmukhin@ford.com>
---
Changes since v3:
- text correction suggested by Jan
- Link to v3: https://lore.kernel.org/xen-devel/20260120071654.640873-3-dmukhin@ford.com/
---
 INSTALL | 19 ++++++-------------
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/INSTALL b/INSTALL
index c2e756bf4b2b..fb9efe884fb1 100644
--- a/INSTALL
+++ b/INSTALL
@@ -25,19 +25,12 @@ Xen Hypervisor
 Xen itself is configured via a `kconfig' system borrowed from Linux.
 See https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/v5.4/kbuild/.
 
-Note that unlike with Linux, and contrary to that document, you cannot
-look at Kconfig files, or the default or generated config files etc.,
-to find available configuration options.  This is because it is only
-supported (and security supported) by the Xen Project, to change a
-small subset of the options.  Attempts to change other options will be
-silently overridden.  The only way to find which configuration options
-are available is to run `make menuconfig' or the like.
-
-You can counter-override this behaviour by setting XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT=y
-in your environment.  However, doing this is not supported and the
-resulting configurations do not receive security support.  If you set
-this variable there is nothing stopping you setting dangerously
-experimental combinations of features - not even any warnings.
+Only a subset of options is supported or security-supported by Xen
+Project. You can explore all available options, including unsupported
+ones and those recommended only for expert users, e.g. by using `make
+menuconfig` and enabling `CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED` and/or `CONFIG_EXPERT`.
+However, enabling these options is not supported, and configurations
+resulting from them do not receive security support.
 
 Options recognized by configure
 ===============================
-- 
2.52.0
Re: [PATCH v4] INSTALL: remove unsupported XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT from documentation
Posted by Jan Beulich 4 days, 20 hours ago
On 20.01.2026 19:59, dmukhin@xen.org wrote:
> From: Denis Mukhin <dmukhin@ford.com> 
> 
> Remove XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT explanation and also correct information in
> the entire "Xen Hypervisor" section.
> 
> Amends: 37339ba9ef46 ("automation: Remove XEN_CONFIG_EXPERT leftovers")
> Suggested-by: Stefano Stabellini <sstabellini@kernel.org>
> Signed-off-by: Denis Mukhin <dmukhin@ford.com>
> ---
> Changes since v3:
> - text correction suggested by Jan
> - Link to v3: https://lore.kernel.org/xen-devel/20260120071654.640873-3-dmukhin@ford.com/
> ---
>  INSTALL | 19 ++++++-------------
>  1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

Yet sadly the A-b was now lost. No need to re-submit just for this, though.

Jan