CS 503 - Fall 2011

XINU Setup

1. Xinu Configuration

To use Xinu, several environment variables must be set. First log onto one of the front-ends xinu01.cs.purdue,edu, xinu02.cs.purdue.edu, .. up to xinu22.cs.purdue.edu (for remote login, see the information at the end of this document). If you do not have an account on the XINU machines, please send an email to the accounts@cs.purdue.edu alias. If you have any trouble with your account and its setup, please see the department help pages at http://www.cs.purdue.edu/help/. If these pages do not address your particular problem, please use the trouble command from the command line to report your problem.

Setting environment variables for Xinu

    1.  To .bashrc or another appropriate file (in your home directory), add /p/xinu/bin to your path, e.g., by adding the following line:

        export PATH=${PATH}:/p/xinu/bin

    2.  Run  source  .bashrc (or its equivalent) to make the change take effect

Untar the XINU source files as follows:

  1. Change to your home directory, if you are not already in it.

  2. Untar the XINU source by typing the following:

    3. tar    zxvf   /u/u3/503/xinu-fall2011-x86.tar.gz

    In your home directory, you will now have a directory called xinu-fall2011-x86. The subdirectories under this directory contain source code, header files, etc, for XINU.   NOTE: the tar file name may be different from the above depending on the lab you are working on. Please refer to the lab handouts for the location of the tar file for the current lab.
     
     

2. Building XINU

To compile the XINU kernel which will be downloaded and run on the backend machines, run "make" in the compile directory as follows:
  
 cd    xinu-fall2011-x86/compile
 make
This creates an executable file called 'xinu' that runs on the backend machines.

3. Running XINU

The XINU code runs on backend machines. To see which of the backends are available for booting XINU, type:
  
cs-status
This will show you who, if anyone, is logged onto each backend and how long they have been using it. See XINU Backend Status for the list of machines that are known to be working within the last 24 hours. To boot your copy of XINU on a backend, connect to a back-end by issuing the command: 
cs-console [xinu1__]
With no arguments cs-console will connect you to the first available backend (including broken ones). For best results, you should specify a backend by name (xinu101 through xinu148). Now download your copy of XINU by typing: 
(control-@) OR (control-spacebar)     //esc to local command-mode


(command-mode) d    //download command


file: xinu      //tell it to download 'xinu' (this example assumes that you are in the xinu-fall2011-x86/compile directory)


(control-@) OR (control-spacebar)    //esc to local command-mode 

(command-mode) p    //power cycle the backend

After seconds, XINU should boot with a "Hello World, Xinu lives" message.


OPTIONAL STEP:
(control-@) OR (control-spacebar)

(command-mode) p    //power cycle the backend


(control-@) OR (control-spacebar)

(command-mode) q    //quit

NOTE:

1.Please do not leave a running copy of your Xinu on a backend. This will prevent anyone from using that backend and will create problems when more people want the backends.

4. Troubleshooting

  1. Try hard to figure out what's going on by yourself first.
  2. If you always stuck with "Booting XINU on Dell Optiplex .... (xinu...)...", contact TA.

5. Remote Login

  1. Kindly note the use of backends is limited to xinu lab. However the xinu machines can be accessed from other labs using remote login.