Difference between revisions of "PDP-11 Bootstrap Loader"
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| − | The '''PDP-11 Bootstrap Loader''' is a short [[program]] designed to be loaded into the [[main memory]] on a [[PDP-11]] via the [[front panel]]; it is then run to load an initial program into the machine. I.e it is a way of [[bootstrap]]ping a totally empty machine, one with no [[Read-only memory|ROM]]. | + | The '''PDP-11 Bootstrap Loader''' is a short [[program]] designed to be loaded into the [[main memory]] on a [[PDP-11]] via the [[front panel]]; it is then run to load an initial program into the machine. I.e. it is a way of [[bootstrap]]ping a totally empty machine, one with no [[Read-only memory|ROM]]. |
It is designed to be absolutely as short as possible (since it is manually toggled in via the [[switch register]]), and therefore has limitations, including how long a program can be loaded using it, and where in memory that program can be placed. The usual program to load with it is the [[PDP-11 Absolute Loader]], which relaxes both of those limitations. | It is designed to be absolutely as short as possible (since it is manually toggled in via the [[switch register]]), and therefore has limitations, including how long a program can be loaded using it, and where in memory that program can be placed. The usual program to load with it is the [[PDP-11 Absolute Loader]], which relaxes both of those limitations. | ||
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The program starts with the pointer set to itself, so the blank leader at the start of the data for the bootstrap loader (originally contained on [[paper tape]]s) starts with a special leader code which causes this to be left un-changed. | The program starts with the pointer set to itself, so the blank leader at the start of the data for the bootstrap loader (originally contained on [[paper tape]]s) starts with a special leader code which causes this to be left un-changed. | ||
| − | The buffer pointer is then modified to point it slightly before the | + | The buffer pointer is then modified to point it slightly before the bootstrap loader in memory, so at the end of the load the newly loaded code then progressively overlays the first several [[instruction]]s of the bootstrap loader itself, finally patching the buffer pointer to point at the branch instruction, which is then modified to jump to the newly loaded code. |
===Code=== | ===Code=== | ||
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0x7746 000026 | 0x7746 000026 | ||
0x7750 012702 LOOP: MOV (PC)+, R2 ; Get buffer offset | 0x7750 012702 LOOP: MOV (PC)+, R2 ; Get buffer offset | ||
| − | 0x7752 000352 OFFSET: | + | 0x7752 000352 OFFSET: .-LOAD |
0x7754 005211 INC @R1 ; Turn on reader | 0x7754 005211 INC @R1 ; Turn on reader | ||
0x7756 105711 READY: TSTB @R1 ; Done? | 0x7756 105711 READY: TSTB @R1 ; Done? | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
* Load offset (1 byte) | * Load offset (1 byte) | ||
* Program to be loaded (up to 0344 bytes) | * Program to be loaded (up to 0344 bytes) | ||
| − | * Copy of boostrap loader (first | + | * Copy of boostrap loader (first 6 bytes) |
| − | * Branch | + | * Offset to branch (1 byte) |
| + | * Branch modification (1 byte) | ||
==Others== | ==Others== | ||
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The Bootstrap Loader is documented in some detail in the "paper tape software programming handbook" (DEC-11-GGPB-D), pp. 6-1 to 6-8. | The Bootstrap Loader is documented in some detail in the "paper tape software programming handbook" (DEC-11-GGPB-D), pp. 6-1 to 6-8. | ||
| − | + | [[Category: PDP-11 Software]] | |
| − | + | [[Category: PDP-11 File Formats]] | |
| − | [[Category: PDP- | ||
Latest revision as of 18:52, 16 November 2023
The PDP-11 Bootstrap Loader is a short program designed to be loaded into the main memory on a PDP-11 via the front panel; it is then run to load an initial program into the machine. I.e. it is a way of bootstrapping a totally empty machine, one with no ROM.
It is designed to be absolutely as short as possible (since it is manually toggled in via the switch register), and therefore has limitations, including how long a program can be loaded using it, and where in memory that program can be placed. The usual program to load with it is the PDP-11 Absolute Loader, which relaxes both of those limitations.
The original bootstrap loader is self-modifying code, since this allows a very short program. The program is not directly self-modifying; rather, the nature of its input is such that it modifies the bootstrap loader as it is read in. (Most bootstrap loader input files eventually restore the bootstrap loader to its original condition, allowing it to be re-used.)
Program
The bootstrap loader contains two locations which are modified by reading the input: the first is a pointer to the buffer in which to place data being read in; the second is a branch back to the beginning of the data input loop.
The program starts with the pointer set to itself, so the blank leader at the start of the data for the bootstrap loader (originally contained on paper tapes) starts with a special leader code which causes this to be left un-changed.
The buffer pointer is then modified to point it slightly before the bootstrap loader in memory, so at the end of the load the newly loaded code then progressively overlays the first several instructions of the bootstrap loader itself, finally patching the buffer pointer to point at the branch instruction, which is then modified to jump to the newly loaded code.
Code
This is the actual bootstrap program:
LOAD = 0x7400 ; Buffer address 0x7744 016701 BEGIN: MOV DEVICE, R1 ; Get Device CSR 0x7746 000026 0x7750 012702 LOOP: MOV (PC)+, R2 ; Get buffer offset 0x7752 000352 OFFSET: .-LOAD 0x7754 005211 INC @R1 ; Turn on reader 0x7756 105711 READY: TSTB @R1 ; Done? 0x7760 100376 BPL READY 0x7762 116162 MOVB 2(R1), LOAD(R2) ; Transfer 0x7764 000002 0x7766 0x7400 0x7770 005267 INC OFFSET ; Bump buffer offset 0x7772 177756 0x7774 000765 BR LOOP 0x7776 yyyyyy DEVICE: yyyyyy ; Input device CSR address
Bootstrap Loader format
The format of boostrap loader input is as follows:
- Leader (all bytes 0351)
- Load offset (1 byte)
- Program to be loaded (up to 0344 bytes)
- Copy of boostrap loader (first 6 bytes)
- Offset to branch (1 byte)
- Branch modification (1 byte)
Others
Several PDP-11 bootstrap ROMs, e.g. the BM792-YA, BM792-YK and BM873 ROM are prepared to read programs in bootstrap loader format. The code in them is obviously not self-modifying, but reacts to the bootstrap loader input format to produce the same effects.
ODT in the LSI-11 CPUs also has a command to load programs in bootstrap loader format.
Further reading
The Bootstrap Loader is documented in some detail in the "paper tape software programming handbook" (DEC-11-GGPB-D), pp. 6-1 to 6-8.
