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Building Bootloader Images for Owner-Controlled Computers


From: indieterminacy
Subject: Building Bootloader Images for Owner-Controlled Computers
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2023 23:34:31 +0100

I noticed this recommendation of a Nix tool.
Its not my specialism and Im only providing it for stimulation or as a conversation starter.

```
All the necessary components (coreboot, kernel, busybox-based initramfs with cryptsetup/lvm2) are stored entirely in the bootloader flash chip. This leaves no writable unencrypted media in the boot process when the flash chip's write protect pin is shorted.

Ownerboot extends coreboot with a new normal/fallback mechanism. The flash chip holds two complete copies of the bootloader; only a single page (the bootblock) is shared between them. Each image can be flashed and write-protected indepedently of the other. The fallback image can be selected by /dev/watchdog, nvramtool, or physical input (front-panel button on servers, stylus eject on laptops).

Because ownerboot is written in nix, it can ensure that these builds are deterministic. Ownerboot contains no binaries, and instantiates nixpkgs with config.allowNonSource=false; if you disable nix's binary substituter you are assured that all the software in your bootloader will be built from source on your local machine, all the way back to the compiler which compiles your compiler.
```
https://sr.ht/~amjoseph/ownerboot/

--
Jonathan McHugh
indieterminacy@libre.brussels



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