Re: [PATCH v4 7/8] docs/microvm.txt: document the new microvm machine type

[Paolo Bonzini]

On 24/09/19 14:44, Sergio Lopez wrote:
> +Microvm is a machine type inspired by both NEMU and Firecracker, and
> +constructed after the machine model implemented by the latter.

I would say it's inspired by Firecracker only.  The NEMU virt machine
had virtio-pci and ACPI.

> +It's main purpose is providing users a minimalist machine type free
> +from the burden of legacy compatibility,

I think this is too strong, especially if you keep the PIC and PIT. :)
Maybe just "It's a minimalist machine type without PCI support designed
for short-lived guests".

> +serving as a stepping stone
> +for future projects aiming at improving boot times, reducing the
> +attack surface and slimming down QEMU's footprint.

"Microvm also establishes a baseline for benchmarking QEMU and operating
systems, since it is optimized for both boot time and footprint".

> +The microvm machine type supports the following devices:
> +
> + - ISA bus
> + - i8259 PIC
> + - LAPIC (implicit if using KVM)
> + - IOAPIC (defaults to kernel_irqchip_split = true)
> + - i8254 PIT

Do we need the PIT?  And perhaps the PIC even?

Paolo

> + - MC146818 RTC (optional)
> + - kvmclock (if using KVM)
> + - fw_cfg
> + - One ISA serial port (optional)
> + - Up to eight virtio-mmio devices (configured by the user)
> +