title: Why is "MLO" needed in boot step?
body: <p>I'm studying boot steps on a Pandaboard. According to <a href="http://elinux.org/Panda_How_to_MLO_%26_u-boot" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this how-to</a>, they have multiple boot steps (Boot rom &gt; X-loader or SPL &gt; U-boot &gt; Linux kernel). Actually, I do not understand why they have such steps inefficiently. Can't I just load u-boot instead of using file called &quot;MLO&quot;? What does &quot;MLO&quot; actually do? Are there any important reasons that they have to put &quot;MLO&quot; instead of loading u-boot directly?</p>