The object-module loader is the component of the target server that inserts application modules into a remote target system while the target image is running. Loading and unloading object modules dynamically is a key service provided by the target server. The target server provides this and other services commonly required by the Tornado tools in addition to acting as a broker for the communication path to the target.

You can support additional object-module formats with Tornado by writing a new loader. The following sections provide an overview of loader usage and loader architecture, followed by a discussion (in general terms) of how to develop a reader for a new object-module format.

For an overview of the target server, the back end, and their components, see 1.3 The Target Server and the WTX Protocol and 2. Target Server Back End. This chapter provides an overall orientation to object-module loaders; throughout this chapter, refer to the reference entries in Part 2 for details.