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SysLinux is a BootLoader for [Linux] which runs off a disk with a [FAT] FileSystem. Such a floppy can be manipulated using standard file management tools on any OperatingSystem that can access [FAT] [FileSystem]s. Therefor, SysLinux can completely eliminate the need for distribution of raw diskette images for boot floppies. It is intended to simplify first-time installation of [Linux], and for creation of rescue- and other special-purpose boot disks. See also: http://annys.eines.info/cgi-bin/man/man2html?syslinux !!! Configuration See an example at http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/GnoppixBootfloppyContent All the configurable defaults in SysLinux can be changed by putting a file called __syslinux.cfg__ in the root directory of the boot disk. The following options are available: ;; %%% __DEFAULT kernel options...__ : Sets the default command line. If SysLinux boots automatically, it will act just as if the entries after DEFAULT had been typed in at the "boot:" prompt. %%% %%% So, you can include __xmodule=fbdev__, __lang=us__ or similar "cheatcodes". ;; %%% __APPEND options...__ : Add one or more options to the [Kernel] CommandLine. These are added both for automatic and manual boots. The options are added at the very beginning of the kernel command line, usually permitting explicitly entered kernel options to override them. This is the equivalent of the [LILO] "append" option. ;; %%% __LABEL label %%% KERNEL image__ : Indicates that if "label" is entered as the [Kernel] to boot, SysLinux should instead boot "image". The default for "image" is the same as "label". ;; %%% __TIMEOUT timeout__ : Indicates how long to wait at the boot ;; %%% __KBDMAP keymap__ : Install a simple keyboard map ;; %%% __DISPLAY filename__ : Displays the indicated file on the screen at boot time (before the boot: prompt, if displayed). ;; %%% __SAY message__ : Prints the message on the screen. ;; %%% __F1 filename %%% F2 filename %%% ...etc... %%% F9 filename %%% F0 filename__ : Displays the indicated file on the screen when a function key is pressed at the boot: prompt SysLinux also supports a boot-time-loaded InitialRamDisk. !!! Booting [DOS] This is the recommended procedure for creating a SysLinux disk that can boot either [DOS] or [Linux]. This example assumes the drive is __A:__ in [DOS] and __/dev/fd0__ in [Linux]; for other drives, substitute the appropriate drive designator. !! Under [Linux] # Make a [DOS] bootable disk. This can be done either by specifying the /s option when formatting the disk in [DOS], or by running the [DOS] command __SYS__ (this can be done under DOSEMU if DOSEMU has direct device access to the relevant drive): %%% __format a: /s__ %%% or %%% __sys a:__ %%% # Boot [Linux]. Copy the [DOS] boot sector from the disk into a file: %%% __dd if=/dev/fd0 of=dos.bss bs=512 count=1__ %%% # Run SysLinux on the disk: %%% __syslinux /dev/fd0__ %%% # Mount the disk and copy the [DOS] boot sector file to it. The file __must__ have extension .bss: %%% __mount -t msdos /dev/fd0 /mnt__ %%% __cp dos.bss /mnt__ %%% # Copy the [Linux] [Kernel] image(s), initrd(s), etc to the disk, and create/edit __syslinux.cfg__ and help files if desired: %%% __cp vmlinux /mnt__ %%% __cp initrd.gz /mnt__ %%% # Unmount the disk (if applicable): %%% __umount /mnt__ !! Under [DOS]/[Windows] only To make this installation in [DOS] only, you need the utility __copybs.com__ (included with SysLinux) as well as the __syslinux.com__ installer. If you are on an WinNT-based system (WinNT, Win2k, WinXP or later), use __syslinux.exe__ instead. # Make a [DOS] bootable disk. This can be done either by specifying the /s option when formatting the disk in [DOS], or by running the [DOS] command __SYS__: %%% __format a: /s__ or __sys a:__ %%% # Copy the [DOS] boot sector from the disk into a file. The file __must__ have extension .bss: %%% __copybs a: a:dos.bss__ %%% # Run SysLinux on the disk: %%% __syslinux a:__ %%% # Copy the [Linux] [Kernel] image(s), initrd(s), etc to the disk, and create/edit syslinux.cfg and help files if desired: %%% __copy vmlinux a:__ %%% __copy initrd.gz a:__ !!! Bootable [CDROM]s SysLinux can be used to create bootdisk images for El Torito-compatible bootable [CDROM]s. However, it appears that many BIOSes are very buggy when it comes to booting [CDROM]s. Some users have reported that the following steps are helpful in making a [CDROM] that is bootable on the largest possible number of machines: # Use the __-s__ (safe, slow and stupid) option to SysLinux # Put the boot image as close to the beginning of the ISO 9660 FileSystem as possible. A [CDROM] is so much faster than a floppy that the __-s__ option shouldn't matter from a speed perspective. Of course, you may want to use ISOLINUX instead. !!! Booting from HardDisk SysLinux can boot from a [FAT12] or [FAT16] FileSystem partition on a HardDisk ([FAT32], introduced in [Windows] 95 OSR-2, is not supported, however). The installation procedure is identical to the procedure for installing it on a floppy, and should work under either [DOS] or [Linux]. To boot from a partition, SysLinux needs to be launched from a Master Boot Record or another boot loader, just like [DOS] itself would. Under [DOS], you can install a standard simple [MBR] on the primary hard disk by running the command: FDISK /MBR Then use the __FDISK__ command to mark the appropriate partition active. A simple [MBR], roughly on par with the one installed by [DOS] (but unencumbered), is included in the SysLinux distribution.
2 pages link to
SysLinux
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BootLoader
PXE