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creaker l33t
Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 651
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 2:09 am Post subject: Can syslinux boot all of my systems? |
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Hi!
I'm using grub2 and right now grub boots these systems:
1. Gentoo-3.8.13
2. Gentoo-3.10.7
3. Another one Gentoo-3.8.13
4. Win-Xp
5. Win-7
6. Mint Live ISO
The question is: can syslinux do the same? As I understood syslinux is a set of independent boot-loaders: syslinux, extlinux, isolinux and so on. Each of them works with its own filesystem type: fat/ntfs, ext*, iso9660.
Is it possible to manage the systems I have installed simultaneously? I've read some articles, but all of them describes how to make multiboot pendrives with bootable images, not a systems that already installed at hard drive.
Any sample or link ?
Thanks. |
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SlashBeast Retired Dev
Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2922
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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It can, mint uses isolinux, it's config works flawless with extlinux. You will must need ext2/3/4 partition big enough to handle the squashfs of mint and it will work.
syslinux by design have almost no not essential features so all kernel images and initramfs if created will need to be on single partition where extlinux is installed. for windows you chainboot and for mint you load kernel + initramfs + proper argument to show where squashfs image is. |
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creaker l33t
Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 651
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for reply!
SlashBeast wrote: |
syslinux by design have almost no not essential features so all kernel images and initramfs if created will need to be on single partition where extlinux is installed |
Is this means that I have to create dedicated cross-systems /boot that I have to use with all of my Linux systems?
SlashBeast wrote: | for windows you chainboot and for mint you load kernel + initramfs + proper argument to show where squashfs image is. |
Have I to install syslinux twice at both (Win-XP and Win-7) ntfs partitions in addition to extlinux? |
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SlashBeast Retired Dev
Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2922
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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You chainboot to windows's boot loader. I believe windows can only boot bootloader from first primary mbr partition so both entry for winxp and win7 is there, you just chainboot there.
And yes, you do need a single /boot with kernels. Your list is really confusing as you put Gentoo and kernel version twice, anyway, its pretty streight forward.
bootloader load kernel + optional initramfs and execute kernel with params that were passed from bootloader, like root=XXX to let kernel know what device use as rootfs. |
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Anon-E-moose Watchman
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 6095 Location: Dallas area
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting post on this subject http://jasonwryan.com/blog/2012/07/09/syslinux/ _________________ PRIME x570-pro, 3700x, 6.1 zen kernel
gcc 13, profile 17.0 (custom bare multilib), openrc, wayland |
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creaker l33t
Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 651
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 9:28 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for replies.
I found that linux systems can be booted without separate /boot. It may be done by installing extlinux for each existing linux installation.
One main loader at mbr and dedicated loaders for each system at their partitions.
Right now I tried to chain from Grub2 (as main loader) to extlinux that personally dedicated for one of my systems. It works. So I think it will be possible to chain from mbr syslinux to extlinux as well. |
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666threesixes666 Veteran
Joined: 31 May 2011 Posts: 1248 Location: 42.68n 85.41w
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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extlinux requires ext or btrfs... no JFS, or reiserfs boot partitions.... simple file system /boot on a separate partition makes that an easy requirement to satisfy. i have boot on / of this machine, 2 partitions, 1 swap 1 /.....
moral of the story, if you use jfs or reiserfs syslinux is a BAD choice because you're going to be strong armed into supporting more file systems.
syslinux is for ntfs and other poorly crafted file systems. |
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