From 39f77fa8a1f5e7a1ef43b2eaaf3eae032060081f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: hpa Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 07:03:17 +0000 Subject: *** empty log message *** --- syslinux.doc | 39 +++++++++++++++++++++------------------ 1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-) (limited to 'syslinux.doc') diff --git a/syslinux.doc b/syslinux.doc index 2564a402..54520727 100644 --- a/syslinux.doc +++ b/syslinux.doc @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ SYSLINUX Version 1.40 - May 6, 1998 + May 7, 1998 A bootloader for Linux using MS-DOS floppies @@ -24,13 +24,15 @@ created. ++++ WHAT SYSLINUX IS NOT ++++ -SYSLINUX is *not* intended to be used as a general purpose boot -loader, since it neither has the ability to boot another operating -system (e.g. DOS/Windows), nor can it boot Linux from a non-FAT -filesystem, such as ext2. Since a native Linux implementation will -typically use ext2, and a mixed DOS/Linux implementation probably -wants to be able to boot either filesystem, another boot loader such -as LILO or LOADLIN may be more appropriate. +SYSLINUX is probably not suitable as a general purpose boot loader. +It can only boot Linux from a FAT filesystem, and not, for example, +ext2. Since a native Linux implementation will typically use ext2, +another boot loader (e.g. LILO) is probably more suitable. In a +system which actually contains DOS or Windows, LOADLIN may be simpler +to use. + +However, SYSLINUX has shown itself to be quite useful in a number of +special-purpose applications. ++++ CREATING A BOOTABLE LINUX FLOPPY +++ @@ -38,7 +40,7 @@ In order to create a bootable Linux floppy using SYSLINUX, prepare a normal MS-DOS formatted floppy. Copy one or more Linux kernel files to it, then execute the DOS command: - SYSLINUX [-s] a: + syslinux [-s] a: (or whichever drive letter is appropriate; the [] meaning -s is optional) @@ -205,7 +207,7 @@ eliminating the 500K size limit of the zImage kernel format. bzImage format kernels are detected automatically and handled transparently to the user. -This version of SYSLINUX also supports a boottime-loaded ramdisk +This version of SYSLINUX also supports a boot-time-loaded ramdisk (initrd). An initrd is loaded from a DOS file if the option "initrd=filename" (where filename is the filename of the initrd image; the file must be located in the root directory on the boot floppy) is @@ -433,8 +435,15 @@ disk by running the command: Then use the FDISK command to mark the appropriate partition active. -SYSLINUX, like DOS, requires that the partition which contains it -lives entirely below cylinder 1024 for proper operation. + ++++ KNOWN BUGS ++++ + +SYSLINUX will have problems with disks with more than 65536 tracks +(cylinders * heads) or 1024 cylinders if the filesystem on which +SYSLINUX is installed extends beyond either of these two maxima. + +Furthermore, SYSLINUX will not work (and will refuse to install) on +filesystems with a cluster size of more than 16K (typically means a +filesystem of more than 1 GB.) ++++ COMPATIBILITY WITH SYSLINUX 1.0 ++++ @@ -448,12 +457,6 @@ prompt 1 # Mimic SYSLINUX 1.0 with BOOTMSG.TXT file present: display bootmsg.txt - ++++ KNOWN BUGS ++++ - -SYSLINUX will have problems with disks with more than 65536 tracks -(cylinders * heads) or 1024 cylinders if the filesystem on which -SYSLINUX is installed extends beyond either of these two maxima. - ++++ BUG REPORTS ++++ I would appreciate hearing of any problems you have with SYSLINUX. I -- cgit v1.2.1