Author: bdubbs Date: 2012-10-08 15:08:52 -0600 (Mon, 08 Oct 2012) New Revision: 1128
Added: trunk/syslinuxen.txt Log: Add syslinux alternate boot loader Added: trunk/syslinuxen.txt =================================================================== --- trunk/syslinuxen.txt (rev 0) +++ trunk/syslinuxen.txt 2012-10-08 21:08:52 UTC (rev 1128) @@ -0,0 +1,128 @@ +AUTHOR : Denis Mugnier <myou72 at orange point fr> + +DATE : 2012-15-06 + +LICENSE : Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 + (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) + +SYNOPSIS : Installation of syslinux instead of grub + +DESCRIPTION : + Syslinux is a small and fast bootloader. + +PRE-REQUISITIES : +A working LFS (tested with a LFS 7.0). + It is useful to have a LFS with GRUB installed, which can already boot. +nasm (see BLFS) +python (see BLFS : python 2.7) + +HINT: + +The purpose of this hint is to replace GRUB, in a working LFS, or install Syslinux +in a LFS you are building + +ATTENTION : the tricks of this hint will install a bootloader; these tricks +are potentially dangerous for your system. If there is a problem, the system may +not boot anymore. + +Step 1 : Downloading the source and untar them +You can download the source at: + +http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/boot/syslinux/syslinux-4.05.tar.xz + +Next, you need to untar them + +tar -xf syslinux-4.05.tar.xz + +The source also contains the binaries of the files. If desired, it is possible to +skip compilation. + +Step 2 : Compilation + +The compilation is quite simple: + +make + +Note: The compilation needs nasm and python . + +Step 3 : Installation of the binaries + +Using the following command: + +make install + +The "syslinux" installers are now installed on your LFS + +Step 4 : Booting with Syslinux + +Here is the interesting part of the hint. Note that this hint only deals with +using extlinux, which enables a system to boot from an ext2, ext3 or ext4 +partition. It is possible to use syslinux to boot from a CD, a FAT disk, etc... +For more information about the other methods, see the official website +(www.syslinux.org) + +You need to create a directory to install the bootloader + +mkdir /boot/extlinux + +then use extlinux to install the bootloader + +extlinux --install /boot/extlinux + +Step 5 : Configuring + +The configuration will be in a /boot/extlinux/syslinux.conf file + +In its shortest aspect, this file will contain: + +DEFAULT lfs +LABEL lfs + KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz.img + APPEND ro root=/dev/xxx + +vmlinuz.img : kernel image, or some symlink to the kernel image +/dev/xxx : partition which contains your system + +For more information about the configuration file, I suggest you to see +the documentation. It is possible to have a menu and choose what system you would +like to boot, boot in PXE, display a file, ... + +You need to check that your partition is configured properly to boot (with the +boot flag) + +To set this flag: + +fdisk /dev/yyy (with yyy the disk name e.g. sda, sdb, etc) +then, choice a +then give the partition number which should have the Boot flag. +Press w to save + +For example, to set the /dev/sda1 partition with the boot flag: + +fdisk /dev/sda +Command (m for help): a +Partition number (1-4): 1 +Command (m for help): w + +Then, you need to set the mbr (it will replace the grub installation if it has +already been installed) + +In the source tree, change to the mbr directory + +then run the command + +cat mbr > /dev/yyy (with yyy the boot disk name, e.g. sda, sdb ...) + +Step 6 : test + +Now the installation is completed, the system must be rebooted to check that +syslinux works properly. + +ATTENTION : You should create a rescue boot media for your system. If +syslinux has a problem, your system will not reboot. You should have a +liveCD, to rescue if you have a problem. + +Normally, with the minimal configuration file created above, your computer should +start directly on the LFS kernel. + +Syslinux is installed. -- http://linuxfromscratch.org/mailman/listinfo/hints FAQ: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/faq/ Unsubscribe: See the above information page
