SYSLINUX

What SYSLINUX is

SYSLINUX is a free suite of bootloaders for starting Linux from several types of media and filesystems. Its SYSLINUX component boots from MS-DOS or Windows FAT filesystems, PXELINUX supports PXE network booting, ISOLINUX handles ISO9660 CD-ROMs, and EXTLINUX supports Linux ext2 and ext3 filesystems. The suite also includes MEMDISK, which loads legacy operating systems from supported media. Boot configuration uses a text file named syslinux.cfg, and the documentation describes menu and graphical menu interface modules. Listed capabilities include BIOS and UEFI support, multiboot support, boot-entry editing, and boot-menu customization. SYSLINUX is available at no charge under GNU GPL version 2 or, at the user's option, a later version. The listed platforms are Linux and Windows. Building from source requires Linux and NASM 2.03 or newer, with 2.07 or newer recommended. FAT filesystems with sector sizes other than 512 bytes are unsupported, and UEFI Syslinux cannot chainload other EFI applications such as UEFI Shell or Windows Boot Manager. The project points users to a mailing list for support details.

Who it suits

SYSLINUX suits users configuring boot options for Linux across the listed filesystems and media types. It may also suit users who need PXE, CD-ROM, or legacy operating-system loading support.

Limits

The free plan is available at no charge. FAT filesystems with sector sizes other than 512 bytes are unsupported, and UEFI Syslinux cannot chainload other EFI applications.

Getting started

1. Visit the SYSLINUX website.
2. Choose the component that matches the intended boot source: SYSLINUX, PXELINUX, ISOLINUX, or EXTLINUX.
3. Configure boot settings in syslinux.cfg.
4. For a source build, use Linux with NASM 2.03 or later; 2.07 or later is recommended.
5. Consult the project mailing list for support details.

Verdict

SYSLINUX covers several boot sources and includes configuration and menu components. Check its FAT sector-size and UEFI chainloading limits against your setup.