| name | syslinux |
| description | SYSLINUX/ISOLINUX bootloader for Linux systems. Use when creating bootable CDs with ISOLINUX, USB drives with SYSLINUX, or configuring lightweight boot environments. |
SYSLINUX/ISOLINUX Bootloader
Lightweight bootloaders for various media types.
ISOLINUX for CD/DVD
Setup ISOLINUX directory:
mkdir -p iso/boot/isolinux
cp /usr/lib/ISOLINUX/isolinux.bin iso/boot/isolinux/
cp /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/*.c32 iso/boot/isolinux/
Essential files:
isolinux.bin- Boot loaderldlinux.c32- Core library modulelibutil.c32- Utility librarylibcom32.c32- COM32 librarymenu.c32- Simple menuvesamenu.c32- Graphical menu
ISOLINUX Configuration
Create iso/boot/isolinux/isolinux.cfg:
DEFAULT linux
TIMEOUT 50
PROMPT 0
UI vesamenu.c32
MENU TITLE Boot Menu
MENU BACKGROUND splash.png
LABEL linux
MENU LABEL ^Live System
KERNEL /live/vmlinuz
INITRD /live/initrd.img
APPEND boot=live quiet
LABEL safe
MENU LABEL ^Safe Mode
KERNEL /live/vmlinuz
INITRD /live/initrd.img
APPEND boot=live nomodeset
LABEL memtest
MENU LABEL ^Memory Test
KERNEL /boot/memtest86+
SYSLINUX for USB
# Install to USB drive
syslinux --install /dev/sdb1
# Or from directory
syslinux --directory /boot/syslinux --install /dev/sdb1
# Install MBR
dd if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdb bs=440 count=1
Configuration Options
# Display options
DISPLAY boot.msg # Show message file
TIMEOUT 100 # Timeout in 1/10 seconds
ONTIMEOUT linux # Default on timeout
# Kernel options
KERNEL /path/to/kernel
INITRD /path/to/initrd
APPEND root=/dev/sda1 ro quiet
# Multiple initrd files
INITRD /boot/initrd.img,/boot/extra.img
Menu Configuration
MENU COLOR border 30;44 #40ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR title 1;36;44 #9033ccff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR sel 7;37;40 #e0ffffff #20ffffff all
MENU COLOR unsel 37;44 #50ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR help 37;40 #c0ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout_msg 37;40 #80ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout 1;37;40 #c0ffffff #00000000 std
MENU WIDTH 78
MENU MARGIN 4
MENU ROWS 7
MENU VSHIFT 10
MENU TABMSGROW 14
MENU CMDLINEROW 14
MENU HELPMSGROW 16
MENU HELPMSGENDROW 29
Serial Console
SERIAL 0 115200
CONSOLE 0
LABEL linux
KERNEL vmlinuz
APPEND console=ttyS0,115200
Create Hybrid ISO
isohybrid iso/boot/isolinux/isohdpfx.bin output.iso