Gert Hulselmans
2010-Jul-27 20:54 UTC
[syslinux] Usage output of Syslinux installers is not consequent
Why doesn't the Windows Syslinux installer show: --offset and --directory too (I know it is not supported)? Because the Linux versions show the Windows/dos specific commands: --mbr --active and --force I didn't check the DOS version. If all options will be displayed unconditionally for all installers, it might be a good idea to add: --offset -t Offset of the file system on the device (mtools installer) --directory -d Directory for installation target (mtools installer) - Gert Hulselmans $ wine ./syslinux-git/working-directory/win32/syslinux Usage: Z:\home\gert\syslinux-git\working-directory\win32\syslinux.exe [options] <drive>: [bootsecfile] --install -i Install over the current bootsector --update -U Update a previous EXTLINUX installation --zip -z Force zipdrive geometry (-H 64 -S 32) --sectors=# -S Force the number of sectors per track --heads=# -H Force number of heads --stupid -s Slow, safe and stupid mode --raid -r Fall back to the next device on boot failure --once=... -o Execute a command once upon boot --clear-once -O Clear the boot-once command --reset-adv Reset auxilliary data --menu-save= -M Set the label to select as default on the next boot --mbr -m Install an MBR (DOS/Win32 installers only) --active -a Mark partition as active (DOS/Win32 installers only) --force -f Ignore precautions (DOS/Win32/mtools installers only) Note: geometry is determined at boot time for devices which are considered hard disks by the BIOS. Unfortunately, this is not possible for devices which are considered floppy disks, which includes zipdisks and LS-120 superfloppies. The -z option is useful for USB devices which are considered hard disks by some BIOSes and zipdrives by other BIOSes. $ ./syslinux-git/working-directory/linux/syslinux Usage: ../syslinux-git/working-directory/linux/syslinux [options] device --offset -t Offset of the file system on the device --directory -d Directory for installation target --install -i Install over the current bootsector --update -U Update a previous EXTLINUX installation --zip -z Force zipdrive geometry (-H 64 -S 32) --sectors=# -S Force the number of sectors per track --heads=# -H Force number of heads --stupid -s Slow, safe and stupid mode --raid -r Fall back to the next device on boot failure --once=... Execute a command once upon boot --clear-once -O Clear the boot-once command --reset-adv Reset auxilliary data --menu-save= -M Set the label to select as default on the next boot --mbr -m Install an MBR (DOS/Win32 installers only) --active -a Mark partition as active (DOS/Win32 installers only) --force -f Ignore precautions (DOS/Win32/mtools installers only) Note: geometry is determined at boot time for devices which are considered hard disks by the BIOS. Unfortunately, this is not possible for devices which are considered floppy disks, which includes zipdisks and LS-120 superfloppies. The -z option is useful for USB devices which are considered hard disks by some BIOSes and zipdrives by other BIOSes. gert at gert-kot:/media/Data/ubcd-new/syslinux-floppy$ ../syslinux-git/working-directory/mtools/syslinux Usage: ../syslinux-git/working-directory/mtools/syslinux [options] device --offset -t Offset of the file system on the device --directory -d Directory for installation target --install -i Install over the current bootsector --update -U Update a previous EXTLINUX installation --zip -z Force zipdrive geometry (-H 64 -S 32) --sectors=# -S Force the number of sectors per track --heads=# -H Force number of heads --stupid -s Slow, safe and stupid mode --raid -r Fall back to the next device on boot failure --once=... Execute a command once upon boot --clear-once -O Clear the boot-once command --reset-adv Reset auxilliary data --menu-save= -M Set the label to select as default on the next boot --mbr -m Install an MBR (DOS/Win32 installers only) --active -a Mark partition as active (DOS/Win32 installers only) --force -f Ignore precautions (DOS/Win32/mtools installers only) Note: geometry is determined at boot time for devices which are considered hard disks by the BIOS. Unfortunately, this is not possible for devices which are considered floppy disks, which includes zipdisks and LS-120 superfloppies. The -z option is useful for USB devices which are considered hard disks by some BIOSes and zipdrives by other BIOSes.
Gene Cumm
2010-Jul-27 21:13 UTC
[syslinux] Usage output of Syslinux installers is not consequent
On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 16:54, Gert Hulselmans <gerth at zytor.com> wrote:> Why doesn't the Windows Syslinux installer show: > --offset and --directory too (I know it is not supported)? > > Because the Linux versions show the Windows/dos specific commands: > --mbr --active and --force > > I didn't check the DOS version. > > If all options will be displayed unconditionally for all installers, it > might be a good idea to add: > ?--offset ? ? -t ?Offset of the file system on the device (mtools installer) > ?--directory ?-d ?Directory for installation target (mtools installer) > > - Gert Hulselmans >I believe that the lack of consistency between the installers is due to the fact that the Windows and DOS installers are still behind the Linux installer. I know the Linux installer underwent extensive changes recently (I believe for 4.00 as 3.86 doesn't have the -i/-u options) and the other two are currently works in progress. I seem to remember Shao Miller working on at least one of them (Windows, I think). -- -Gene
H. Peter Anvin
2010-Jul-27 22:04 UTC
[syslinux] Usage output of Syslinux installers is not consequent
On 07/27/2010 01:54 PM, Gert Hulselmans wrote:> If all options will be displayed unconditionally for all installers, it > might be a good idea to add:They shouldn't; it's a bug. -hpa -- H. Peter Anvin, Intel Open Source Technology Center I work for Intel. I don't speak on their behalf.