Syslinux - Jul 2014 - isohybrid: slint64-14.1.iso: unable to find mac efi image

Hi,

On 29/07/2014 21:34, Thomas Schmitt wrote:
 > Nevertheless i advise Didier to simply try with 0xef rather than Mac. 
At least the ISO will then have MBR, GPT and APM entries for the file 
macboot.img.

I did that, and also tried the xorriso command you posted.

I uploaded both ISO images on http://slint.fr/misc/MacBoot resp. renamed:
slint64-14.1-Thomas_mkisofs.iso
slint64-14.1-Thomas_xorriso.iso

I still don't know if one can boot a Mac off an USB stick with these
images dd-ed (and won't be able to check before tomorrow, hoping that
one of my computer repairmen neighbors will accept to try, as I own no
Mac)

At least I did check that there's no apparent regression, as I could
boot using each of these two ISO images as virtual CDs on a vmplayer
VM (BIOS as well as EFI firmware), off an USB stick on a vmplayer
VM with an EFI firmware, and off an USB key on my physical Thinkpad T61.

So so far, so good... Expect news tomorrow hopefully for a test on a Mac.

Meanwhile, if one of you happens to have a Mac at hand and can try
booting it of an USB stick with one of these ISOs that would be great of 
course!

Thanks and have a night day,

Didier

Hi,

Didier Spaier:
> I uploaded both ISO images on http://slint.fr/misc/MacBoot
A good opportunity to brag with xorriso's boot inspection
features (since xorriso-1.3.8):

  xorriso -indev slint64-14.1-Thomas_mkisofs.iso \
          -report_el_torito plain \
          -report_system_area plain

yields (block size is 2048):
  
  El Torito images   :   N  Pltf  B   Emul  Ld_seg  Hdpt  Ldsiz         LBA
  El Torito boot img :   1  BIOS  y   none  0x0000  0x00      4         767
  El Torito boot img :   2  UEFI  y   none  0x0000  0x00   2880          47
  El Torito boot img :   3  UEFI  y   none  0x0000  0x00   5472         779
  El Torito img path :   1  /isolinux/isolinux.bin
  El Torito img opts :   1  boot-info-table isohybrid-suitable
  El Torito img path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  El Torito img path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img

So El Torito is now as expected by isohybrid.c, which added to the
ISO image an MBR, a GPT, and an Apple Partition Map.

The MBR partitions are (block size is 512):

  MBR partition table:   N Status  Type        Start       Blocks
  MBR partition      :   1   0x80  0x00            0       155648
  MBR partition      :   2   0x00  0xef          188         2880
  MBR partition      :   3   0x00  0x00         3116         5472
  MBR partition path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  MBR partition path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img

Some UEFI systems and especially "Macs" boot via this MBR.
But only if no GPT is present.

Whatever, we get the proof that this image was treated by
classic isohybrid.c without my recent bug fix proposals:

  GPT backup problems:      Implausible header LBA 155646
  ...
  GPT partition name :   1 
49534f4879627269642049534f0049534f487962726964004170706c

Nevertheless, both non-BIOS images are mentioned in GPT
(block size 512):

  GPT start and size :   2  188  2880
  GPT partition path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  ...
  GPT start and size :   3  3116  5472
  GPT partition path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img

They also are mentioned in an Apple Partition Map (block size 2048):

  APM start and size :   1  47  2880
  APM partition path :   1  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  ...
  APM start and size :   2  779  5472
  APM partition path :   2  /isolinux/macboot.img

This resembles much the equipment of Fedora Live ISOs.
(Including the size numbers which are too large by a factor of 4.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

  xorriso -indev slint64-14.1-Thomas_xorriso.iso \
          -report_el_torito plain \
          -report_system_area plain

shows that xorriso avoids some of the classic isohybrid.c flaws.
Elsewise the result is quite similar:

  El Torito images   :   N  Pltf  B   Emul  Ld_seg  Hdpt  Ldsiz         LBA
  El Torito boot img :   1  BIOS  y   none  0x0000  0x00      4          43
  El Torito boot img :   2  UEFI  y   none  0x0000  0x00   2880          55
  El Torito boot img :   3  UEFI  y   none  0x0000  0x00   5472         775
  El Torito img path :   1  /isolinux/isolinux.bin
  El Torito img opts :   1  boot-info-table isohybrid-suitable
  El Torito img path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  El Torito img path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img
  ...
  MBR partition table:   N Status  Type        Start       Blocks
  MBR partition      :   1   0x80  0x00            0       155648
  MBR partition      :   2   0x00  0xef          220         2880
  MBR partition      :   3   0x00  0x00         3100         5472
  MBR partition path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  MBR partition path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img
  ...
  GPT partition name :   1  490053004f00480079006200720069006400
  GPT partname local :   1  ISOHybrid
  ...
  GPT start and size :   2  220  2880
  GPT partition path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
  ...
  GPT start and size :   3  3100  5472
  GPT partition path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img
  ...
  APM partition name :   1  EFI
  APM partition type :   1  Apple_HFS
  APM start and size :   1  775  1368
  APM partition path :   1  /isolinux/macboot.img

I forgot to advise (or misadvise) -isohybrid-apm-hfsplus with
the image /isolinux/efiboot.img . So we only got one APM
partition here. A slight deviation from mjg59's layout.

It is a lie to give efiboot.img the partition type Apple_HFS.
isohybrid.c does it that way. So the perfect mimic would be
    -e isolinux/efiboot.img  \
    -isohybrid-gpt-basdat -isohybrid-apm-hfsplus \
instead of
    -e isolinux/efiboot.img  \
    -isohybrid-gpt-basdat \

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Your are back on the track blazed by Fedora Live.

Again: Be aware that Colin Watson reports that such MBR+GPT
hybrids do not boot on some Macs and amd64 PCs.
Ubuntu therefore has alternative "Mac" ISOs with El Torito
and MBR only. (I.e. no -u -m, no -isohybrid-gpt-basdat
-isohybrid-apm-hfsplus -isohybrid-gpt-hfsplus.)
> Meanwhile, if one of you happens to have a Mac at hand
This seems to be the biggest obstacle with Mac booting: No Mac.


Have a nice day :)

Thomas

Hi,

On 29/07/2014 23:19, Thomas Schmitt wrote:
 > A good opportunity to brag with xorriso's boot inspection
 > features (since xorriso-1.3.8):
Yes! I've upgraded libburn, libisofs and libisoburn so now I can play
with it too ;)

 > I forgot to advise (or misadvise) -isohybrid-apm-hfsplus with
 > the image /isolinux/efiboot.img . So we only got one APM
 > partition here. A slight deviation from mjg59's layout.
 >
 > It is a lie to give efiboot.img the partition type Apple_HFS.
 > isohybrid.c does it that way. So the perfect mimic would be
 >     -e isolinux/efiboot.img  \
 >     -isohybrid-gpt-basdat -isohybrid-apm-hfsplus \
 > instead of
 >     -e isolinux/efiboot.img  \
 >     -isohybrid-gpt-basdat \

I tried that and got this, which is what was expected I think:

xorriso 1.3.8 : RockRidge filesystem manipulator, libburnia project.
xorriso : NOTE : Loading ISO image tree from LBA 0
xorriso : UPDATE : 34 nodes read in 1 seconds
xorriso : NOTE : Detected El-Torito boot information which currently is 
set to be discarded
Drive current: -indev '/tmp/slint64-14.1.iso'
Media current: stdio file, overwriteable
Media status : is written , is appendable
Boot record  : El Torito , MBR isohybrid cyl-align-on GPT APM
Media summary: 1 session, 38912 data blocks, 76.0m data, 6379m free
Volume id    : 'SlintISO'
El Torito catalog  : 42  1
El Torito cat path : /isolinux/isolinux.boot
El Torito images   :   N  Pltf  B   Emul  Ld_seg  Hdpt Ldsiz         LBA
El Torito boot img :   1  BIOS  y   none  0x0000  0x00 4          43
El Torito boot img :   2  UEFI  y   none  0x0000  0x00 2880          55
El Torito boot img :   3  UEFI  y   none  0x0000  0x00 5472         775
El Torito img path :   1  /isolinux/isolinux.bin
El Torito img opts :   1  boot-info-table isohybrid-suitable
El Torito img path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
El Torito img path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img
System area options: 0x00000102
System area summary: MBR isohybrid cyl-align-on GPT APM
ISO image size/512 : 155648
Partition offset   : 0
MBR heads per cyl  : 64
MBR secs per head  : 32
MBR partition table:   N Status  Type        Start       Blocks
MBR partition      :   1   0x80  0x00            0       155648
MBR partition      :   2   0x00  0xef          220         2880
MBR partition      :   3   0x00  0x00         3100         5472
MBR partition path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
MBR partition path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img
GPT                :   N  Info
GPT disk GUID      :      dd6fcff38adacf46b128287f6f7a9136
GPT entry array    :      16  192  overlapping
GPT lba range      :      64  155598  155647
GPT partition name :   1  490053004f00480079006200720069006400
GPT partname local :   1  ISOHybrid
GPT partition GUID :   1  dd6fcff38adacf46b12b287f6f7a9136
GPT type GUID      :   1  a2a0d0ebe5b9334487c068b6b72699c7
GPT partition flags:   1  0x1000000000000001
GPT start and size :   1  0  155596
GPT partition name :   2  490053004f004800790062007200690064003100
GPT partname local :   2  ISOHybrid1
GPT partition GUID :   2  dd6fcff38adacf46b12a287f6f7a9136
GPT type GUID      :   2  a2a0d0ebe5b9334487c068b6b72699c7
GPT partition flags:   2  0x1000000000000001
GPT start and size :   2  220  2880
GPT partition path :   2  /isolinux/efiboot.img
GPT partition name :   3  490053004f004800790062007200690064003200
GPT partname local :   3  ISOHybrid2
GPT partition GUID :   3  dd6fcff38adacf46b129287f6f7a9136
GPT type GUID      :   3  005346480000aa11aa1100306543ecac
GPT partition flags:   3  0x1000000000000001
GPT start and size :   3  3100  5472
GPT partition path :   3  /isolinux/macboot.img
APM                :   N  Info
APM block size     :      2048
APM gap fillers    :      0
APM partition name :   1  EFI
APM partition type :   1  Apple_HFS
APM start and size :   1  55  720
APM partition path :   1  /isolinux/efiboot.img
APM partition name :   2  EFI
APM partition type :   2  Apple_HFS
APM start and size :   2  775  1368
APM partition path :   2  /isolinux/macboot.img

But then for my "real" tries I wen back to using used xorriso
following your good advice.

 > -------------------------------------------------------------------
 > Your are back on the track blazed by Fedora Live.

Alas, I tried to boot off an USB key on a recent MacBook but that failed.
I saw two boot media on Apple's Boot Manager, both called EFI Boot (??)

Clicking on each I could see grub's  menu and navigate in it but after
choosing and entry I just saw a line with:

   Loading huge.s kernel and installer inkitrd. Please wait...


In a vmplayer VM I see this message too but it disappears after a few
seconds and the machine boots -- but not that Mac.

I changed the name of the blessed EFI file in CoreServices to boot.efi as
it seems that shouls be but no luck.

I realize that I'm slipping off topic, but would be grateful for any clue,
including an advice on  who outside of this list's members can help me
further.

Have a good day,

Didier

PS I have updated the content of http://slint.fr/misc/MacBoot that now
reflects my last try.