Forum: EasyBoot
Topic: best way to chain isolinux?
started by: Ursus
Posted by Ursus on Sep. 07 2010,18:32
I have been using ezboot and ultraiso for a while to build a multiplatform rescue CD and firmware updater for my servers. I recently upgraded to the current versions of ezboot and am now wondering what is the best way to chain isolinux. My old setup chained to cdshell which then chained down to isloinux but that is kind of messy.

I want to have multiple linux boot images, btw, and select between them from within ezboot
Posted by balder on Sep. 08 2010,06:36
@Ursus

As this seems to be you very first post in this forum – I say welcome :)

Quote: “I want to have multiple linux boot images”

Well I'm not acknowledged about linux (or isolinux) ???  – but I guess that you can use a grub “kicker-image” to launch (chainload) linux.

As example we can easily launch ubuntu “Live-ISO” as it is, using these parameters in menu.lst in “kicker-image”:

find --set-root /UBUNTU.ISO
map /UBUNTU.ISO (0xff)
map --hook
root (0xff)
kernel /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/UBUNTU.ISO --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
boot

If you are lucky it might be possible to directly launch ISO as it is using my script: easyboot-iso.script :;):
You can download my set of script below every post I reply
Read carefully “READ_ME.html” in download.
Use easyboot-kicker-image.script to create different “kicker-images” to launch different linux-applications.

Note: you have to find parameters to insert to menu.lst by your self, or search on Internet :O
Don’t forget to use search-function in EasyBoot (search for “Older topics” with key-words like knoppix, ubuntu etcetera) :;):

balder
Posted by Ursus on Sep. 11 2010,11:03
So far it seems that I am able to use the command line described in < this thread > to do what I want.

For example, using the systemrescuecd image, I rename the linux kernel to /sysrcd and rename initrd.igz to /sysrcd.igz and use the following command from /ezboot/opsys.ezb

CODE
bootinfotable;bcdw isolinux.bin sysrcd initrd=/sysrcd.igz scandelay=1 setkmap=us vga=791

bcdw.bin and isolinux.bin are in the /ezboot folder, but the other files are in the root

ezboot complains that it cannot find the command but it runs fine

Posted by balder on Sep. 11 2010,11:14
@Ursus

Sure you can use the “old” command “bootinfotable” – but not always :)

I do agree that it is smart to use what already is working fine in the set of “original commands” that already is integrated into EasyBoot :;):
However, plenty of ISO-files cannot be launched directly by “bootinfotable” – it’s here “grub-kicker-images” comes in handy :cool:

Anyway – nice that you solved you problem :;):

balder
Posted by Ursus on Sep. 11 2010,13:19
actually the bootinfotable command isn't needed

and if the kernel image has a path option somewhere you can put the files in different subs

CODE
bcdw isolinux.bin /sysrcd/sysrcd initrd=/sysrcd/sysrcd.igz subdir=sysrcd scandelay=1 setkmap=us vga=791

lets me keep the distro files in the /sysrcd directory and call it from ezboot direclty

similarly

CODE
bcdw isolinux.bin /hdt/hdt.c32 modules_pcimap=/hdt/modules.pcimap modules_alias=/hdt/modules.alias pciids=/hdt/pci.ids vesa

lets me keep the hdt package in the /hdt directory and call it from ezboot directly
Posted by balder on Sep. 11 2010,13:34
@Ursus

Hmmm - interesting approach ???
Some questions by curiosity :;): :

1. But do easyboot still complain that it can’t find the command?
2. In your example, what options do you check (if needed) when creating ISO in EasyBoot - Joliet and “Allow lower case” – is these needed when building ISO?

Balder
Posted by Ursus on Sep. 11 2010,14:11
yes EZBOOT still complains that "Boot Image File" of isolinux.bin /foo=bar "not Exist!" but it works when the menu is executed

I create the ISO from UltraISO and not from ezboot directly



this is multiboot for DOS/XP/Linux

Posted by balder on Sep. 11 2010,14:22
@Ursus

Okay – I see.
But is it necessary to check “DOS (8:3)” ???
This might limit your build in case you want setup of NT5-systems onboard your CD/DVD :O

But anyway it’s interesting that you at all can launch linux application this way – thanks for sharing your “know-how” – working solutions are always welcome :)

Regards balder
Posted by Ursus on Sep. 14 2010,17:37
CODE
bcdw isolinux.bin /pmagic/bzImage initrd=/pmagic/initramfs edd=off root=/dev/ram0 rw vga=791 livemedia

That works for launching Parted Magic latest release. Just copy the /pmagic directory and its subdirectory onto the disk