CdBootloader

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Revision 3 as of 2005-11-04 19:44:37
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Editor: 251_220_103_66-WIFI_HOTSPOTS
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Revision 4 as of 2005-11-04 20:14:14
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Editor: 251_220_103_66-WIFI_HOTSPOTS
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 * '''Contributors''': ColinWatson
 * '''Packages affected''': syslinux
 * '''Contributors''': ColinWatson, Fabianx, TollefFogHeen
 * '''Packages affected''': syslinux, gfxboot
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The current i386/amd64 CD boot loader (isolinux) and configuration are not very user-friendly. Prompts can only be displayed in one language, and responses must be typed in by the user.

We should evaluate available options for replacements, and ways to simplify the process for the user, including:

 * Displaying a countdown and automatically continuing after a timeout
 * Allowing language selection from the boot loader
 * Localized help
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=== Data preservation and migration ===
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== Suggestions ==
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{{{
incorporate gfxboot and corresponding syslinux patch as above very early in the dapper cycle; patch is in http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-edge/inst-source/suse/src/syslinux-2.11-16.src.rpm, although it will need to be reduced

CD timeout was removed due to [http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1290 bug #1290], but it was a bug that the timeout kicked in even after pressing a key; this bug has apparently been fixed. We will restore the timeout and set it to something higher than its previous default of 10 seconds, maybe 30.
}}}

Summary

The current i386/amd64 CD boot loader (isolinux) and configuration are not very user-friendly. Prompts can only be displayed in one language, and responses must be typed in by the user.

We should evaluate available options for replacements, and ways to simplify the process for the user, including:

  • Displaying a countdown and automatically continuing after a timeout
  • Allowing language selection from the boot loader
  • Localized help

Rationale

Use cases

Scope

Design

Implementation

Code

Outstanding issues

BoF agenda and discussion

I would suggest using gfxboot from SuSE with some patches from me:

gfxboot is mostly used with GRUB, but GRUB does not work for all computers. ISOLINUX + gfxboot is much more safe to use.

See:

http://debian.tu-bs.de/knoppix/experiments/gfxboot/

  • isolinux.bin - Ready made binary
  • suse-knoppix.diff - Changes to the SuSE binary to behave on failure exact like before.
  • *.iso - An iso to test out the isolinux.bin with the default SuSE theme and show off
    • the features.

Newer GFXBOOT-Packages are available from http://kanotix.com/files/debian/pool/main/g/gfxboot/

- Fabian

incorporate gfxboot and corresponding syslinux patch as above very early in the dapper cycle; patch is in http://ftp.opensuse.org/pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-edge/inst-source/suse/src/syslinux-2.11-16.src.rpm, although it will need to be reduced

CD timeout was removed due to [http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1290 bug #1290], but it was a bug that the timeout kicked in even after pressing a key; this bug has apparently been fixed. We will restore the timeout and set it to something higher than its previous default of 10 seconds, maybe 30.

CdBootloader (last edited 2008-08-06 16:32:14 by localhost)