Site News :: Okay, it's official

The "Syslinux thing" is not new. It was the standard booting method used in all versions of Damnsmall through 0.7.3.

When DSL upgraded the kernel and modules based on Knoppix 3.4 it changed to isolinux. Syslinux is limited to a boot floppy image. As more modules where needed to support more and newer hardware, the boot image size became a problem. With isolinux there is plenty of room, there is no floppy image in the boot directory of the cd. .

Now, some older computer's BIOS that COULD boot from syslinux CANNOT recognize and there cannot boot using isolinux. Many requests have come to me to make an syslinux version to support the older hardware.

There is no difference between the two they share a common base. As we release new versions, both isolinux, the standard, and a syslinux will be issued. The syslinux version is based on the boot floppy.

If you have isolinux working there is no need to use the syslinux version. If you have newer hardward, don't even bother with syslinux as it probably will not support the newer hardware.

If your computer would not boot with the current DSL standard (isolinux) but does boot with the boot floppy, then grab the "new" syslinux version of the current DSL.

HTH

Robert,

Thanks for the explanation and the extra work in making the syslinux version. What file in this syslinux version would you say is the actual boot file? Is it the floppy image or is there a symlink that points to the floppy image. I guess what I'm asking is, which file does a normal bios look for when tring to boot a syslinux OS? Yes, I'm still trying to get my Thin Client to boot.

Robert,
Now that I have downloaded the syslinux version, I can see that it must be the /KNOPPIX/boot.img that boots the system as no other files exist, I will try pointing the Netvista Thin Client there, but don't hold out much hope as it appears to be looking for a specific type of file, it actully started to load the Isolinux boot file, then errored out saying that it was an uncompatable file type. Mabe if I changed the name of the boot.img to whatever it's looking for (I think its /kernel.2200). If anybody has any ideas, I'm all ears.

Try pointing it to the linux24 file and see if anything good happens.

Just wanted to pipe up with the fact that I'm one of the users who needs the syslinux version. Nearly sh** when the original 0.9.1 wouldn't boot when previous ones have ben running well. In fact, on this P133MMX maxed out with 64MB RAM, it's the only Linux that supports Firefox with acceptable response times.

Thanks guys.

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