Syslinux

SYSLINUX is a bootloader originally designed for Linux systems that operates on MS-DOS or Windows FAT file systems. With its flexibility, it allows you to configure multiboot environments so you can start different operating systems or utilities from a single storage device.

Create a Multiboot Environment

With SYSLINUX, you can easily set up a multi-boot configuration. This lets you choose, at startup, which operating system to boot—whether Linux, Windows, or another environment. This feature is ideal for testing multiple distributions or combining a production system with a recovery system on the same machine.

Create Bootable Media

SYSLINUX gives you the tools to create various bootable media:

• Bootable floppy disks, useful for minimalist boot setups on older or embedded systems.
• Bootable CD/DVDs based on the ISO 9660 or El Torito standard, made possible through the ISOLINUX variant.
• Bootable USB drives or memory images via MEMDISK, allowing utilities or systems to run directly from RAM.

Integration of Derived Projects

SYSLINUX relies on a suite of complementary projects that significantly extend its capabilities:

• PXELINUX for remote booting via a TFTP server, useful in networked environments.
• ISOLINUX for creating bootable optical media.
• EXTLINUX for booting directly from Linux partitions (ext2, ext3, ext4).
• MEMDISK for loading disk or ISO images into memory, making it easier to run virtual boot environments.