[syslinux] Pxelinux Image size restriction?

[H. Peter Anvin]

Erik Dykema wrote:
> Hi-
>     Is there any size restriction (maximum?) on the size of kernels or
> initrd.gz images that pxelinux can fetch over the network and load?
>     We are currently loading a 730k kernel, and a 2.1 megabyte initrd.gz
> image, and everything is working fine.  It would be nice, however, to
> load larger images that have more stuff on them.  Is there any inherent
> maximum (other than system ram) to how large of an image we could load?
>     For example, we could compile more drivers into the initrd.gz image,
> and it would become 6 megabytes.  Is this too large for pxelinux, the
> PXE protocol, or typical hardware to handle?
> 

The only limit is that if the image is compressed, the compressed *plus*
the uncompressed image needs to fit in system RAM.

That being said, I have successfully downloaded images over 512 MB in size.

	-hpa