[syslinux] PXELINUX

[Sean Lv]

Hi hpa

            

            I am using Syslinux 3.72, all module and core was extracted from
version 3.72. And I am sure the file was download from official web site.
(Also, I have tested Syslinux 3.71 with same error)

            I can nearly dare say Syslinux 3.72 have compatibility issue
with Realtek 8111B/C/D NIC, at least if syslinux loads the menu modules,
both menu.c32 and vesamenu.c32. 

            As the description in my pervious mail, I can boot to Images
successfully with CLI interface, such as memdisk initrd=win98.img, but it
did not work if I boot Images via menu.c32 and vesamenu.c32 interface.  I
could be sure that the DEFAULT file is right, because I can boot any Images
via Menu interface on VMware machine.

 

            These days, I tested my PXE system on different hardware
platform, include Gigabyte G33, EG43M, and ASUS M3A78-EMH. I found that the
PXELINUX with Menu module loaded were all hanged if the motherboard has
built-in Realtek 8111B/C/D NIC. Fortunately,   I found a new released BIOS
version F6 for Gigabyte EG43M and I upgraded the BIOS, then it works.
Because when I completed the upgrade, I found the PXE boot ROM from version
v2.09 (071017) upgrade to v2.21(080908).   However, for G33 MB, I am not so
fortunate, even I upgraded the newest beta BIOS, the PXE ROM version could
reach v2.06(070425)  as the most updated. And this version did not work well
with syslinux 3.72.     I believe most of motherboard with built-in Realtek
8111B/C/D NIC are using 2.06 around version as PXE boot ROM.  

 

            Do you have any idea?  It's appreciated if you could help on
this.  I am managing about 2000 client PCs, and 30% of these have RTL
8111B/C/D NIC, which have compatibility issue with syslinux 3.72. I really
do not want upgrade PXE ROM for all these PC, actually, for some models, I
could find the newer version of PXE BOOT ROM.

            

            

 

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Jie Lv" <jie.lv.mvp at gmail.com>
To: syslinux at zytor.com
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 12:55:10 +0800
Subject: Re: [syslinux] PXELINUX
I had another try on G33-DS3R motherboard, if I hold-press the shift key and
input the boot command manually, it works.  I am not sure if vasemenu.c32
have compatibility issue with this motherboard.

On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 11:18 PM, Sean Lv <jie.lv.mvp at gmail.com> wrote:

>  I met the same problem. I use Gigabytes G33-DS3R motherboard with
> built-in NIC Realtek 8111B. I can boot to syslinux boot menu(using
> vasemenu.c32) via PXE boot(pxelinux.0). However, when I choose any item of
> the menu, the system is halt. Also, I test with same process on DELL Oplex
> 755, it could boot to any item without error.
>
>
>
>
>



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "H. Peter Anvin" <hpa at zytor.com>
To: For discussion of Syslinux and tftp-hpa <syslinux at zytor.com>
Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:24:28 -0800
Subject: Re: [syslinux] PXELINUX
Jie Lv wrote:
> I had another try on G33-DS3R motherboard, if I hold-press the shift key
and
> input the boot command manually, it works.  I am not sure if vasemenu.c32
> have compatibility issue with this motherboard.

What version of syslinux are you using, and have you made sure you have
the latest version of the modules as well as the core?

       -hpa

 

 

Thanks

 

Best Regards

 

Sean Lv Jie