[syslinux] [PATCH 0/8] extlinux: support unmounted ext2/3/4 filesystem

[Ady]

> Hello syslinux,
> 
> Merry Christmas! These patches will make extlinux work with umounted
> ext2/3/4 filesystem, for example:
> 
> $ extlinux -i /dev/sdXN
> or
> $ extlinux -i file_block
> 
> Also it can work with something like:
> $ extlinux /dev/sdXN  --reset-adv
> or
> $ extlinux file_block --reset-adv
> 
 
Thank you.

The 'extlinux' command supports several (mounted) filesystems, not only 
extN. This series of patches seems to be relevant for extN only. From 
users' perspective, for the same binary to have different capabilities 
depending on the filesystem in question could easily trigger 
misunderstandings and demand more resources for support and 
clarify/update documentation.

The 'syslinux' command expects for the filesystem not to be mounted, 
and uses the corresponding device as argument.  

Users already have enough troubles with so-called "tutorials" about The 
Syslinux Project, misstating commands, mixing versions and what not.  

>From users' perspective, there is a chance that it would be easier to 
see the 'syslinux' command supporting extN (in addition to FAT/NTFS) 
than to change how the 'extlinux' command is expected to work (for any 
other supported filesystem). This is only natural, considering that the 
SYSLINUX and EXTLINUX bootloaders have been merged since version 4.00.

Could this feature be integrated to the 'syslinux' command(s), rather 
than to the 'extlinux' one?

TIA,
Ady.