[syslinux] [syslinux:master] efi/pxe: Reuse handle

[Gene Cumm]

On Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 12:32 PM, Patrick Masotta <masottaus at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>  As stated before,
>  it is my understanding that the Elitebook 2560p/8460p devices _are_compliant_ with
>  UEFI-2.0 which stated to use an SNP directly under PXEBC while UEFI-2.1 stated to use a MNP
>  directly under the PXEBC.  Please don't call these devices non-compliant UNLESS you
>  are more specific.
>  <<<
>
> Hi Gene,
> you could be right; the problem is that HP (and others)
> in general do not say the version of UEFI their FWs are compliant with.
> I think I can say today they are not compliant because the last
> FW revision for i.e. 8460p was released 31 Mar 2015; if you are right
> and they were initially based on UEFI 2.0 shouldn't they update
> to newer UEFI versions?? UEFI 2.0 is almost 10 years old !

I agree it's aged but unfortunately it's probably too late.  In my
general experience with PC BIOSs/firmwares, there's only 6-18 months
after the release of the first successor product that they *might*
bother with anything beyond bug fixes unless it's a platform with a
5-10+ year lifespan.  Most PCs are designed with an intended 3-year
lifespan while often lasting 5+.  I've seen select systems designed
for a 7+ year lifespan with warranties and parts availability
guarantees but they're often intended to be stuffed in a closet, not
on someone's desk.

>>>>>
>  Another solution that I'm not sure if anyone has tried with
>  these devices that are UEFI-2.0-compliant and UEFI-2.1-noncompliant is using
>  iPXE to stack ontop of the underlying firmware to run Syslinux.
> <<<<
>
> # grep  EFI_UDP4_SERVICE_BINDING_PROTOCOL_GUID ./ -r
> over iPXE source didn't show iPXE installing the missing Service Binding
> protocols then syslinux.efi will fail at the same place when trying to find
> the missing SB.

$ git grep -in 'udp.*service.*binding'
$ git grep -in 'udp4'

shows multiple matches in various formats though I agree it doesn't
appear it provides the bindings.

-- 
-Gene