[syslinux] Heads up on syslinux breakage in Ubuntu

[Geert Stappers]

On Sun, Nov 08, 2015 at 01:34:26AM +0100, Celelibi via Syslinux wrote:
> 2015-11-07 23:00 UTC+01:00, Tim Fletcher via Syslinux <syslinux op zytor.com>:
> > On 07/11/15 19:38, Ady via Syslinux wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Just a heads up that syslinux is broken in the current Ubuntu, syslinux
> >>> just shows "Boot error". Downgrading to syslinux from 15.04 works
> >>> perfectly.
> >>>
> >>> Ubuntu bug is here:
> >>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/usb-creator/+bug/1499746
> >>>
> >>> This is mostly in case anyone shows up on the mailing list with a
> >>> mystery broken syslinux from latest Ubuntu.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> Just a hunch: this might be related to gcc5+.
> >
> > That was my hunch too, having been bitten with gcc5 and arm kernels
> > during the same time.
> >
> >
> >
> 
> As I expected, this bug shows up more and more. There is a fix available.
> http://www.syslinux.org/archives/2015-September/024318.html
> http://www.syslinux.org/archives/2015-September/024319.html
> 
> Unfortunately it hasn't been merged upstream yet. I hope it will be
> soon. I also hope it will be part of the (soon to come) release of
> 6.04. But AFAIK, it's up to Gene.

Tradition in Syslinux has indeed shown that a single person does a release.

Whoever is doing the next release: just do it
Don't worry what _might_ go wrong, enjoy what went fine.


> However, regarding this bug report for Ubuntu, yes, since it worked
> with ubuntu 15.04 but not with ubuntu 15.10, it might be the gcc5 bug.
> However, this would require a confirmation, like recompiling it with
> the above patches and trying again.
> 
> @Gene: Could you please merge the gcc5 fix soon?

Introduced at http://www.syslinux.org/archives/2015-September/024317.html
actual patches in other postings, see further above for URL


> We will fix the linker scripts later.

I'm not sure if it is http://www.syslinux.org/archives/2015-September/024319.html
which has lines like:

--- a/core/i386/syslinux.ld
+++ b/core/i386/syslinux.ld
@@ -255,10 +255,9 @@ SECTIONS
 	. = 0x100000;
 
 	__pm_code_start = .;
+	__vma_to_lma = __pm_code_lma - __pm_code_start;
 
-	__text_vma = .;
-	__text_lma = __pm_code_lma;
-	.text : AT(__text_lma) {
+	.text : AT(ADDR(.text) + __vma_to_lma) {
 		FILL(0x90909090)
 		__text_start = .;
 		*(.text)



But it is not important that is the linker patch.

Important is that the Syslinux project evolves further.


Thing I'm try to say:
  moving is better then non-moving


Groeten
Geert Stappers
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