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 * Extlinux cannot boot from ext4 partitions with certain features enabled as documented in the [[http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Filesystem#ext|syslinux wiki]].
   * Most important is the 64bit feature, which is enabled by default when creating new ext4 filsystems since e2fsprogs 1.43 (stretch). Explicitly disable this feature when creating a partition you want to boot from with extlinux by using `-O ^64bit`.
 * Booting from xfs partitions does not work, see Bug DebianBug:803938		  * Extlinux cannot boot from ext4 filesystems with the 64bit feature enabled as documented in the [[http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Filesystem#ext|syslinux wiki]], see Bug DebianBug:833057. The 64bit feature is enabled by default on Debian stretch and can be disabled by passing `-O ^64bit` to `mkfs.ext4`.
 * Booting from xfs filesystems does not work, see Bug DebianBug:803938

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The SYSLINUX Project covers a suite of lightweight BootLoaders, for starting up computers operating system.

Overview

  • the original SYSLINUX, used for booting from File Allocation Table - FAT - filesystems (usually floppy discs);
  • ISOLINUX, used for booting from CD-ROM ISO 9660 filesystems;
  • PXELINUX, used for booting from a network server using the Pre-eXecution Environment (PXE) system;
  • EXTLINUX, used to boot from Linux ext2/ext3 filesystems;
  • MEMDISK, used to boot older operating systems like MS-DOS from these media.

Syslinux and Debian

Debian uses syslinux for purposes :

IsoLinux :

Debian Installation CDs and DVDs (on i386, amd64, and maybe others) uses syslinux' isolinux.

PxeLinux :

Debian Installer's Netboot uses syslinux' pxelinux.

Known Issues

  • Extlinux cannot boot from ext4 filesystems with the 64bit feature enabled as documented in the syslinux wiki, see Bug 833057. The 64bit feature is enabled by default on Debian stretch and can be disabled by passing -O ^64bit to mkfs.ext4.

  • Booting from xfs filesystems does not work, see Bug 803938

  • There is an issue with booting from btrfs, see Bug 865462

See also