Multi-OS CDROM

willichan · 06-17-2003, 12:24 PM

I have multiple Linux-on-CD images, as well as a few DOS/WIndows-on-CD images that I use for various system recovery/demonstration/configuration purposes. All of these images are small enough to fit on a single 80min CDROM.

Is anyone aware of a way to have multiple boot images of varying OS's on a single CDROM with a boot menu (lilo?)?

If this is an inappropriate question for this forum, are there any suggestions as to where I might find help on this one?

zmedico · 06-17-2003, 12:55 PM

It's easy to create a multisession cd, but getting those sessions to boot is another story. I guess you'll need a really special boot loader.

jchristman · 06-17-2003, 01:13 PM

I have not done this yet, but if you get it done please post it.

you will need to write a boot.cat file (boot.img) for floppy.

like the boot file for linux that says F3 -export
but instead F3 - windows
F2 - linux
F1- ????

something like that should do it.

zmedico · 06-17-2003, 02:17 PM

I did a google for "el torito" and multiboot and found some info:

Quote:

You can build a multiboot CD-Rom using isolinux and "memdisk". Memdisk simulates a disk by claiming a chunk of high memory for the disk and a (very small - 2K typical) chunk of low (DOS) memory for the driver itself, then hooking the INT 13h (disk driver) and INT 15h (memory query) BIOS interrupts. Memdisk is very fast! (http://syslinux.zytor.com/)