Feature #12440

Drop GRUB for 32-bit (ia32) UEFI

Added by intrigeri 2017-04-12 07:55:50 . Updated 2018-08-17 06:22:54 .

Status:
Rejected
Priority:
Low
Assignee:
Category:
Installation
Target version:
Start date:
2017-04-12
Due date:
% Done:

0%

Feature Branch:
Type of work:
Code
Blueprint:

Starter:
Affected tool:
Deliverable for:

Description

This commit in syslinux:

commit 7d9c9eca562857fed25b4c8ef902e3de968d7631
Author: Ady <ady-sf@hotmail.com>
Date:   Sun Sep 20 15:35:52 2015 -0400

    core/fs/lib/loadconfig.c: Add architecture-specific config name to search

    When multiple architectures are on a single media, all will try to use the
    same config, preventing PATH from pointing to an architecture-specific
    directory.

    Signed-off-by: Gene Cumm <gene.cumm@gmail.com>

… should allow us to install syslinux’ UEFI *.c32 modules to architecture-specific directories, and use the PATH directive (?) in per-architecture syslinux config files to point to these directories.

If all this works fine then we can simplify a bit our UEFI support: drop GRUB, and use syslinux both for 32-bit and 64-bit UEFI :)

Subtasks

Related issues

Related to Tails - Feature #15806: Use GRUB for USB boot on EFI 64-bit Resolved

History

#1 Updated by intrigeri 2017-04-12 07:56:17

This commit should be in syslinux 6.04 final once it’s released.

#2 Updated by Anonymous 2018-01-15 16:38:17

This syslinux version is still not in Debian, leaving this ticket open.

#3 Updated by intrigeri 2018-02-07 11:52:03

Alternatively, as discussed with segfault elsewhere, one option could be to fully migrate to GRUB and drop syslinux. This would yield the same beneficial outcome: simplify and support one single bootloader. Potential drawbacks: syslinux is much more tested to boot live systems (from DVD and USB) than GRUB, so such a move may introduce regressions on some less standards-compliant hardware/firmware.

#4 Updated by anonym 2018-02-07 14:12:03

intrigeri wrote:
> Alternatively, as discussed with segfault elsewhere, one option could be to fully migrate to GRUB and drop syslinux. This would yield the same beneficial outcome: simplify and support one single bootloader. Potential drawbacks: syslinux is much more tested to boot live systems (from DVD and USB) than GRUB, so such a move may introduce regressions on some less standards-compliant hardware/firmware.

Actually, I think GRUB on USB is pretty well tested (I’ve had several such systems for years, and never seen any difference compared to hard drives). Perhaps a better trade-off is to keep using isolinux for DVD, and move to GRUB for everything else?

#5 Updated by intrigeri 2018-08-17 06:22:54

  • Status changed from Confirmed to Rejected
  • Assignee deleted (intrigeri)

intrigeri wrote:
> Alternatively, as discussed with segfault elsewhere, one option could be to fully migrate to GRUB and drop syslinux.

I think we’ll need to switch to GRUB2 for Feature #6560 so let’s not bother with this ticket. I’m not sure what we’ll do for DVD boot but after Feature #15292 the ISO images will only be supported for VMs that typically haven’t Secure Boot enabled, so we can as well keep using isolinux there.

#6 Updated by intrigeri 2018-08-18 14:18:40

  • related to Feature #15806: Use GRUB for USB boot on EFI 64-bit added