Syslinux SDI support
Introduction
This page used to host a syslinux-2.11 patch (released in 2004) to boot Microsoft® SDI files with Syslinux.
SDI (System Deployment Image) is a "portable file format" for Windows® XP Embedded images.
Since SDI loading support has been added in Syslinux 3.63 (sdi.c32 com32 module), this patch has become obsolete.
You should therefore use mainline Syslinux instead.
Why use Syslinux to boot SDI image files ?
- Syslinux is open source software: you can contribute to improve it and customize it for your needs.
- You can benefit from every Syslinux derivative:
- boot your SDI file from network with PXELINUX.
- boot your SDI file from CD-ROM or DVD with ISOLINUX.
- boot your SDI file from hard drive or USB key with Syslinux.
- PXELINUX has been reported to be faster in TFTP than startrom.n12 (XP Embedded TFTP loader).
- You can use PXELINUX and gPXE to boot SDI files through other protocols like HTTP (for even faster transfer rate and TCP reliability), iSCSI or AoE.
- You can gzip your SDI file to improve transfer time and stockage requirements.
- You can benefit from existing and incoming syslinux features (menus, chainloading, PXELINUX DHCP options, ...)
Documentation
Refer to Syslinux wiki documentation.
Documentation is also included in syslinux source code archives in /doc subdirectory.
SDI support is based on Saad Syed's article "RAM Boot Using SDI in Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 1".
You can find here some information about SDI files header format.
Support
If you use Syslinux to load your SDI file, Syslinux mailing list seems appropriate.
History
Historical patch in assembly language for syslinux-2.11 can be found here.
Related documentation is there.