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Shingetsu

Member

Registered: 2012-09-15

Posts: 27

Syslinux runs out of memory on memdisk

I'm trying to boot an iso image (of type CD installer, 600mb) using memdisk.
Since it contains an MBR and all, I'm using it as a hybridiso (harddisk).

LABEL test
    MENU LABEL iso-test 
    LINUX memdisk
    INITRD ../test.iso
    APPEND harddisk

It starts loading it, but then says it runs out of memory.
Now test.iso is a bit over 600mb in size.
While I have 6gb of RAM.
Is there something obvious I'm missing?

WonderWoofy

Member

From: Los Gatos, CA

Registered: 2012-05-19

Posts: 8,414

Re: Syslinux runs out of memory on memdisk

I honestly have no idea what you are asking here…

First you mention what sounds like an optical installer, then something about a hard disk.  Please explain exactly what you are trying to do here.

Shingetsu

Member

Registered: 2012-09-15

Posts: 27

Re: Syslinux runs out of memory on memdisk

I have the iso image on my hard drive.
In /boot
SYSLINUX is capable to directly load it into the ram through the MEMDISK extension, see http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php/MEMDISK.
My problem, is that system appears to run out of memory, despite having ~10x more than required.

the.ridikulus.rat

Member

From: Indiana, USA

Registered: 2011-10-04

Posts: 765

Re: Syslinux runs out of memory on memdisk

I have the iso image on my hard drive.
In /boot
SYSLINUX is capable to directly load it into the ram through the MEMDISK extension, see http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php/MEMDISK.
My problem, is that system appears to run out of memory, despite having ~10x more than required.

Syslinux memdisk is a 32-bit application and relies on old BIOS calls to virtualize the ISO in RAM. I think you are hitting some kind of limitation due to 32-bit or the BIOS. Better to ask this question in irc #syslinux or syslinux mailing-list.

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solar

Member

Registered: 2011-03-01

Posts: 77

Re: Syslinux runs out of memory on memdisk

as someone says, you will be launching a 32 but environment, so max 3.2 GB? or so. The squasfs will be roughly 1800 MB on that oine, plus say 50% 'free' space, so 3.6 GB needed.. which 32 bit doesn't address, hence the issue, regardless of the amount of ram you have. That is assuming the memdisk option there is correct. I am not sure if one would be using other commands (say linux16, memdisk16 etc).

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nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,362

Re: Syslinux runs out of memory on memdisk

You need APPEND iso or raw.

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