MultibootStandard

MultibootStandard is a specification designed to facilitate the booting of multiple operating systems from a single bootloader on x86-compatible personal computers. Developed as an alternative to the older Multiboot specification, it provides a more flexible and modern interface for bootloaders to interact with operating systems during the boot process.

The standard was introduced to address limitations in the original Multiboot protocol, particularly in handling memory management, command-line arguments, and module loading. It defines a structured way for bootloaders to pass information to the operating system, including memory map details, boot device information, and optional command-line parameters. This allows for greater compatibility and functionality in modern operating systems and bootloaders.

MultibootStandard is widely supported by popular bootloaders such as GRUB (version 2 and later) and systemd-boot, as well as many Linux distributions and other Unix-like operating systems. It is particularly useful in environments where multiple operating systems are installed on the same machine, enabling seamless switching between them.

The specification is maintained by the community and is often referenced in documentation for bootloader development. While it is not as widely adopted as the older Multiboot standard in some legacy systems, its growing popularity reflects its role in supporting modern boot requirements. MultibootStandard remains a key tool for developers and users seeking a reliable method for multiboot configurations.