PXELINUX

PXELINUX is a PXE bootloader for Linux that is part of the Syslinux project. It enables systems to boot Linux over a network by delivering the necessary kernel and initial RAM disk via TFTP in response to a PXE or BOOTP boot request. The first stage, typically pxelinux.0, is loaded by the client from the TFTP server, after which the boot process is governed by a configuration on the server.

Configuration is read from the PXE configuration directory, commonly pxelinux.cfg, with a default file and optional per-client configurations. Boot entries are defined with labels that specify a kernel image via KERNEL, an initial ramdisk via INITRD, and kernel parameters via APPEND. A graphical or text menu can be presented with additional modules like vesamenu.c32.

PXELINUX requires a working TFTP server and, usually, a DHCP server to direct clients to pxelinux.0. It is widely used for automated OS installations and diskless environments. It is still maintained as part of the Syslinux suite, but many environments also use iPXE for advanced features. PXELINUX provides a straightforward approach to network booting.