Boot-US vs SYSLINUX
Boot-US
boot-us.deSYSLINUX
syslinux.orgSide by side
| Figure | Boot-US | SYSLINUX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 1 |
| Spec score · Boot Manager Software | 9.0 (#1) | 7.2 (#22) |
| Configuration | The package includes a graphical Windows configuration program and command-line versions for Windows and 64-bit Linux. | Boot settings can be configured in a text file named syslinux.cfg. |
| Purpose | Boot-US is a universal boot manager for using existing operating systems independently of one another. | Syslinux is a suite of bootloaders for Linux, including loaders for FAT filesystems, PXE network booting, ISO9660 CD-ROMs, and Linux ext2/ext3 filesystems. |
| Support | The author says licensed users' questions should be answered within a working day, while answers for non-licensed users may take from a day to a week. | The project README points users to a SYSLINUX mailing list for support details. |
Plans
Boot-US
- Private PC / public school useFree
- Boot-US 4.x.x · 1 PC€24.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x, 1 PC$24.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x · 5 PCs€59.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x, 5 PCs$59.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x · 20 PCs€119.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x, 20 PCs$119.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x · 100 PCs€299.50, paid once
- Boot-US 4.x.x, 100 PCs$299.50, paid once
In their own words
Boot-US
Boot-US is a boot manager for x86 machines that lets you start existing operating systems independently, including multiple separate Windows systems. It supports both BIOS and UEFI booting and works with MBR and GPT disks of any size. The package has a graphical configuration program for Windows and command-line versions for Windows and 64-bit Linux. It also includes tools to inspect partition details, hide partitions, and back up or restore disks and partitions. The site lists version 4.2.4, including a Linux 64-bit command-line version and a service for restoring UEFI variables when Windows starts or shuts down. SHA256 values are listed for that version’s downloads. The non-licensed package is free for private PCs and public schools, and can be tried for one month. Commercial use requires a license after the trial. Listed licenses are one-time payments, starting at €24.50 for one PC; some password protection functions require a version 4 license. The license page says the software is provided without warranty and used at the user’s own risk.
SYSLINUX
SYSLINUX is free software comprising bootloaders for starting Linux and other systems from several media types. SYSLINUX boots from MS-DOS or Windows FAT filesystems, PXELINUX handles PXE network booting, ISOLINUX starts ISO9660 CD-ROMs, and EXTLINUX supports Linux ext2 and ext3 filesystems. MEMDISK loads legacy operating systems from supported media. Boot settings are placed in a text file named syslinux.cfg, while documented modules provide menu and graphical menu interfaces. Listed capabilities include BIOS and UEFI support, multiboot support, boot-entry editing, and boot-menu customization. Building from source requires Linux and NASM 2.03 or later; NASM 2.07 or newer is recommended. The project is licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or, at the user's option, any later version. Compatibility limits matter: FAT filesystems with sector sizes other than 512 bytes are unsupported, and UEFI SYSLINUX cannot chainload other EFI applications such as UEFI Shell or Windows Boot Manager. Support information is provided through a SYSLINUX mailing list.