HDT - Hardware Detection Tool

What is HDT?

HDT (stands for Hardware Detection Tool) is a Syslinux com32 module that displays low-level information for any x86 compatible system. It provides both a command line interface and a semi-graphical menu mode for browsing.

Documentation

How can I start HDT ?

Usage per subsystem

HDT can inspect multiple subsystems:

• CPU
• PCI devices
• Memory
  • e820 memory map
  • e801 memory map
  • 8800h memory size
• DMI
  • Memory modules
  • BIOS
  • Motherboard
  • IPMI base board (XXX Anyone with screenshots?)
  • Chassis
  • Batteries (XXX Anyone with screenshots?)
  • CPU
  • System
  • Security
  • System reset (XXX Anyone with screenshots?)
• Disks
  • Linux swsusp detection
  • Bootloader detection
  • MBR detection
• Syslinux
• Linux Kernel modules needed by this host
• PXE environment
• VESA

Boot parameters

HDT feature some boot parameters to control its behavior.

• Defining the pci.ids path
• Defining the modules.pcimap path
• Defining the memtest entry
• Disabling the menu mode
• Executing automatic commands

Downloads

The latest version of HDT can be found in the Syslinux tarball under com32/hdt/hdt.c32. Source code and official builds can be downloaded in .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, and .zip formats from  kernel.org.

Builds of the HDT module can also be found below.

Stable

Current release

• hdt-0.3.5 | HDT 0.3.5 for Syslinux 3.83 | 2.88MB floppy image | Bootable ISO image | 2.88MB gzipped floppy image |

Previous releases

• hdt-0.3.4 for Syslinux 3.83
• hdt-0.3.3 for Syslinux 3.75
• hdt-0.3.2 for Syslinux 3.75
• hdt-0.3.1 for Syslinux 3.75

Previous Syslinux releases

• Syslinux 3.83 is featuring HDT 0.3.1
• Syslinux 3.75 is featuring HDT 0.2.7 with a fix to prevent hard lock during pci detection
• Syslinux 3.74 is featuring HDT 0.2.7

Unstable

These are NOT suited for production.

None for now.

Source

The official, latest and stable code is available in the Syslinux tree  syslinux.git, under /com32/hdt.

Development is active in the following trees:

•  Erwan's tree
•  Pierre's tree

Screenshots

Menu displaying system summary

Command line interface inspecting disks

Projects known to use HDT

•  Boot Kernel.org
•  Mandriva Linux since 2009.1
•  Ultimate boot CD since version 5.0
•  Parted Magic since 0.4.0
•  Rescue Is Possible since 8.0
•  Netboot me
• Any other ? Please tell us.

IRC Channel

Developers are usually around on the the #syslinux and #hdt channels of the Freenode network (irc.freenode.net). Feel free to join us for open discussions.

Mailing List

The official mailing-list is hdt@zytor.com.

• You can subscribe to the mailing list  here
• Archives can be browsed online  here

Please submit HDT patches to this mailing-list. syslinux@zytor.com should be CC: for integration patches with Syslinux.

Resources

•  The Syslinux Project

Team

• Erwan Velu (Project Leader)
• Pierre-Alexandre Meyer (Core developer)
• Gert Hulselmans (Contributor)