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 ?

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

Dumping hardware Information

HDT is able to dump hardware information, please consult the Dump page

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
• Dumping parameters

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.

Testing

• 0.5.0-beta2| com32 module | 1.44MB floppy image | Bootable ISO image | 1.44MB gzipped floppy image | Checksums |

Stable

Current release

• 0.4.1 | com32 module | 1.44MB floppy image | Bootable ISO image | 1.44MB gzipped floppy image | checksums

Previous releases

• hdt-0.4.0
• hdt-0.3.6
• hdt-0.3.5 for Syslinux 3.83
• 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

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

Summary mode from menu while using a real serial interface

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
•  grml
•  g4l
• 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 (Testing)
• Alexander Andino (Design & Art)