I wouldn't say it's obscure.. The boot process is identical to any other Linux boot.. :-) Loads of documentation on the web for anyone who cares to use google.
The partition doesn't necessarily have to be an ext2 partition, you can use fat/fat32 if you like.
Basically, you need to check the root dir of the CD to get the configuration file for the bootloader. (the info used to be on amithlon.net, but I don't know if it's there any more).
Then depending on what OS you're running, you can use a dos based Linux launcher (If you have Win9x), or you can use Lilo or Grub.
If you're greeted with NTLOADER, you can always make that boot into lilo or DOS and continue from there. Again, something like nt boot menu and linux in google might help. (those keywords off the top of my head)
Lilo and Grub need at least some kind of Linux to use them - you can most probably find one floppy Linux distros that have the lilo binary on them.. The config file is pretty straight forward if you read the manual for lilo..
By far the easiest way for someone with little Linux experience is to use MS-DOS (or freedos or some other DOS-alike) to boot Amithlon using loadlin.
My page might gives a few hints on the DOS route, but the instructions aren't necessarily good enough if you don't have an idea about loadlin or DOS or making DOS coexist on the same disk with another OS. :-(
