3352 lines
119 KiB
Text
3352 lines
119 KiB
Text
\input texinfo
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@c -*-texinfo-*-
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@c %**start of header
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@setfilename grub.info
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@include version.texi
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@settitle GNU GRUB Manual @value{VERSION}
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@c Unify all our little indices for now.
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@syncodeindex fn cp
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@syncodeindex vr cp
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@syncodeindex ky cp
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@syncodeindex pg cp
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@syncodeindex tp cp
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@c %**end of header
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@footnotestyle separate
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@paragraphindent 3
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@finalout
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@copying
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This manual is for GNU GRUB (version @value{VERSION},
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@value{UPDATED}).
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Copyright @copyright{} 1999,2000,2001,2002,2004,2006,2008,2009,2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
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@quotation
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Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
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under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
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any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
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Invariant Sections.
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@end quotation
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@end copying
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@dircategory Kernel
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@direntry
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* GRUB: (grub). The GRand Unified Bootloader
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* grub-install: (grub)Invoking grub-install. Install GRUB on your drive
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* grub-mkconfig: (grub)Invoking grub-mkconfig. Generate GRUB configuration
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* grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2: (grub)Invoking grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2.
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@end direntry
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@setchapternewpage odd
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@titlepage
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@sp 10
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@title the GNU GRUB manual
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@subtitle The GRand Unified Bootloader, version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}.
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@author Gordon Matzigkeit
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@author Yoshinori K. Okuji
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@c The following two commands start the copyright page.
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@page
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@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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@insertcopying
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@end titlepage
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@c Output the table of contents at the beginning.
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@contents
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@finalout
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@headings double
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@ifnottex
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@node Top
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@top GNU GRUB manual
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This is the documentation of GNU GRUB, the GRand Unified Bootloader,
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a flexible and powerful boot loader program for a wide range of
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architectures.
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This edition documents version @value{VERSION}.
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@insertcopying
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@end ifnottex
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@menu
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* Introduction:: Capturing the spirit of GRUB
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* Naming convention:: Names of your drives in GRUB
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* Installation:: Installing GRUB on your drive
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* Booting:: How to boot different operating systems
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* Configuration:: Writing your own configuration file
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* Network:: Downloading OS images from a network
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* Serial terminal:: Using GRUB via a serial line
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* Vendor power-on keys:: Changing GRUB behaviour on vendor power-on keys
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* Images:: GRUB image files
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* Filesystem:: Filesystem syntax and semantics
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* Interface:: The menu and the command-line
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* Commands:: The list of available builtin commands
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* Security:: Authentication and authorisation
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* Supported kernels:: The list of supported kernels
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* Troubleshooting:: Error messages produced by GRUB
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* Invoking grub-install:: How to use the GRUB installer
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* Invoking grub-mkconfig:: Generate a GRUB configuration file
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* Invoking grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2::
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Generate GRUB password hashes
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* Obtaining and Building GRUB:: How to obtain and build GRUB
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* Reporting bugs:: Where you should send a bug report
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* Future:: Some future plans on GRUB
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* Internals:: Hacking GRUB
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* Copying This Manual:: Copying This Manual
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* Index::
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@end menu
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@node Introduction
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@chapter Introduction to GRUB
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@menu
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* Overview:: What exactly GRUB is and how to use it
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* History:: From maggot to house fly
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* Features:: GRUB features
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* Changes from GRUB Legacy:: Differences from previous versions
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* Role of a boot loader:: The role of a boot loader
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@end menu
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@node Overview
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@section Overview
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Briefly, a @dfn{boot loader} is the first software program that runs when
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a computer starts. It is responsible for loading and transferring
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control to an operating system @dfn{kernel} software (such as Linux or
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GNU Mach). The kernel, in turn, initializes the rest of the operating
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system (e.g. a GNU system).
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GNU GRUB is a very powerful boot loader, which can load a wide variety
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of free operating systems, as well as proprietary operating systems with
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chain-loading@footnote{@dfn{chain-load} is the mechanism for loading
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unsupported operating systems by loading another boot loader. It is
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typically used for loading DOS or Windows.}. GRUB is designed to
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address the complexity of booting a personal computer; both the
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program and this manual are tightly bound to that computer platform,
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although porting to other platforms may be addressed in the future.
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One of the important features in GRUB is flexibility; GRUB understands
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filesystems and kernel executable formats, so you can load an arbitrary
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operating system the way you like, without recording the physical
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position of your kernel on the disk. Thus you can load the kernel
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just by specifying its file name and the drive and partition where the
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kernel resides.
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When booting with GRUB, you can use either a command-line interface
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(@pxref{Command-line interface}), or a menu interface (@pxref{Menu
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interface}). Using the command-line interface, you type the drive
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specification and file name of the kernel manually. In the menu
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interface, you just select an OS using the arrow keys. The menu is
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based on a configuration file which you prepare beforehand
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(@pxref{Configuration}). While in the menu, you can switch to the
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command-line mode, and vice-versa. You can even edit menu entries
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before using them.
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In the following chapters, you will learn how to specify a drive, a
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partition, and a file name (@pxref{Naming convention}) to GRUB, how to
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install GRUB on your drive (@pxref{Installation}), and how to boot your
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OSes (@pxref{Booting}), step by step.
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@node History
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@section History of GRUB
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GRUB originated in 1995 when Erich Boleyn was trying to boot the GNU
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Hurd with the University of Utah's Mach 4 microkernel (now known as GNU
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Mach). Erich and Brian Ford designed the Multiboot Specification
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(@pxref{Top, Multiboot Specification, Motivation, multiboot, The Multiboot
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Specification}), because they were determined not to add to the large
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number of mutually-incompatible PC boot methods.
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Erich then began modifying the FreeBSD boot loader so that it would
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understand Multiboot. He soon realized that it would be a lot easier
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to write his own boot loader from scratch than to keep working on the
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FreeBSD boot loader, and so GRUB was born.
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Erich added many features to GRUB, but other priorities prevented him
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from keeping up with the demands of its quickly-expanding user base. In
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1999, Gordon Matzigkeit and Yoshinori K. Okuji adopted GRUB as an
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official GNU package, and opened its development by making the latest
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sources available via anonymous CVS. @xref{Obtaining and Building
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GRUB}, for more information.
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Over the next few years, GRUB was extended to meet many needs, but it
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quickly became clear that its design was not keeping up with the extensions
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being made to it, and we reached the point where it was very difficult to
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make any further changes without breaking existing features. Around 2002,
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Yoshinori K. Okuji started work on PUPA (Preliminary Universal Programming
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Architecture for GNU GRUB), aiming to rewrite the core of GRUB to make it
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cleaner, safer, more robust, and more powerful. PUPA was eventually renamed
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to GRUB 2, and the original version of GRUB was renamed to GRUB Legacy.
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Small amounts of maintenance continued to be done on GRUB Legacy, but the
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last release (0.97) was made in 2005 and at the time of writing it seems
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unlikely that there will be another.
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By around 2007, GNU/Linux distributions started to use GRUB 2 to limited
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extents, and by the end of 2009 multiple major distributions were installing
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it by default.
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@node Changes from GRUB Legacy
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@section Differences from previous versions
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GRUB 2 is a rewrite of GRUB (@pxref{History}), although it shares many
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characteristics with the previous version, now known as GRUB Legacy. Users
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of GRUB Legacy may need some guidance to find their way around this new
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version.
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@itemize @bullet
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@item
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The configuration file has a new name (@file{grub.cfg} rather than
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@file{menu.lst} or @file{grub.conf}), new syntax (@pxref{Configuration}) and
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many new commands (@pxref{Commands}). Configuration cannot be copied over
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directly, although most GRUB Legacy users should not find the syntax too
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surprising.
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@item
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@file{grub.cfg} is typically automatically generated by
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@command{grub-mkconfig} (@pxref{Simple configuration}). This makes it
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easier to handle versioned kernel upgrades.
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@item
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Partition numbers in GRUB device names now start at 1, not 0 (@pxref{Naming
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convention}).
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@item
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The configuration file is now written in something closer to a full
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scripting language: variables, conditionals, and loops are available.
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@item
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A small amount of persistent storage is available across reboots, using the
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@command{save_env} and @command{load_env} commands in GRUB and the
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@command{grub-editenv} utility.
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@item
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GRUB 2 has more reliable ways to find its own files and those of target
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kernels on multiple-disk systems, and has commands (@pxref{search}) to find
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devices using file system labels or Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs).
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@item
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GRUB 2 is available for several other types of system in addition to the PC
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BIOS systems supported by GRUB Legacy: PC EFI, PC coreboot, PowerPC, SPARC,
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and MIPS Lemote Yeeloong are all supported.
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@item
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Many more file systems are supported, including but not limited to ext4,
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HFS+, and NTFS.
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@item
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GRUB 2 can read files directly from LVM and RAID devices.
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@item
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A graphical terminal and a graphical menu system are available.
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@item
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GRUB 2's interface can be translated, including menu entry names.
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@item
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The image files (@pxref{Images}) that make up GRUB have been reorganised;
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Stage 1, Stage 1.5, and Stage 2 are no more.
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@item
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GRUB 2 puts many facilities in dynamically loaded modules, allowing the core
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image to be smaller, and allowing the core image to be built in more
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flexible ways.
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@end itemize
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@node Features
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@section GRUB features
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The primary requirement for GRUB is that it be compliant with the
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@dfn{Multiboot Specification}, which is described in @ref{Top, Multiboot
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Specification, Motivation, multiboot, The Multiboot Specification}.
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The other goals, listed in approximate order of importance, are:
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@itemize @bullet{}
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@item
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Basic functions must be straightforward for end-users.
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@item
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Rich functionality to support kernel experts and designers.
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@item
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Backward compatibility for booting FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and
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Linux. Proprietary kernels (such as DOS, Windows NT, and OS/2) are
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supported via a chain-loading function.
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@end itemize
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Except for specific compatibility modes (chain-loading and the Linux
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@dfn{piggyback} format), all kernels will be started in much the same
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state as in the Multiboot Specification. Only kernels loaded at 1 megabyte
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or above are presently supported. Any attempt to load below that
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boundary will simply result in immediate failure and an error message
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reporting the problem.
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In addition to the requirements above, GRUB has the following features
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(note that the Multiboot Specification doesn't require all the features
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that GRUB supports):
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@table @asis
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@item Recognize multiple executable formats
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Support many of the @dfn{a.out} variants plus @dfn{ELF}. Symbol
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tables are also loaded.
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@item Support non-Multiboot kernels
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Support many of the various free 32-bit kernels that lack Multiboot
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compliance (primarily FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and
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Linux). Chain-loading of other boot loaders is also supported.
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@item Load multiples modules
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Fully support the Multiboot feature of loading multiple modules.
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@item Load a configuration file
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Support a human-readable text configuration file with preset boot
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commands. You can also load another configuration file dynamically and
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embed a preset configuration file in a GRUB image file. The list of
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commands (@pxref{Commands}) are a superset of those supported on the
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command-line. An example configuration file is provided in
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@ref{Configuration}.
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@item Provide a menu interface
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A menu interface listing preset boot commands, with a programmable
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timeout, is available. There is no fixed limit on the number of boot
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entries, and the current implementation has space for several hundred.
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@item Have a flexible command-line interface
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A fairly flexible command-line interface, accessible from the menu,
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is available to edit any preset commands, or write a new boot command
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set from scratch. If no configuration file is present, GRUB drops to
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the command-line.
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The list of commands (@pxref{Commands}) are a subset of those supported
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for configuration files. Editing commands closely resembles the Bash
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command-line (@pxref{Command Line Editing, Bash, Command Line Editing,
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features, Bash Features}), with @key{TAB}-completion of commands,
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devices, partitions, and files in a directory depending on context.
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@item Support multiple filesystem types
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Support multiple filesystem types transparently, plus a useful explicit
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blocklist notation. The currently supported filesystem types are @dfn{Amiga
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Fast FileSystem (AFFS)}, @dfn{AtheOS fs}, @dfn{BeFS}, @dfn{cpio}, @dfn{Linux
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ext2/ext3/ext4}, @dfn{DOS FAT12/FAT16/FAT32}, @dfn{HFS}, @dfn{HFS+},
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@dfn{ISO9660}, @dfn{JFS}, @dfn{Minix fs}, @dfn{nilfs2}, @dfn{NTFS},
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@dfn{ReiserFS}, @dfn{Amiga Smart FileSystem (SFS)}, @dfn{tar}, @dfn{UDF},
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@dfn{BSD UFS/UFS2}, and @dfn{XFS}. @xref{Filesystem}, for more information.
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@item Support automatic decompression
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Can decompress files which were compressed by @command{gzip}. This
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function is both automatic and transparent to the user (i.e. all
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functions operate upon the uncompressed contents of the specified
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files). This greatly reduces a file size and loading time, a
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particularly great benefit for floppies.@footnote{There are a few
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pathological cases where loading a very badly organized ELF kernel might
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take longer, but in practice this never happen.}
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It is conceivable that some kernel modules should be loaded in a
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compressed state, so a different module-loading command can be specified
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to avoid uncompressing the modules.
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@item Access data on any installed device
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Support reading data from any or all floppies or hard disk(s) recognized
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by the BIOS, independent of the setting of the root device.
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@item Be independent of drive geometry translations
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Unlike many other boot loaders, GRUB makes the particular drive
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translation irrelevant. A drive installed and running with one
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translation may be converted to another translation without any adverse
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effects or changes in GRUB's configuration.
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@item Detect all installed @sc{ram}
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GRUB can generally find all the installed @sc{ram} on a PC-compatible
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machine. It uses an advanced BIOS query technique for finding all
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memory regions. As described on the Multiboot Specification (@pxref{Top,
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Multiboot Specification, Motivation, multiboot, The Multiboot
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Specification}), not all kernels make use of this information, but GRUB
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provides it for those who do.
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@item Support Logical Block Address mode
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In traditional disk calls (called @dfn{CHS mode}), there is a geometry
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translation problem, that is, the BIOS cannot access over 1024
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cylinders, so the accessible space is limited to at least 508 MB and to
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at most 8GB. GRUB can't universally solve this problem, as there is no
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standard interface used in all machines. However, several newer machines
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have the new interface, Logical Block Address (@dfn{LBA}) mode. GRUB
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automatically detects if LBA mode is available and uses it if
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available. In LBA mode, GRUB can access the entire disk.
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@item Support network booting
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GRUB is basically a disk-based boot loader but also has network
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support. You can load OS images from a network by using the @dfn{TFTP}
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protocol.
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@item Support remote terminals
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To support computers with no console, GRUB provides remote terminal
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support, so that you can control GRUB from a remote host. Only serial
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terminal support is implemented at the moment.
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@end table
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@node Role of a boot loader
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@section The role of a boot loader
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The following is a quotation from Gordon Matzigkeit, a GRUB fanatic:
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@quotation
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Some people like to acknowledge both the operating system and kernel when
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they talk about their computers, so they might say they use
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``GNU/Linux'' or ``GNU/Hurd''. Other people seem to think that the
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kernel is the most important part of the system, so they like to call
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their GNU operating systems ``Linux systems.''
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I, personally, believe that this is a grave injustice, because the
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@emph{boot loader} is the most important software of all. I used to
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refer to the above systems as either ``LILO''@footnote{The LInux LOader,
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a boot loader that everybody uses, but nobody likes.} or ``GRUB''
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systems.
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Unfortunately, nobody ever understood what I was talking about; now I
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just use the word ``GNU'' as a pseudonym for GRUB.
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So, if you ever hear people talking about their alleged ``GNU'' systems,
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remember that they are actually paying homage to the best boot loader
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around@dots{} GRUB!
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@end quotation
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We, the GRUB maintainers, do not (usually) encourage Gordon's level of
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fanaticism, but it helps to remember that boot loaders deserve
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recognition. We hope that you enjoy using GNU GRUB as much as we did
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writing it.
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@node Naming convention
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@chapter Naming convention
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The device syntax used in GRUB is a wee bit different from what you may
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have seen before in your operating system(s), and you need to know it so
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that you can specify a drive/partition.
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Look at the following examples and explanations:
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@example
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(fd0)
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@end example
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First of all, GRUB requires that the device name be enclosed with
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@samp{(} and @samp{)}. The @samp{fd} part means that it is a floppy
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disk. The number @samp{0} is the drive number, which is counted from
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@emph{zero}. This expression means that GRUB will use the whole floppy
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disk.
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@example
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(hd0,msdos2)
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@end example
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Here, @samp{hd} means it is a hard disk drive. The first integer
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@samp{0} indicates the drive number, that is, the first hard disk,
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the string @samp{msdos} indicates the partition scheme, while
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the second integer, @samp{2}, indicates the partition number (or the
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@sc{pc} slice number in the BSD terminology). The partition numbers are
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counted from @emph{one}, not from zero (as was the case in previous
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versions of GRUB). This expression means the second partition of the
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first hard disk drive. In this case, GRUB uses one partition of the
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disk, instead of the whole disk.
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@example
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(hd0,msdos5)
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@end example
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This specifies the first @dfn{extended partition} of the first hard disk
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drive. Note that the partition numbers for extended partitions are
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counted from @samp{5}, regardless of the actual number of primary
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partitions on your hard disk.
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@example
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(hd1,msdos1,bsd1)
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@end example
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This means the BSD @samp{a} partition on first @sc{pc} slice number
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of the second hard disk.
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Of course, to actually access the disks or partitions with GRUB, you
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need to use the device specification in a command, like @samp{set
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root=(fd0)} or @samp{parttool (hd0,msdos3) hidden-}. To help you find out
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which number specifies a partition you want, the GRUB command-line
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(@pxref{Command-line interface}) options have argument
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completion. This means that, for example, you only need to type
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@example
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set root=(
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@end example
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|
|
followed by a @key{TAB}, and GRUB will display the list of drives,
|
|
partitions, or file names. So it should be quite easy to determine the
|
|
name of your target partition, even with minimal knowledge of the
|
|
syntax.
|
|
|
|
Note that GRUB does @emph{not} distinguish IDE from SCSI - it simply
|
|
counts the drive numbers from zero, regardless of their type. Normally,
|
|
any IDE drive number is less than any SCSI drive number, although that
|
|
is not true if you change the boot sequence by swapping IDE and SCSI
|
|
drives in your BIOS.
|
|
|
|
Now the question is, how to specify a file? Again, consider an
|
|
example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(hd0,msdos1)/vmlinuz
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
This specifies the file named @samp{vmlinuz}, found on the first
|
|
partition of the first hard disk drive. Note that the argument
|
|
completion works with file names, too.
|
|
|
|
That was easy, admit it. Now read the next chapter, to find out how to
|
|
actually install GRUB on your drive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Installation
|
|
@chapter Installation
|
|
|
|
In order to install GRUB as your boot loader, you need to first
|
|
install the GRUB system and utilities under your UNIX-like operating
|
|
system (@pxref{Obtaining and Building GRUB}). You can do this either
|
|
from the source tarball, or as a package for your OS.
|
|
|
|
After you have done that, you need to install the boot loader on a
|
|
drive (floppy or hard disk). There are two ways of doing that - either
|
|
using the utility @command{grub-install} (@pxref{Invoking
|
|
grub-install}) on a UNIX-like OS, or by running GRUB itself from a
|
|
floppy. These are quite similar, however the utility might probe a
|
|
wrong BIOS drive, so you should be careful.
|
|
|
|
Also, if you install GRUB on a UNIX-like OS, please make sure that you
|
|
have an emergency boot disk ready, so that you can rescue your computer
|
|
if, by any chance, your hard drive becomes unusable (unbootable).
|
|
|
|
GRUB comes with boot images, which are normally put in the directory
|
|
@file{/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc}. Hereafter, the directory where GRUB images are
|
|
initially placed (normally @file{/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc}) will be
|
|
called the @dfn{image directory}, and the directory where the boot
|
|
loader needs to find them (usually @file{/boot/grub}) will be called
|
|
the @dfn{boot directory}.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Installing GRUB using grub-install::
|
|
* Making a GRUB bootable CD-ROM::
|
|
* Device map::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Installing GRUB using grub-install
|
|
@section Installing GRUB using grub-install
|
|
|
|
@strong{Caution:} This procedure is definitely less safe, because
|
|
there are several ways in which your computer can become
|
|
unbootable. For example, most operating systems don't tell GRUB how to
|
|
map BIOS drives to OS devices correctly---GRUB merely @dfn{guesses}
|
|
the mapping. This will succeed in most cases, but not
|
|
always. Therefore, GRUB provides you with a map file called the
|
|
@dfn{device map}, which you must fix if it is wrong. @xref{Device
|
|
map}, for more details.
|
|
|
|
If you still do want to install GRUB under a UNIX-like OS (such
|
|
as @sc{gnu}), invoke the program @command{grub-install} (@pxref{Invoking
|
|
grub-install}) as the superuser (@dfn{root}).
|
|
|
|
The usage is basically very simple. You only need to specify one
|
|
argument to the program, namely, where to install the boot loader. The
|
|
argument can be either a device file (like @samp{/dev/hda}) or a
|
|
partition specified in GRUB's notation. For example, under Linux the
|
|
following will install GRUB into the MBR of the first IDE disk:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# @kbd{grub-install /dev/hda}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Likewise, under GNU/Hurd, this has the same effect:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# @kbd{grub-install /dev/hd0}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If it is the first BIOS drive, this is the same as well:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# @kbd{grub-install '(hd0)'}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Or you can omit the parentheses:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# @kbd{grub-install hd0}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
But all the above examples assume that GRUB should use images under
|
|
the root directory. If you want GRUB to use images under a directory
|
|
other than the root directory, you need to specify the option
|
|
@option{--root-directory}. The typical usage is that you create a GRUB
|
|
boot floppy with a filesystem. Here is an example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
# @kbd{mke2fs /dev/fd0}
|
|
# @kbd{mount -t ext2 /dev/fd0 /mnt}
|
|
# @kbd{grub-install --root-directory=/mnt fd0}
|
|
# @kbd{umount /mnt}
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Another example is when you have a separate boot partition
|
|
which is mounted at @file{/boot}. Since GRUB is a boot loader, it
|
|
doesn't know anything about mountpoints at all. Thus, you need to run
|
|
@command{grub-install} like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# @kbd{grub-install --root-directory=/boot /dev/hda}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
By the way, as noted above, it is quite difficult to guess BIOS drives
|
|
correctly under a UNIX-like OS. Thus, @command{grub-install} will prompt
|
|
you to check if it could really guess the correct mappings, after the
|
|
installation. The format is defined in @ref{Device map}. Please be
|
|
quite careful. If the output is wrong, it is unlikely that your
|
|
computer will be able to boot with no problem.
|
|
|
|
Note that @command{grub-install} is actually just a shell script and the
|
|
real task is done by @command{grub-mkimage} and @command{grub-setup}.
|
|
Therefore, you may run those commands directly to install GRUB, without
|
|
using @command{grub-install}. Don't do that, however, unless you are very
|
|
familiar with the internals of GRUB. Installing a boot loader on a running
|
|
OS may be extremely dangerous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Making a GRUB bootable CD-ROM
|
|
@section Making a GRUB bootable CD-ROM
|
|
|
|
GRUB supports the @dfn{no emulation mode} in the El Torito
|
|
specification@footnote{El Torito is a specification for bootable CD
|
|
using BIOS functions.}. This means that you can use the whole CD-ROM
|
|
from GRUB and you don't have to make a floppy or hard disk image file,
|
|
which can cause compatibility problems.
|
|
|
|
For booting from a CD-ROM, GRUB uses a special Stage 2 called
|
|
@file{stage2_eltorito}. The only GRUB files you need to have in your
|
|
bootable CD-ROM are this @file{stage2_eltorito} and optionally a config file
|
|
@file{grub.cfg}. You don't need to use @file{stage1} or @file{stage2},
|
|
because El Torito is quite different from the standard boot process.
|
|
|
|
Here is an example of procedures to make a bootable CD-ROM
|
|
image. First, make a top directory for the bootable image, say,
|
|
@samp{iso}:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
$ @kbd{mkdir iso}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Make a directory for GRUB:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
$ @kbd{mkdir -p iso/boot/grub}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Copy the file @file{stage2_eltorito}:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
$ @kbd{cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/stage2_eltorito iso/boot/grub}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If desired, make the config file @file{grub.cfg} under @file{iso/boot/grub}
|
|
(@pxref{Configuration}), and copy any files and directories for the disc to the
|
|
directory @file{iso/}.
|
|
|
|
Finally, make a ISO9660 image file like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
$ @kbd{mkisofs -R -b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito -no-emul-boot \
|
|
-boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -o grub.iso iso}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
This produces a file named @file{grub.iso}, which then can be burned
|
|
into a CD (or a DVD). @kbd{mkisofs} has already set up the disc to boot
|
|
from the @kbd{boot/grub/stage2_eltorito} file, so there is no need to
|
|
setup GRUB on the disc. (Note that the @kbd{-boot-load-size 4} bit is
|
|
required for compatibility with the BIOS on many older machines.)
|
|
|
|
You can use the device @samp{(cd)} to access a CD-ROM in your
|
|
config file. This is not required; GRUB automatically sets the root device
|
|
to @samp{(cd)} when booted from a CD-ROM. It is only necessary to refer to
|
|
@samp{(cd)} if you want to access other drives as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Device map
|
|
@section The map between BIOS drives and OS devices
|
|
|
|
The @command{grub-mkdevicemap} program can be used to create the @dfn{device
|
|
map file}. It is often run automatically by tools such as
|
|
@command{grub-install} if the device map file does not already exist. The
|
|
file name @file{/boot/grub/device.map} is preferred.
|
|
|
|
If the device map file exists, the GRUB utilities (@command{grub-probe},
|
|
@command{grub-setup}, etc.) read it to map BIOS drives to OS devices. This
|
|
file consists of lines like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@var{device} @var{file}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@var{device} is a drive specified in the GRUB syntax (@pxref{Device
|
|
syntax}), and @var{file} is an OS file, which is normally a device file.
|
|
|
|
Historically, the device map file was used because GRUB device names had to
|
|
be used in the configuration file, and they were derived from BIOS drive
|
|
numbers. The map between BIOS drives and OS devices cannot always be
|
|
guessed correctly: for example, GRUB will get the order wrong if you
|
|
exchange the boot sequence between IDE and SCSI in your BIOS.
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, even OS device names are not always stable. Modern versions
|
|
of the Linux kernel may probe drives in a different order from boot to boot,
|
|
and the prefix (@file{/dev/hd*} versus @file{/dev/sd*}) may change depending
|
|
on the driver subsystem in use. As a result, the device map file required
|
|
frequent editing on some systems.
|
|
|
|
GRUB avoids this problem nowadays by using UUIDs or file system labels when
|
|
generating @file{grub.cfg}, and we advise that you do the same for any
|
|
custom menu entries you write. If the device map file does not exist, then
|
|
the GRUB utilities will assume a temporary device map on the fly. This is
|
|
often good enough, particularly in the common case of single-disk systems.
|
|
|
|
However, the device map file is not entirely obsolete yet, and there are
|
|
still some situations that require it to exist. If necessary, you may edit
|
|
the file if @command{grub-mkdevicemap} makes a mistake. You can put any
|
|
comments in the file if needed, as the GRUB utilities assume that a line is
|
|
just a comment if the first character is @samp{#}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Booting
|
|
@chapter Booting
|
|
|
|
GRUB can load Multiboot-compliant kernels in a consistent way,
|
|
but for some free operating systems you need to use some OS-specific
|
|
magic.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* General boot methods:: How to boot OSes with GRUB generally
|
|
* OS-specific notes:: Notes on some operating systems
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node General boot methods
|
|
@section How to boot operating systems
|
|
|
|
GRUB has two distinct boot methods. One of the two is to load an
|
|
operating system directly, and the other is to chain-load another boot
|
|
loader which then will load an operating system actually. Generally
|
|
speaking, the former is more desirable, because you don't need to
|
|
install or maintain other boot loaders and GRUB is flexible enough to
|
|
load an operating system from an arbitrary disk/partition. However,
|
|
the latter is sometimes required, since GRUB doesn't support all the
|
|
existing operating systems natively.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Loading an operating system directly::
|
|
* Chain-loading::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Loading an operating system directly
|
|
@subsection How to boot an OS directly with GRUB
|
|
|
|
Multiboot (@pxref{Top, Multiboot Specification, Motivation, multiboot,
|
|
The Multiboot Specification}) is the native format supported by GRUB.
|
|
For the sake of convenience, there is also support for Linux, FreeBSD,
|
|
NetBSD and OpenBSD. If you want to boot other operating systems, you
|
|
will have to chain-load them (@pxref{Chain-loading}).
|
|
|
|
FIXME: this section is incomplete.
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item
|
|
Run the command @command{boot} (@pxref{boot}).
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
However, DOS and Windows have some deficiencies, so you might have to
|
|
use more complicated instructions. @xref{DOS/Windows}, for more
|
|
information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Chain-loading
|
|
@subsection Chain-loading an OS
|
|
|
|
Operating systems that do not support Multiboot and do not have specific
|
|
support in GRUB (specific support is available for Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD
|
|
and OpenBSD) must be chain-loaded, which involves loading another boot
|
|
loader and jumping to it in real mode.
|
|
|
|
The @command{chainloader} command (@pxref{chainloader}) is used to set this
|
|
up. It is normally also necessary to load some GRUB modules and set the
|
|
appropriate root device. Putting this together, we get something like this,
|
|
for a Windows system on the first partition of the first hard disk:
|
|
|
|
@verbatim
|
|
menuentry "Windows" {
|
|
insmod chain
|
|
insmod ntfs
|
|
set root=(hd0,1)
|
|
chainloader +1
|
|
}
|
|
@end verbatim
|
|
@c FIXME: document UUIDs.
|
|
|
|
On systems with multiple hard disks, an additional workaround may be
|
|
required. @xref{DOS/Windows}.
|
|
|
|
Chain-loading is only supported on PC BIOS and EFI platforms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node OS-specific notes
|
|
@section Some caveats on OS-specific issues
|
|
|
|
Here, we describe some caveats on several operating systems.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* GNU/Hurd::
|
|
* GNU/Linux::
|
|
* DOS/Windows::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node GNU/Hurd
|
|
@subsection GNU/Hurd
|
|
|
|
Since GNU/Hurd is Multiboot-compliant, it is easy to boot it; there is
|
|
nothing special about it. But do not forget that you have to specify a
|
|
root partition to the kernel.
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item
|
|
Set GRUB's root device to the same drive as GNU/Hurd's. The command
|
|
@code{search --file --set /boot/gnumach.gz} or similar may help you
|
|
(@pxref{search}).
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Load the kernel and the modules, like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
grub> @kbd{multiboot /boot/gnumach.gz root=device:hd0s1}
|
|
grub> @kbd{module /hurd/ext2fs.static ext2fs --readonly \
|
|
--multiboot-command-line='$@{kernel-command-line@}' \
|
|
--host-priv-port='$@{host-port@}' \
|
|
--device-master-port='$@{device-port@}' \
|
|
--exec-server-task='$@{exec-task@}' -T typed '$@{root@}' \
|
|
'$(task-create)' '$(task-resume)'}
|
|
grub> @kbd{module /lib/ld.so.1 exec /hurd/exec '$(exec-task=task-create)'}
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Finally, run the command @command{boot} (@pxref{boot}).
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node GNU/Linux
|
|
@subsection GNU/Linux
|
|
|
|
It is relatively easy to boot GNU/Linux from GRUB, because it somewhat
|
|
resembles to boot a Multiboot-compliant OS.
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item
|
|
Set GRUB's root device to the same drive as GNU/Linux's. The command
|
|
@code{search --file --set /vmlinuz} or similar may help you
|
|
(@pxref{search}).
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Load the kernel using the command @command{linux} (@pxref{linux}):
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub> @kbd{linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If you need to specify some kernel parameters, just append them to the
|
|
command. For example, to set @option{acpi} to @samp{off}, do this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub> @kbd{linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda1 acpi=off}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
See the documentation in the Linux source tree for complete information on
|
|
the available options.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you use an initrd, execute the command @command{initrd} (@pxref{initrd})
|
|
after @command{linux}:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub> @kbd{initrd /initrd}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Finally, run the command @command{boot} (@pxref{boot}).
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
@strong{Caution:} If you use an initrd and specify the @samp{mem=}
|
|
option to the kernel to let it use less than actual memory size, you
|
|
will also have to specify the same memory size to GRUB. To let GRUB know
|
|
the size, run the command @command{uppermem} @emph{before} loading the
|
|
kernel. @xref{uppermem}, for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node DOS/Windows
|
|
@subsection DOS/Windows
|
|
|
|
GRUB cannot boot DOS or Windows directly, so you must chain-load them
|
|
(@pxref{Chain-loading}). However, their boot loaders have some critical
|
|
deficiencies, so it may not work to just chain-load them. To overcome
|
|
the problems, GRUB provides you with two helper functions.
|
|
|
|
If you have installed DOS (or Windows) on a non-first hard disk, you
|
|
have to use the disk swapping technique, because that OS cannot boot
|
|
from any disks but the first one. The workaround used in GRUB is the
|
|
command @command{drivemap} (@pxref{drivemap}), like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
drivemap -s (hd0) (hd1)
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
This performs a @dfn{virtual} swap between your first and second hard
|
|
drive.
|
|
|
|
@strong{Caution:} This is effective only if DOS (or Windows) uses BIOS
|
|
to access the swapped disks. If that OS uses a special driver for the
|
|
disks, this probably won't work.
|
|
|
|
Another problem arises if you installed more than one set of DOS/Windows
|
|
onto one disk, because they could be confused if there are more than one
|
|
primary partitions for DOS/Windows. Certainly you should avoid doing
|
|
this, but there is a solution if you do want to do so. Use the partition
|
|
hiding/unhiding technique.
|
|
|
|
If GRUB @dfn{hides} a DOS (or Windows) partition (@pxref{parttool}), DOS (or
|
|
Windows) will ignore the partition. If GRUB @dfn{unhides} a DOS (or Windows)
|
|
partition, DOS (or Windows) will detect the partition. Thus, if you have
|
|
installed DOS (or Windows) on the first and the second partition of the
|
|
first hard disk, and you want to boot the copy on the first partition, do
|
|
the following:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
parttool (hd0,1) hidden-
|
|
parttool (hd0,2) hidden+
|
|
set root=(hd0,1)
|
|
chainloader +1
|
|
parttool @verb{'${root}'} boot+
|
|
boot
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Configuration
|
|
@chapter Writing your own configuration file
|
|
|
|
GRUB is configured using @file{grub.cfg}, usually located under
|
|
@file{/boot/grub}. This file is quite flexible, but most users will not
|
|
need to write the whole thing by hand.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Simple configuration:: Recommended for most users
|
|
* Shell-like scripting:: For power users and developers
|
|
* Embedded configuration:: Embedding a configuration file into GRUB
|
|
* Themes:: Graphical menu themes
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Simple configuration
|
|
@section Simple configuration handling
|
|
|
|
The program @command{grub-mkconfig} (@pxref{Invoking grub-mkconfig})
|
|
generates @file{grub.cfg} files suitable for most cases. It is suitable for
|
|
use when upgrading a distribution, and will discover available kernels and
|
|
attempt to generate menu entries for them.
|
|
|
|
The file @file{/etc/default/grub} controls the operation of
|
|
@command{grub-mkconfig}. It is sourced by a shell script, and so must be
|
|
valid POSIX shell input; normally, it will just be a sequence of
|
|
@samp{KEY=value} lines, but if the value contains spaces or other special
|
|
characters then it must be quoted. For example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
GRUB_TERMINAL_INPUT="console serial"
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Valid keys in @file{/etc/default/grub} are as follows:
|
|
|
|
@table @samp
|
|
@item GRUB_DEFAULT
|
|
The default menu entry. This may be a number, in which case it identifies
|
|
the Nth entry in the generated menu counted from zero, or the full name of a
|
|
menu entry, or the special string @samp{saved}. Using the full name may be
|
|
useful if you want to set a menu entry as the default even though there may
|
|
be a variable number of entries before it.
|
|
|
|
If you set this to @samp{saved}, then the default menu entry will be that
|
|
saved by @samp{GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT}, @command{grub-set-default}, or
|
|
@command{grub-reboot}.
|
|
|
|
The default is @samp{0}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT
|
|
If this option is set to @samp{true}, then, when an entry is selected, save
|
|
it as a new default entry for use by future runs of GRUB. This is only
|
|
useful if @samp{GRUB_DEFAULT=saved}; it is a separate option because
|
|
@samp{GRUB_DEFAULT=saved} is useful without this option, in conjunction with
|
|
@command{grub-set-default} or @command{grub-reboot}. Unset by default.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_TIMEOUT
|
|
Boot the default entry this many seconds after the menu is displayed, unless
|
|
a key is pressed. The default is @samp{5}. Set to @samp{0} to boot
|
|
immediately without displaying the menu, or to @samp{-1} to wait
|
|
indefinitely.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT
|
|
Wait this many seconds for a key to be pressed before displaying the menu.
|
|
If no key is pressed during that time, boot immediately. Unset by default.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET
|
|
In conjunction with @samp{GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT}, set this to @samp{true} to
|
|
suppress the verbose countdown while waiting for a key to be pressed before
|
|
displaying the menu. Unset by default.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_DEFAULT_BUTTON
|
|
@itemx GRUB_TIMEOUT_BUTTON
|
|
@itemx GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_BUTTON
|
|
@itemx GRUB_BUTTON_CMOS_ADDRESS
|
|
Variants of the corresponding variables without the @samp{_BUTTON} suffix,
|
|
used to support vendor-specific power buttons. @xref{Vendor power-on keys}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR
|
|
Set by distributors of GRUB to their identifying name. This is used to
|
|
generate more informative menu entry titles.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_TERMINAL_INPUT
|
|
Select the terminal input device. You may select multiple devices here,
|
|
separated by spaces.
|
|
|
|
Valid terminal input names depend on the platform, but may include
|
|
@samp{console} (PC BIOS and EFI consoles), @samp{serial} (serial terminal),
|
|
@samp{ofconsole} (Open Firmware console), @samp{at_keyboard} (PC AT
|
|
keyboard, mainly useful with Coreboot), or @samp{usb_keyboard} (USB keyboard
|
|
using the HID Boot Protocol, for cases where the firmware does not handle
|
|
this).
|
|
|
|
The default is to use the platform's native terminal input.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT
|
|
Select the terminal output device. You may select multiple devices here,
|
|
separated by spaces.
|
|
|
|
Valid terminal output names depend on the platform, but may include
|
|
@samp{console} (PC BIOS and EFI consoles), @samp{serial} (serial terminal),
|
|
@samp{gfxterm} (graphics-mode output), @samp{ofconsole} (Open Firmware
|
|
console), or @samp{vga_text} (VGA text output, mainly useful with Coreboot).
|
|
|
|
The default is to use the platform's native terminal output.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_TERMINAL
|
|
If this option is set, it overrides both @samp{GRUB_TERMINAL_INPUT} and
|
|
@samp{GRUB_TERMINAL_OUTPUT} to the same value.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_SERIAL_COMMAND
|
|
A command to configure the serial port when using the serial console.
|
|
@xref{serial}. Defaults to @samp{serial}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX
|
|
Command-line arguments to add to menu entries for the Linux kernel.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT
|
|
Unless @samp{GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY} is set to @samp{true}, two menu
|
|
entries will be generated for each Linux kernel: one default entry and one
|
|
entry for recovery mode. This option lists command-line arguments to add
|
|
only to the default menu entry, after those listed in
|
|
@samp{GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_CMDLINE_NETBSD
|
|
@itemx GRUB_CMDLINE_NETBSD_DEFAULT
|
|
As @samp{GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX} and @samp{GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT}, but for
|
|
NetBSD.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_CMDLINE_XEN
|
|
@itemx GRUB_CMDLINE_XEN_DEFAULT
|
|
As @samp{GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX} and @samp{GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT}, but for
|
|
Linux and Xen.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID
|
|
Normally, @command{grub-mkconfig} will generate menu entries that use
|
|
universally-unique identifiers (UUIDs) to identify the root filesystem to
|
|
the Linux kernel, using a @samp{root=UUID=...} kernel parameter. This is
|
|
usually more reliable, but in some cases it may not be appropriate. To
|
|
disable the use of UUIDs, set this option to @samp{true}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY
|
|
If this option is set to @samp{true}, disable the generation of recovery
|
|
mode menu entries for Linux.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_DISABLE_NETBSD_RECOVERY
|
|
If this option is set to @samp{true}, disable the generation of recovery
|
|
mode menu entries for NetBSD.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_VIDEO_BACKEND
|
|
If graphical video support is required, either because the @samp{gfxterm}
|
|
graphical terminal is in use or because @samp{GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX} is set,
|
|
then @command{grub-mkconfig} will normally load all available GRUB video
|
|
drivers and use the one most appropriate for your hardware. If you need to
|
|
override this for some reason, then you can set this option.
|
|
|
|
After @command{grub-install} has been run, the available video drivers are
|
|
listed in @file{/boot/grub/video.lst}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_GFXMODE
|
|
Set the resolution used on the @samp{gfxterm} graphical terminal. Note that
|
|
you can only use modes which your graphics card supports via VESA BIOS
|
|
Extensions (VBE), so for example native LCD panel resolutions may not be
|
|
available. The default is @samp{640x480}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_BACKGROUND
|
|
Set a background image for use with the @samp{gfxterm} graphical terminal.
|
|
The value of this option must be a file readable by GRUB at boot time, and
|
|
it must end with @file{.png}, @file{.tga}, @file{.jpg}, or @file{.jpeg}.
|
|
The image will be scaled if necessary to fit the screen.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_THEME
|
|
Set a theme for use with the @samp{gfxterm} graphical terminal.
|
|
@xref{Themes}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX
|
|
Set to @samp{text} to force the Linux kernel to boot in normal text mode,
|
|
@samp{keep} to preserve the graphics mode set using @samp{GRUB_GFXMODE},
|
|
@samp{@var{width}x@var{height}}[@samp{x@var{depth}}] to set a particular
|
|
graphics mode, or a sequence of these separated by commas or semicolons to
|
|
try several modes in sequence.
|
|
|
|
Depending on your kernel, your distribution, your graphics card, and the
|
|
phase of the moon, note that using this option may cause GNU/Linux to suffer
|
|
from various display problems, particularly during the early part of the
|
|
boot sequence. If you have problems, set this option to @samp{text} and
|
|
GRUB will tell Linux to boot in normal text mode.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER
|
|
Normally, @command{grub-mkconfig} will try to use the external
|
|
@command{os-prober} program, if installed, to discover other operating
|
|
systems installed on the same system and generate appropriate menu entries
|
|
for them. Set this option to @samp{true} to disable this.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_INIT_TUNE
|
|
Play a tune on the speaker when GRUB starts. This is particularly useful
|
|
for users unable to see the screen. The value of this option is passed
|
|
directly to @ref{play}.
|
|
|
|
@item GRUB_BADRAM
|
|
If this option is set, GRUB will issue a @ref{badram} command to filter
|
|
out specified regions of RAM.
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
For more detailed customisation of @command{grub-mkconfig}'s output, you may
|
|
edit the scripts in @file{/etc/grub.d} directly.
|
|
@file{/etc/grub.d/40_custom} is particularly useful for adding entire custom
|
|
menu entries; simply type the menu entries you want to add at the end of
|
|
that file, making sure to leave at least the first two lines intact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Shell-like scripting
|
|
@section Writing full configuration files directly
|
|
|
|
@c Some of this section is derived from the GNU Bash manual page, also
|
|
@c copyrighted by the FSF.
|
|
|
|
@file{grub.cfg} is written in GRUB's built-in scripting language, which has
|
|
a syntax quite similar to that of GNU Bash and other Bourne shell
|
|
derivatives.
|
|
|
|
@heading Words
|
|
|
|
A @dfn{word} is a sequence of characters considered as a single unit by
|
|
GRUB. Words are separated by @dfn{metacharacters}, which are the following
|
|
plus space, tab, and newline:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@{ @} | & $ ; < >
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Quoting may be used to include metacharacters in words; see below.
|
|
|
|
@heading Reserved words
|
|
|
|
Reserved words have a special meaning to GRUB. The following words are
|
|
recognised as reserved when unquoted and either the first word of a simple
|
|
command or the third word of a @code{for} command:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
! [[ ]] @{ @}
|
|
case do done elif else esac fi for function
|
|
if in menuentry select then time until while
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Not all of these reserved words have a useful purpose yet; some are reserved
|
|
for future expansion.
|
|
|
|
@heading Quoting
|
|
|
|
Quoting is used to remove the special meaning of certain characters or
|
|
words. It can be used to treat metacharacters as part of a word, to prevent
|
|
reserved words from being recognised as such, and to prevent variable
|
|
expansion.
|
|
|
|
There are three quoting mechanisms: the escape character, single quotes, and
|
|
double quotes.
|
|
|
|
A non-quoted backslash (\) is the @dfn{escape character}. It preserves the
|
|
literal value of the next character that follows, with the exception of
|
|
newline.
|
|
|
|
Enclosing characters in single quotes preserves the literal value of each
|
|
character within the quotes. A single quote may not occur between single
|
|
quotes, even when preceded by a backslash.
|
|
|
|
Enclosing characters in double quotes preserves the literal value of all
|
|
characters within the quotes, with the exception of @samp{$} and @samp{\}.
|
|
The @samp{$} character retains its special meaning within double quotes.
|
|
The backslash retains its special meaning only when followed by one of the
|
|
following characters: @samp{$}, @samp{"}, @samp{\}, or newline. A
|
|
backslash-newline pair is treated as a line continuation (that is, it is
|
|
removed from the input stream and effectively ignored). A double quote may
|
|
be quoted within double quotes by preceding it with a backslash.
|
|
|
|
@heading Variable expansion
|
|
|
|
The @samp{$} character introduces variable expansion. The variable name to
|
|
be expanded may be enclosed in braces, which are optional but serve to
|
|
protect the variable to be expanded from characters immediately following it
|
|
which could be interpreted as part of the name.
|
|
|
|
Normal variable names begin with an alphabetic character, followed by zero
|
|
or more alphanumeric characters.
|
|
|
|
Positional variable names consist of one or more digits. These are reserved
|
|
for future expansion.
|
|
|
|
The special variable name @samp{?} expands to the exit status of the most
|
|
recently executed command.
|
|
|
|
@heading Comments
|
|
|
|
A word beginning with @samp{#} causes that word and all remaining characters
|
|
on that line to be ignored.
|
|
|
|
@heading Simple commands
|
|
|
|
A @dfn{simple command} is a sequence of words separated by spaces or tabs
|
|
and terminated by a semicolon or a newline. The first word specifies the
|
|
command to be executed. The remaining words are passed as arguments to the
|
|
invoked command.
|
|
|
|
The return value of a simple command is its exit status.
|
|
|
|
@heading Compound commands
|
|
|
|
A @dfn{compound command} is one of the following:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item for @var{name} in @var{word} @dots{}; do @var{list}; done
|
|
The list of words following @code{in} is expanded, generating a list of
|
|
items. The variable @var{name} is set to each element of this list in turn,
|
|
and @var{list} is executed each time. The return value is the exit status
|
|
of the last command that executes. If the expansion of the items following
|
|
@code{in} results in an empty list, no commands are executed, and the return
|
|
status is 0.
|
|
|
|
@item if @var{list}; then @var{list}; [elif @var{list}; then @var{list};] @dots{} [else @var{list};] fi
|
|
The @code{if} @var{list} is executed. If its exit status is zero, the
|
|
@code{then} @var{list} is executed. Otherwise, each @code{elif} @var{list}
|
|
is executed in turn, and if its exit status is zero, the corresponding
|
|
@code{then} @var{list} is executed and the command completes. Otherwise,
|
|
the @code{else} @var{list} is executed, if present. The exit status is the
|
|
exit status of the last command executed, or zero if no condition tested
|
|
true.
|
|
|
|
@item while @var{cond}; do @var{list}; done
|
|
@itemx until @var{cond}; do @var{list}; done
|
|
The @code{while} command continuously executes the @code{do} @var{list} as
|
|
long as the last command in @var{cond} returns an exit status of zero. The
|
|
@code{until} command is identical to the @code{while} command, except that
|
|
the test is negated; the @code{do} @var{list} is executed as long as the
|
|
last command in @var{cond} returns a non-zero exit status. The exit status
|
|
of the @code{while} and @code{until} commands is the exit status of the last
|
|
@code{do} @var{list} command executed, or zero if none was executed.
|
|
|
|
@item function @var{name} @{ @var{command}; @dots{} @}
|
|
This defines a function named @var{name}. The @dfn{body} of the function is
|
|
the list of commands within braces, each of which must be terminated with a
|
|
semicolon or a newline. This list of commands will be executed whenever
|
|
@var{name} is specified as the name of a simple command. Function
|
|
definitions do not affect the exit status in @code{$?}. When executed, the
|
|
exit status of a function is the exit status of the last command executed in
|
|
the body.
|
|
|
|
@item menuentry @var{title} [@option{--class=class} @dots{}] [@option{--users=users}] [@option{--hotkey=key}] @{ @var{command}; @dots{} @}
|
|
@xref{menuentry}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Embedded configuration
|
|
@section Embedding a configuration file into GRUB
|
|
|
|
GRUB supports embedding a configuration file directly into the core image,
|
|
so that it is loaded before entering normal mode. This is useful, for
|
|
example, when it is not straightforward to find the real configuration file,
|
|
or when you need to debug problems with loading that file.
|
|
@command{grub-install} uses this feature when it is not using BIOS disk
|
|
functions or when installing to a different disk from the one containing
|
|
@file{/boot/grub}, in which case it needs to use the @command{search}
|
|
command (@pxref{search}) to find @file{/boot/grub}.
|
|
|
|
To embed a configuration file, use the @option{-c} option to
|
|
@command{grub-mkimage}. The file is copied into the core image, so it may
|
|
reside anywhere on the file system, and may be removed after running
|
|
@command{grub-mkimage}.
|
|
|
|
After the embedded configuration file (if any) is executed, GRUB will load
|
|
the @samp{normal} module, which will then read the real configuration file
|
|
from @file{$prefix/grub.cfg}. By this point, the @code{root} variable will
|
|
also have been set to the root device name. For example, @code{prefix}
|
|
might be set to @samp{(hd0,1)/boot/grub}, and @code{root} might be set to
|
|
@samp{hd0,1}. Thus, in most cases, the embedded configuration file only
|
|
needs to set the @code{prefix} and @code{root} variables, and then drop
|
|
through to GRUB's normal processing. A typical example of this might look
|
|
like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
search.fs_uuid 01234567-89ab-cdef-0123-456789abcdef root
|
|
set prefix=($root)/boot/grub
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
(The @samp{search_fs_uuid} module must be included in the core image for this
|
|
example to work.)
|
|
|
|
In more complex cases, it may be useful to read other configuration files
|
|
directly from the embedded configuration file. This allows such things as
|
|
reading files not called @file{grub.cfg}, or reading files from a directory
|
|
other than that where GRUB's loadable modules are installed. To do this,
|
|
include the @samp{configfile} and @samp{normal} modules in the core image,
|
|
and embed a configuration file that uses the @command{configfile} command to
|
|
load another file. The following example of this also requires the
|
|
@command{echo}, @command{search_label}, and @command{test} modules to be
|
|
included in the core image:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
search.fs_label grub root
|
|
if [ -e /boot/grub/example/test1.cfg ]; then
|
|
set prefix=($root)/boot/grub
|
|
configfile /boot/grub/example/test1.cfg
|
|
else
|
|
if [ -e /boot/grub/example/test2.cfg ]; then
|
|
set prefix=($root)/boot/grub
|
|
configfile /boot/grub/example/test2.cfg
|
|
else
|
|
echo "Could not find an example configuration file!"
|
|
fi
|
|
fi
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The embedded configuration file may not contain menu entries directly, but
|
|
may only read them from elsewhere using @command{configfile}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Themes
|
|
@section Graphical menu themes
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Network
|
|
@chapter Booting GRUB from the network
|
|
|
|
The following instructions only work on PC BIOS systems where the Preboot
|
|
eXecution Environment (PXE) is available.
|
|
|
|
To generate a PXE boot image, run:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
grub-mkimage --format=i386-pc --output=core.img --prefix='(pxe)/boot/grub' pxe pxecmd
|
|
cat /boot/grub/pxeboot.img core.img >grub.pxe
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Copy @file{grub.pxe}, @file{/boot/grub/*.mod}, and @file{/boot/grub/*.lst}
|
|
to the PXE (TFTP) server, ensuring that @file{*.mod} and @file{*.lst} are
|
|
accessible via the @file{/boot/grub/} path from the TFTP server root. Set
|
|
the DHCP server configuration to offer @file{grub.pxe} as the boot file (the
|
|
@samp{filename} option in ISC dhcpd).
|
|
|
|
After GRUB has started, files on the TFTP server will be accessible via the
|
|
@samp{(pxe)} device.
|
|
|
|
The server and gateway IP address can be controlled by changing the
|
|
@samp{(pxe)} device name to @samp{(pxe:@var{server-ip})} or
|
|
@samp{(pxe:@var{server-ip}:@var{gateway-ip})}. Note that this should be
|
|
changed both in the prefix and in any references to the device name in the
|
|
configuration file.
|
|
|
|
GRUB provides several environment variables which may be used to inspect or
|
|
change the behaviour of the PXE device:
|
|
|
|
@table @samp
|
|
@item net_pxe_ip
|
|
The IP address of this machine. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_mac
|
|
The network interface's MAC address. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_hostname
|
|
The client host name provided by DHCP. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_domain
|
|
The client domain name provided by DHCP. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_rootpath
|
|
The path to the client's root disk provided by DHCP. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_extensionspath
|
|
The path to additional DHCP vendor extensions provided by DHCP. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_boot_file
|
|
The boot file name provided by DHCP. Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_dhcp_server_name
|
|
The name of the DHCP server responsible for these boot parameters.
|
|
Read-only.
|
|
|
|
@item net_pxe_blksize
|
|
The PXE transfer block size. Read-write, defaults to 512.
|
|
|
|
@item pxe_default_server
|
|
The default PXE server. Read-write, although setting this is only useful
|
|
before opening a PXE device.
|
|
|
|
@item pxe_default_gateway
|
|
The default gateway to use when contacting the PXE server. Read-write,
|
|
although setting this is only useful before opening a PXE device.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Serial terminal
|
|
@chapter Using GRUB via a serial line
|
|
|
|
This chapter describes how to use the serial terminal support in GRUB.
|
|
|
|
If you have many computers or computers with no display/keyboard, it
|
|
could be very useful to control the computers through serial
|
|
communications. To connect one computer with another via a serial line,
|
|
you need to prepare a null-modem (cross) serial cable, and you may need
|
|
to have multiport serial boards, if your computer doesn't have extra
|
|
serial ports. In addition, a terminal emulator is also required, such as
|
|
minicom. Refer to a manual of your operating system, for more
|
|
information.
|
|
|
|
As for GRUB, the instruction to set up a serial terminal is quite
|
|
simple. Here is an example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
grub> @kbd{serial --unit=0 --speed=9600}
|
|
grub> @kbd{terminal_input serial; terminal_output serial}
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The command @command{serial} initializes the serial unit 0 with the
|
|
speed 9600bps. The serial unit 0 is usually called @samp{COM1}, so, if
|
|
you want to use COM2, you must specify @samp{--unit=1} instead. This
|
|
command accepts many other options, so please refer to @ref{serial},
|
|
for more details.
|
|
|
|
The commands @command{terminal_input} (@pxref{terminal_input}) and
|
|
@command{terminal_output} (@pxref{terminal_output}) choose which type of
|
|
terminal you want to use. In the case above, the terminal will be a
|
|
serial terminal, but you can also pass @code{console} to the command,
|
|
as @samp{terminal serial console}. In this case, a terminal in which
|
|
you press any key will be selected as a GRUB terminal. In the example above,
|
|
note that you need to put both commands on the same command line, as you
|
|
will lose the ability to type commands on the console after the first
|
|
command.
|
|
|
|
However, note that GRUB assumes that your terminal emulator is
|
|
compatible with VT100 by default. This is true for most terminal
|
|
emulators nowadays, but you should pass the option @option{--dumb} to
|
|
the command if your terminal emulator is not VT100-compatible or
|
|
implements few VT100 escape sequences. If you specify this option then
|
|
GRUB provides you with an alternative menu interface, because the normal
|
|
menu requires several fancy features of your terminal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Vendor power-on keys
|
|
@chapter Using GRUB with vendor power-on keys
|
|
|
|
Some laptop vendors provide an additional power-on button which boots another
|
|
OS. GRUB supports such buttons with the @samp{GRUB_TIMEOUT_BUTTON},
|
|
@samp{GRUB_DEFAULT_BUTTON}, @samp{GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_BUTTON} and
|
|
@samp{GRUB_BUTTON_CMOS_ADDRESS} variables in default/grub (@pxref{Simple
|
|
configuration}). @samp{GRUB_TIMEOUT_BUTTON}, @samp{GRUB_DEFAULT_BUTTON} and
|
|
@samp{GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_BUTTON} are used instead of the corresponding
|
|
variables without the @samp{_BUTTON} suffix when powered on using the special
|
|
button. @samp{GRUB_BUTTON_CMOS_ADDRESS} is vendor-specific and partially
|
|
model-specific. Values known to the GRUB team are:
|
|
|
|
@table @key
|
|
@item Dell XPS M1530
|
|
85:3
|
|
@item Asus EeePC 1005PE
|
|
84:1 (unconfirmed)
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
To take full advantage of this function, install GRUB into the MBR
|
|
(@pxref{Installing GRUB using grub-install}).
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Images
|
|
@chapter GRUB image files
|
|
|
|
@c FIXME: parts of this section are specific to PC BIOS right now.
|
|
|
|
GRUB consists of several images: a variety of bootstrap images for starting
|
|
GRUB in various ways, a kernel image, and a set of modules which are
|
|
combined with the kernel image to form a core image. Here is a short
|
|
overview of them.
|
|
|
|
@table @file
|
|
@item boot.img
|
|
On PC BIOS systems, this image is the first part of GRUB to start. It is
|
|
written to a master boot record (MBR) or to the boot sector of a partition.
|
|
Because a PC boot sector is 512 bytes, the size of this image is exactly 512
|
|
bytes.
|
|
|
|
The sole function of @file{boot.img} is to read the first sector of the core
|
|
image from a local disk and jump to it. Because of the size restriction,
|
|
@file{boot.img} cannot understand any file system structure, so
|
|
@command{grub-setup} hardcodes the location of the first sector of the core
|
|
image into @file{boot.img} when installing GRUB.
|
|
|
|
@item diskboot.img
|
|
This image is used as the first sector of the core image when booting from a
|
|
hard disk. It reads the rest of the core image into memory and starts the
|
|
kernel. Since file system handling is not yet available, it encodes the
|
|
location of the core image using a block list format.
|
|
|
|
@item cdboot.img
|
|
This image is used as the first sector of the core image when booting from a
|
|
CD-ROM drive. It performs a similar function to @file{diskboot.img}.
|
|
|
|
@item pxeboot.img
|
|
This image is used as the start of the core image when booting from the
|
|
network using PXE. @xref{Network}.
|
|
|
|
@item lnxboot.img
|
|
This image may be placed at the start of the core image in order to make
|
|
GRUB look enough like a Linux kernel that it can be booted by LILO using an
|
|
@samp{image=} section.
|
|
|
|
@item kernel.img
|
|
This image contains GRUB's basic run-time facilities: frameworks for device
|
|
and file handling, environment variables, the rescue mode command-line
|
|
parser, and so on. It is rarely used directly, but is built into all core
|
|
images.
|
|
|
|
@item core.img
|
|
This is the core image of GRUB. It is built dynamically from the kernel
|
|
image and an arbitrary list of modules by the @command{grub-mkimage}
|
|
program. Usually, it contains enough modules to access @file{/boot/grub},
|
|
and loads everything else (including menu handling, the ability to load
|
|
target operating systems, and so on) from the file system at run-time. The
|
|
modular design allows the core image to be kept small, since the areas of
|
|
disk where it must be installed are often as small as 32KB.
|
|
|
|
On PC systems using the traditional MBR partition table format, the core
|
|
image is usually installed in the "MBR gap" between the master boot record
|
|
and the first partition, or sometimes it is installed in a file system and
|
|
read directly from that. The latter is not recommended because GRUB needs
|
|
to encode the location of all the core image sectors in @file{diskboot.img},
|
|
and if the file system ever moves the core image around (as it is entitled
|
|
to do) then GRUB must be reinstalled; it also means that GRUB will not be
|
|
able to reliably find the core image if it resides on a different disk than
|
|
the one to which @file{boot.img} was installed.
|
|
|
|
On PC systems using the more recent GUID Partition Table (GPT) format, the
|
|
core image should be installed to a BIOS Boot Partition. This may be
|
|
created by GNU Parted using a command such as the following:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# @kbd{parted /dev/@var{disk} set @var{partition-number} bios_grub on}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@strong{Caution:} Be very careful which partition you select! When GRUB
|
|
finds a BIOS Boot Partition during installation, it will automatically
|
|
overwrite part of it. Make sure that the partition does not contain any
|
|
other data.
|
|
|
|
@item *.mod
|
|
Everything else in GRUB resides in dynamically loadable modules. These are
|
|
often loaded automatically, or built into the core image if they are
|
|
essential, but may also be loaded manually using the @command{insmod}
|
|
command (@pxref{insmod}).
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@heading For GRUB Legacy users
|
|
|
|
GRUB 2 has a different design from GRUB Legacy, and so correspondences with
|
|
the images it used cannot be exact. Nevertheless, GRUB Legacy users often
|
|
ask questions in the terms they are familiar with, and so here is a brief
|
|
guide to how GRUB 2's images relate to that.
|
|
|
|
@table @file
|
|
@item stage1
|
|
Stage 1 from GRUB Legacy was very similar to @file{boot.img} in GRUB 2, and
|
|
they serve the same function.
|
|
|
|
@item *_stage1_5
|
|
In GRUB Legacy, Stage 1.5's function was to include enough filesystem code
|
|
to allow the much larger Stage 2 to be read from an ordinary filesystem. In
|
|
this respect, its function was similar to @file{core.img} in GRUB 2.
|
|
However, @file{core.img} is much more capable than Stage 1.5 was; since it
|
|
offers a rescue shell, it is sometimes possible to recover manually in the
|
|
event that it is unable to load any other modules, for example if partition
|
|
numbers have changed. @file{core.img} is built in a more flexible way,
|
|
allowing GRUB 2 to support reading modules from advanced disk types such as
|
|
LVM and RAID.
|
|
|
|
GRUB Legacy could run with only Stage 1 and Stage 2 in some limited
|
|
configurations, while GRUB 2 requires @file{core.img} and cannot work
|
|
without it.
|
|
|
|
@item stage2
|
|
GRUB 2 has no single Stage 2 image. Instead, it loads modules from
|
|
@file{/boot/grub} at run-time.
|
|
|
|
@item stage2_eltorito
|
|
In GRUB 2, images for booting from CD-ROM drives are now constructed using
|
|
@file{cdboot.img} and @file{core.img}, making sure that the core image
|
|
contains the @samp{iso9660} module. It is usually best to use the
|
|
@command{grub-mkrescue} program for this.
|
|
|
|
@item nbgrub
|
|
There is as yet no equivalent for @file{nbgrub} in GRUB 2; it was used by
|
|
Etherboot and some other network boot loaders.
|
|
|
|
@item pxegrub
|
|
In GRUB 2, images for PXE network booting are now constructed using
|
|
@file{pxeboot.img} and @file{core.img}, making sure that the core image
|
|
contains the @samp{pxe} and @samp{pxecmd} modules. @xref{Network}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Filesystem
|
|
@chapter Filesystem syntax and semantics
|
|
|
|
GRUB uses a special syntax for specifying disk drives which can be
|
|
accessed by BIOS. Because of BIOS limitations, GRUB cannot distinguish
|
|
between IDE, ESDI, SCSI, or others. You must know yourself which BIOS
|
|
device is equivalent to which OS device. Normally, that will be clear if
|
|
you see the files in a device or use the command @command{search}
|
|
(@pxref{search}).
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Device syntax:: How to specify devices
|
|
* File name syntax:: How to specify files
|
|
* Block list syntax:: How to specify block lists
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Device syntax
|
|
@section How to specify devices
|
|
|
|
The device syntax is like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@code{(@var{device}[,@var{part-num}][,@var{bsd-subpart-letter}])}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@samp{[]} means the parameter is optional. @var{device} should be
|
|
either @samp{fd} or @samp{hd} followed by a digit, like @samp{fd0}.
|
|
But you can also set @var{device} to a hexadecimal or a decimal number
|
|
which is a BIOS drive number, so the following are equivalent:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(hd0)
|
|
(0x80)
|
|
(128)
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@var{part-num} represents the partition number of @var{device}, starting
|
|
from one for primary partitions and from five for extended partitions,
|
|
and @var{bsd-subpart-letter} represents the BSD disklabel subpartition,
|
|
such as @samp{a} or @samp{e}.
|
|
|
|
A shortcut for specifying BSD subpartitions is
|
|
@code{(@var{device},@var{bsd-subpart-letter})}, in this case, GRUB
|
|
searches for the first PC partition containing a BSD disklabel, then
|
|
finds the subpartition @var{bsd-subpart-letter}. Here is an example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(hd0,a)
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The syntax @samp{(hd0)} represents using the entire disk (or the
|
|
MBR when installing GRUB), while the syntax @samp{(hd0,1)}
|
|
represents using the first partition of the disk (or the boot sector
|
|
of the partition when installing GRUB).
|
|
|
|
If you enabled the network support, the special drive @samp{(pxe)} is
|
|
also available. Before using the network drive, you must initialize the
|
|
network. @xref{Network}, for more information.
|
|
|
|
If you boot GRUB from a CD-ROM, @samp{(cd)} is available. @xref{Making
|
|
a GRUB bootable CD-ROM}, for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node File name syntax
|
|
@section How to specify files
|
|
|
|
There are two ways to specify files, by @dfn{absolute file name} and by
|
|
@dfn{block list}.
|
|
|
|
An absolute file name resembles a Unix absolute file name, using
|
|
@samp{/} for the directory separator (not @samp{\} as in DOS). One
|
|
example is @samp{(hd0,1)/boot/grub/grub.cfg}. This means the file
|
|
@file{/boot/grub/grub.cfg} in the first partition of the first hard
|
|
disk. If you omit the device name in an absolute file name, GRUB uses
|
|
GRUB's @dfn{root device} implicitly. So if you set the root device to,
|
|
say, @samp{(hd1,1)} by the command @samp{set root=(hd1,1)} (@pxref{set}),
|
|
then @code{/boot/kernel} is the same as @code{(hd1,1)/boot/kernel}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Block list syntax
|
|
@section How to specify block lists
|
|
|
|
A block list is used for specifying a file that doesn't appear in the
|
|
filesystem, like a chainloader. The syntax is
|
|
@code{[@var{offset}]+@var{length}[,[@var{offset}]+@var{length}]@dots{}}.
|
|
Here is an example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@code{0+100,200+1,300+300}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
This represents that GRUB should read blocks 0 through 99, block 200,
|
|
and blocks 300 through 599. If you omit an offset, then GRUB assumes
|
|
the offset is zero.
|
|
|
|
Like the file name syntax (@pxref{File name syntax}), if a blocklist
|
|
does not contain a device name, then GRUB uses GRUB's @dfn{root
|
|
device}. So @code{(hd0,2)+1} is the same as @code{+1} when the root
|
|
device is @samp{(hd0,2)}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Interface
|
|
@chapter GRUB's user interface
|
|
|
|
GRUB has both a simple menu interface for choosing preset entries from a
|
|
configuration file, and a highly flexible command-line for performing
|
|
any desired combination of boot commands.
|
|
|
|
GRUB looks for its configuration file as soon as it is loaded. If one
|
|
is found, then the full menu interface is activated using whatever
|
|
entries were found in the file. If you choose the @dfn{command-line} menu
|
|
option, or if the configuration file was not found, then GRUB drops to
|
|
the command-line interface.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Command-line interface:: The flexible command-line interface
|
|
* Menu interface:: The simple menu interface
|
|
* Menu entry editor:: Editing a menu entry
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Command-line interface
|
|
@section The flexible command-line interface
|
|
|
|
The command-line interface provides a prompt and after it an editable
|
|
text area much like a command-line in Unix or DOS. Each command is
|
|
immediately executed after it is entered@footnote{However, this
|
|
behavior will be changed in the future version, in a user-invisible
|
|
way.}. The commands (@pxref{Command-line and menu entry commands}) are a
|
|
subset of those available in the configuration file, used with exactly
|
|
the same syntax.
|
|
|
|
Cursor movement and editing of the text on the line can be done via a
|
|
subset of the functions available in the Bash shell:
|
|
|
|
@table @key
|
|
@item C-f
|
|
@itemx PC right key
|
|
Move forward one character.
|
|
|
|
@item C-b
|
|
@itemx PC left key
|
|
Move back one character.
|
|
|
|
@item C-a
|
|
@itemx HOME
|
|
Move to the start of the line.
|
|
|
|
@item C-e
|
|
@itemx END
|
|
Move the the end of the line.
|
|
|
|
@item C-d
|
|
@itemx DEL
|
|
Delete the character underneath the cursor.
|
|
|
|
@item C-h
|
|
@itemx BS
|
|
Delete the character to the left of the cursor.
|
|
|
|
@item C-k
|
|
Kill the text from the current cursor position to the end of the line.
|
|
|
|
@item C-u
|
|
Kill backward from the cursor to the beginning of the line.
|
|
|
|
@item C-y
|
|
Yank the killed text back into the buffer at the cursor.
|
|
|
|
@item C-p
|
|
@itemx PC up key
|
|
Move up through the history list.
|
|
|
|
@item C-n
|
|
@itemx PC down key
|
|
Move down through the history list.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
When typing commands interactively, if the cursor is within or before
|
|
the first word in the command-line, pressing the @key{TAB} key (or
|
|
@key{C-i}) will display a listing of the available commands, and if the
|
|
cursor is after the first word, the @kbd{@key{TAB}} will provide a
|
|
completion listing of disks, partitions, and file names depending on the
|
|
context. Note that to obtain a list of drives, one must open a
|
|
parenthesis, as @command{root (}.
|
|
|
|
Note that you cannot use the completion functionality in the TFTP
|
|
filesystem. This is because TFTP doesn't support file name listing for
|
|
the security.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Menu interface
|
|
@section The simple menu interface
|
|
|
|
The menu interface is quite easy to use. Its commands are both
|
|
reasonably intuitive and described on screen.
|
|
|
|
Basically, the menu interface provides a list of @dfn{boot entries} to
|
|
the user to choose from. Use the arrow keys to select the entry of
|
|
choice, then press @key{RET} to run it. An optional timeout is
|
|
available to boot the default entry (the first one if not set), which is
|
|
aborted by pressing any key.
|
|
|
|
Commands are available to enter a bare command-line by pressing @key{c}
|
|
(which operates exactly like the non-config-file version of GRUB, but
|
|
allows one to return to the menu if desired by pressing @key{ESC}) or to
|
|
edit any of the @dfn{boot entries} by pressing @key{e}.
|
|
|
|
If you protect the menu interface with a password (@pxref{Security}),
|
|
all you can do is choose an entry by pressing @key{RET}, or press
|
|
@key{p} to enter the password.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Menu entry editor
|
|
@section Editing a menu entry
|
|
|
|
The menu entry editor looks much like the main menu interface, but the
|
|
lines in the menu are individual commands in the selected entry instead
|
|
of entry names.
|
|
|
|
If an @key{ESC} is pressed in the editor, it aborts all the changes made
|
|
to the configuration entry and returns to the main menu interface.
|
|
|
|
Each line in the menu entry can be edited freely, and you can add new lines
|
|
by pressing @key{RET} at the end of a line. To boot the edited entry, press
|
|
@key{Ctrl-x}.
|
|
|
|
Although GRUB unfortunately does not support @dfn{undo}, you can do almost
|
|
the same thing by just returning to the main menu using @key{ESC}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Commands
|
|
@chapter The list of available commands
|
|
|
|
In this chapter, we list all commands that are available in GRUB.
|
|
|
|
Commands belong to different groups. A few can only be used in
|
|
the global section of the configuration file (or ``menu''); most
|
|
of them can be entered on the command-line and can be used either
|
|
anywhere in the menu or specifically in the menu entries.
|
|
|
|
In rescue mode, only the @command{insmod} (@pxref{insmod}), @command{ls}
|
|
(@pxref{ls}), @command{set} (@pxref{set}), and @command{unset}
|
|
(@pxref{unset}) commands are normally available.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Menu-specific commands::
|
|
* General commands::
|
|
* Command-line and menu entry commands::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Menu-specific commands
|
|
@section The list of commands for the menu only
|
|
|
|
The semantics used in parsing the configuration file are the following:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
@item
|
|
The menu-specific commands have to be used before any others.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The files @emph{must} be in plain-text format.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@samp{#} at the beginning of a line in a configuration file means it is
|
|
only a comment.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Options are separated by spaces.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
All numbers can be either decimal or hexadecimal. A hexadecimal number
|
|
must be preceded by @samp{0x}, and is case-insensitive.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Extra options or text at the end of the line are ignored unless otherwise
|
|
specified.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Unrecognized commands are added to the current entry, except before entries
|
|
start, where they are ignored.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
These commands can only be used in the menu:
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* menuentry:: Start a menu entry
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node menuentry
|
|
@subsection menuentry
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command menuentry @var{title} @
|
|
[@option{--class=class} @dots{}] [@option{--users=users}] @
|
|
[@option{--hotkey=key}] @
|
|
@{ @var{command}; @dots{} @}
|
|
This defines a GRUB menu entry named @var{title}. When this entry is
|
|
selected from the menu, GRUB will set the @var{chosen} environment variable
|
|
to @var{title}, execute the list of commands given within braces, and if the
|
|
last command in the list returned successfully and a kernel was loaded it
|
|
will execute the @command{boot} command.
|
|
|
|
The @option{--class} option may be used any number of times to group menu
|
|
entries into classes. Menu themes may display different classes using
|
|
different styles.
|
|
|
|
The @option{--users} option grants specific users access to specific menu
|
|
entries. @xref{Security}.
|
|
|
|
The @option{--hotkey} option associates a hotkey with a menu entry.
|
|
@var{key} may be a single letter, or one of the aliases @samp{backspace},
|
|
@samp{tab}, or @samp{delete}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node General commands
|
|
@section The list of general commands
|
|
|
|
Commands usable anywhere in the menu and in the command-line.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* serial:: Set up a serial device
|
|
* terminal_input:: Manage input terminals
|
|
* terminal_output:: Manage output terminals
|
|
* terminfo:: Define terminal type
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node serial
|
|
@subsection serial
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command serial [@option{--unit=unit}] [@option{--port=port}] [@option{--speed=speed}] [@option{--word=word}] [@option{--parity=parity}] [@option{--stop=stop}]
|
|
Initialize a serial device. @var{unit} is a number in the range 0-3
|
|
specifying which serial port to use; default is 0, which corresponds to
|
|
the port often called COM1. @var{port} is the I/O port where the UART
|
|
is to be found; if specified it takes precedence over @var{unit}.
|
|
@var{speed} is the transmission speed; default is 9600. @var{word} and
|
|
@var{stop} are the number of data bits and stop bits. Data bits must
|
|
be in the range 5-8 and stop bits must be 1 or 2. Default is 8 data
|
|
bits and one stop bit. @var{parity} is one of @samp{no}, @samp{odd},
|
|
@samp{even} and defaults to @samp{no}.
|
|
|
|
The serial port is not used as a communication channel unless the
|
|
@command{terminal_input} or @command{terminal_output} command is used
|
|
(@pxref{terminal_input}, @pxref{terminal_output}).
|
|
|
|
This command is only available if GRUB is compiled with serial
|
|
support. See also @ref{Serial terminal}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node terminal_input
|
|
@subsection terminal_input
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command terminal_input [@option{--append}|@option{--remove}] @
|
|
[terminal1] [terminal2] @dots{}
|
|
List or select an input terminal.
|
|
|
|
With no arguments, list the active and available input terminals.
|
|
|
|
With @option{--append}, add the named terminals to the list of active input
|
|
terminals; any of these may be used to provide input to GRUB.
|
|
|
|
With @option{--remove}, remove the named terminals from the active list.
|
|
|
|
With no options but a list of terminal names, make only the listed terminal
|
|
names active.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node terminal_output
|
|
@subsection terminal_output
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command terminal_output [@option{--append}|@option{--remove}] @
|
|
[terminal1] [terminal2] @dots{}
|
|
List or select an output terminal.
|
|
|
|
With no arguments, list the active and available output terminals.
|
|
|
|
With @option{--append}, add the named terminals to the list of active output
|
|
terminals; all of these will receive output from GRUB.
|
|
|
|
With @option{--remove}, remove the named terminals from the active list.
|
|
|
|
With no options but a list of terminal names, make only the listed terminal
|
|
names active.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node terminfo
|
|
@subsection terminfo
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command terminfo [-a|-u|-v] [term]
|
|
Define the capabilities of your terminal by giving the name of an entry in
|
|
the terminfo database, which should correspond roughly to a @samp{TERM}
|
|
environment variable in Unix.
|
|
|
|
The currently available terminal types are @samp{vt100}, @samp{vt100-color},
|
|
@samp{ieee1275}, and @samp{dumb}. If you need other terminal types, please
|
|
contact us to discuss the best way to include support for these in GRUB.
|
|
|
|
The @option{-a} (@option{--ascii}), @option{-u} (@option{--utf8}), and
|
|
@option{-v} (@option{--visual-utf8}) options control how non-ASCII text is
|
|
displayed. @option{-a} specifies an ASCII-only terminal; @option{-u}
|
|
specifies logically-ordered UTF-8; and @option{-v} specifies
|
|
"visually-ordered UTF-8" (in other words, arranged such that a terminal
|
|
emulator without bidirectional text support will display right-to-left text
|
|
in the proper order; this is not really proper UTF-8, but a workaround).
|
|
|
|
If no option or terminal type is specified, the current terminal type is
|
|
printed.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Command-line and menu entry commands
|
|
@section The list of command-line and menu entry commands
|
|
|
|
These commands are usable in the command-line and in menu entries. If
|
|
you forget a command, you can run the command @command{help}
|
|
(@pxref{help}).
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* acpi:: Load ACPI tables
|
|
* badram:: Filter out bad regions of RAM
|
|
* blocklist:: Print a block list
|
|
* boot:: Start up your operating system
|
|
* cat:: Show the contents of a file
|
|
* chainloader:: Chain-load another boot loader
|
|
* cmp:: Compare two files
|
|
* configfile:: Load a configuration file
|
|
* cpuid:: Check for CPU features
|
|
* crc:: Calculate CRC32 checksums
|
|
* date:: Display or set current date and time
|
|
* drivemap:: Map a drive to another
|
|
* echo:: Display a line of text
|
|
* export:: Export an environment variable
|
|
* gettext:: Translate a string
|
|
* gptsync:: Fill an MBR based on GPT entries
|
|
* halt:: Shut down your computer
|
|
* help:: Show help messages
|
|
* initrd:: Load a Linux initrd
|
|
* initrd16:: Load a Linux initrd (16-bit mode)
|
|
* insmod:: Insert a module
|
|
* keystatus:: Check key modifier status
|
|
* linux:: Load a Linux kernel
|
|
* linux16:: Load a Linux kernel (16-bit mode)
|
|
* ls:: List devices or files
|
|
* parttool:: Modify partition table entries
|
|
* password:: Set a clear-text password
|
|
* password_pbkdf2:: Set a hashed password
|
|
* play:: Play a tune
|
|
* pxe_unload:: Unload the PXE environment
|
|
* reboot:: Reboot your computer
|
|
* search:: Search devices by file, label, or UUID
|
|
* sendkey:: Emulate keystrokes
|
|
* set:: Set an environment variable
|
|
* unset:: Unset an environment variable
|
|
* uppermem:: Set the upper memory size
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node acpi
|
|
@subsection acpi
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command acpi [@option{-1}|@option{-2}] @
|
|
[@option{--exclude=table1,@dots{}}|@option{--load-only=table1,@dots{}}] @
|
|
[@option{--oemid=id}] [@option{--oemtable=table}] @
|
|
[@option{--oemtablerev=rev}] [@option{--oemtablecreator=creator}] @
|
|
[@option{--oemtablecreatorrev=rev}] [@option{--no-ebda}] @
|
|
filename @dots{}
|
|
Modern BIOS systems normally implement the Advanced Configuration and Power
|
|
Interface (ACPI), and define various tables that describe the interface
|
|
between an ACPI-compliant operating system and the firmware. In some cases,
|
|
the tables provided by default only work well with certain operating
|
|
systems, and it may be necessary to replace some of them.
|
|
|
|
Normally, this command will replace the Root System Description Pointer
|
|
(RSDP) in the Extended BIOS Data Area to point to the new tables. If the
|
|
@option{--no-ebda} option is used, the new tables will be known only to
|
|
GRUB, but may be used by GRUB's EFI emulation.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
@node badram
|
|
@subsection badram
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command badram addr,mask[,addr,mask...]
|
|
Filter out bad RAM.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
This command notifies the memory manager that specified regions of
|
|
RAM ought to be filtered out (usually, because they're damaged). This
|
|
remains in effect after a payload kernel has been loaded by GRUB, as
|
|
long as the loaded kernel obtains its memory map from GRUB. Kernels that
|
|
support this include Linux, GNU Mach, the kernel of FreeBSD and Multiboot
|
|
kernels in general.
|
|
|
|
Syntax is the same as provided by the @uref{http://www.memtest.org/,
|
|
Memtest86+ utility}: a list of address/mask pairs. Given a page-aligned
|
|
address and a base address / mask pair, if all the bits of the page-aligned
|
|
address that are enabled by the mask match with the base address, it means
|
|
this page is to be filtered. This syntax makes it easy to represent patterns
|
|
that are often result of memory damage, due to physical distribution of memory
|
|
cells.
|
|
|
|
@node blocklist
|
|
@subsection blocklist
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command blocklist file
|
|
Print a block list (@pxref{Block list syntax}) for @var{file}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node boot
|
|
@subsection boot
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command boot
|
|
Boot the OS or chain-loader which has been loaded. Only necessary if
|
|
running the fully interactive command-line (it is implicit at the end of
|
|
a menu entry).
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node cat
|
|
@subsection cat
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command cat [@option{--dos}] file
|
|
Display the contents of the file @var{file}. This command may be useful
|
|
to remind you of your OS's root partition:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub> @kbd{cat /etc/fstab}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If the @option{--dos} option is used, then carriage return / new line pairs
|
|
will be displayed as a simple new line. Otherwise, the carriage return will
|
|
be displayed as a control character (@samp{<d>}) to make it easier to see
|
|
when boot problems are caused by a file formatted using DOS-style line
|
|
endings.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node chainloader
|
|
@subsection chainloader
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command chainloader [@option{--force}] file
|
|
Load @var{file} as a chain-loader. Like any other file loaded by the
|
|
filesystem code, it can use the blocklist notation (@pxref{Block list
|
|
syntax}) to grab the first sector of the current partition with @samp{+1}.
|
|
If you specify the option @option{--force}, then load @var{file} forcibly,
|
|
whether it has a correct signature or not. This is required when you want to
|
|
load a defective boot loader, such as SCO UnixWare 7.1.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node cmp
|
|
@subsection cmp
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command cmp file1 file2
|
|
Compare the file @var{file1} with the file @var{file2}. If they differ
|
|
in size, print the sizes like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
Differ in size: 0x1234 [foo], 0x4321 [bar]
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If the sizes are equal but the bytes at an offset differ, then print the
|
|
bytes like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
Differ at the offset 777: 0xbe [foo], 0xef [bar]
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If they are completely identical, nothing will be printed.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node configfile
|
|
@subsection configfile
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command configfile file
|
|
Load @var{file} as a configuration file. If @var{file} defines any menu
|
|
entries, then show a menu containing them immediately.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node cpuid
|
|
@subsection cpuid
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command cpuid [-l]
|
|
Check for CPU features. This command is only available on x86 systems.
|
|
|
|
With the @option{-l} option, return true if the CPU supports long mode
|
|
(64-bit).
|
|
|
|
If invoked without options, this command currently behaves as if it had been
|
|
invoked with @option{-l}. This may change in the future.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node crc
|
|
@subsection crc
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command crc file
|
|
Display the CRC32 checksum of @var{file}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node date
|
|
@subsection date
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command date [[year-]month-day] [hour:minute[:second]]
|
|
With no arguments, print the current date and time.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise, take the current date and time, change any elements specified as
|
|
arguments, and set the result as the new date and time. For example, `date
|
|
01-01' will set the current month and day to January 1, but leave the year,
|
|
hour, minute, and second unchanged.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node drivemap
|
|
@subsection drivemap
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command drivemap @option{-l}|@option{-r}|[@option{-s}] @
|
|
from_drive to_drive
|
|
Without options, map the drive @var{from_drive} to the drive @var{to_drive}.
|
|
This is necessary when you chain-load some operating systems, such as DOS,
|
|
if such an OS resides at a non-first drive. For convenience, any partition
|
|
suffix on the drive is ignored, so you can safely use @verb{'${root}'} as a
|
|
drive specification.
|
|
|
|
With the @option{-s} option, perform the reverse mapping as well, swapping
|
|
the two drives.
|
|
|
|
With the @option{-l} option, list the current mappings.
|
|
|
|
With the @option{-r} option, reset all mappings to the default values.
|
|
|
|
For example:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
drivemap -s (hd0) (hd1)
|
|
@end example
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node echo
|
|
@subsection echo
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command echo [@option{-n}] [@option{-e}] string @dots{}
|
|
Display the requested text and, unless the @option{-n} option is used, a
|
|
trailing new line. If there is more than one string, they are separated by
|
|
spaces in the output. As usual in GRUB commands, variables may be
|
|
substituted using @samp{$@{var@}}.
|
|
|
|
The @option{-e} option enables interpretation of backslash escapes. The
|
|
following sequences are recognised:
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item \\
|
|
backslash
|
|
|
|
@item \a
|
|
alert (BEL)
|
|
|
|
@item \c
|
|
suppress trailing new line
|
|
|
|
@item \f
|
|
form feed
|
|
|
|
@item \n
|
|
new line
|
|
|
|
@item \r
|
|
carriage return
|
|
|
|
@item \t
|
|
horizontal tab
|
|
|
|
@item \v
|
|
vertical tab
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
When interpreting backslash escapes, backslash followed by any other
|
|
character will print that character.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node export
|
|
@subsection export
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command export envvar
|
|
Export the environment variable @var{envvar}. Exported variables are visible
|
|
to subsidiary configuration files loaded using @command{configfile}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node gettext
|
|
@subsection gettext
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command gettext string
|
|
Translate @var{string} into the current language.
|
|
|
|
The current language code is stored in the @samp{lang} variable in GRUB's
|
|
environment. Translation files in MO format are read from
|
|
@samp{locale_dir}, usually @file{/boot/grub/locale}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node gptsync
|
|
@subsection gptsync
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command gptsync device [partition[+/-[type]]] @dots{}
|
|
Disks using the GUID Partition Table (GPT) also have a legacy Master Boot
|
|
Record (MBR) partition table for compatibility with the BIOS and with older
|
|
operating systems. The legacy MBR can only represent a limited subset of
|
|
GPT partition entries.
|
|
|
|
This command populates the legacy MBR with the specified @var{partition}
|
|
entries on @var{device}. Up to three partitions may be used.
|
|
|
|
@var{type} is an MBR partition type code; prefix with @samp{0x} if you want
|
|
to enter this in hexadecimal. The separator between @var{partition} and
|
|
@var{type} may be @samp{+} to make the partition active, or @samp{-} to make
|
|
it inactive; only one partition may be active. If both the separator and
|
|
type are omitted, then the partition will be inactive.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node halt
|
|
@subsection halt
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command halt @option{--no-apm}
|
|
The command halts the computer. If the @option{--no-apm} option
|
|
is specified, no APM BIOS call is performed. Otherwise, the computer
|
|
is shut down using APM.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node help
|
|
@subsection help
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command help [pattern @dots{}]
|
|
Display helpful information about builtin commands. If you do not
|
|
specify @var{pattern}, this command shows short descriptions of all
|
|
available commands.
|
|
|
|
If you specify any @var{patterns}, it displays longer information
|
|
about each of the commands whose names begin with those @var{patterns}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node initrd
|
|
@subsection initrd
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command initrd file
|
|
Load an initial ramdisk for a Linux kernel image, and set the appropriate
|
|
parameters in the Linux setup area in memory. This may only be used after
|
|
the @command{linux} command (@pxref{linux}) has been run. See also
|
|
@ref{GNU/Linux}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node initrd16
|
|
@subsection initrd16
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command initrd16 file
|
|
Load an initial ramdisk for a Linux kernel image to be booted in 16-bit
|
|
mode, and set the appropriate parameters in the Linux setup area in memory.
|
|
This may only be used after the @command{linux16} command (@pxref{linux16})
|
|
has been run. See also @ref{GNU/Linux}.
|
|
|
|
This command is only available on x86 systems.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node insmod
|
|
@subsection insmod
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command insmod module
|
|
Insert the dynamic GRUB module called @var{module}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node keystatus
|
|
@subsection keystatus
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command keystatus [@option{--shift}] [@option{--ctrl}] [@option{--alt}]
|
|
Return true if the Shift, Control, or Alt modifier keys are held down, as
|
|
requested by options. This is useful in scripting, to allow some user
|
|
control over behaviour without having to wait for a keypress.
|
|
|
|
Checking key modifier status is only supported on some platforms. If invoked
|
|
without any options, the @command{keystatus} command returns true if and
|
|
only if checking key modifier status is supported.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node linux
|
|
@subsection linux
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command linux file @dots{}
|
|
Load a Linux kernel image from @var{file}. The rest of the line is passed
|
|
verbatim as the @dfn{kernel command-line}. Any initrd must be reloaded
|
|
after using this command (@pxref{initrd}).
|
|
|
|
On x86 systems, the kernel will be booted using the 32-bit boot protocol.
|
|
Note that this means that the @samp{vga=} boot option will not work; if you
|
|
want to set a special video mode, you will need to use GRUB commands such as
|
|
@samp{set gfxpayload=1024x768} or @samp{set gfxpayload=keep} (to keep the
|
|
same mode as used in GRUB) instead. GRUB can automatically detect some uses
|
|
of @samp{vga=} and translate them to appropriate settings of
|
|
@samp{gfxpayload}. The @command{linux16} command (@pxref{linux16}) avoids
|
|
this restriction.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node linux16
|
|
@subsection linux16
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command linux16 file @dots{}
|
|
Load a Linux kernel image from @var{file} in 16-bit mode. The rest of the
|
|
line is passed verbatim as the @dfn{kernel command-line}. Any initrd must
|
|
be reloaded after using this command (@pxref{initrd16}).
|
|
|
|
The kernel will be booted using the traditional 16-bit boot protocol. As
|
|
well as bypassing problems with @samp{vga=} described in @ref{linux}, this
|
|
permits booting some other programs that implement the Linux boot protocol
|
|
for the sake of convenience.
|
|
|
|
This command is only available on x86 systems.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node ls
|
|
@subsection ls
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command ls [arg]
|
|
List devices or files.
|
|
|
|
With no arguments, print all devices known to GRUB.
|
|
|
|
If the argument is a device name enclosed in parentheses (@pxref{Device
|
|
syntax}), then list all files at the root directory of that device.
|
|
|
|
If the argument is a directory given as an absolute file name (@pxref{File
|
|
name syntax}), then list the contents of that directory.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node parttool
|
|
@subsection parttool
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command parttool partition commands
|
|
Make various modifications to partition table entries.
|
|
|
|
Each @var{command} is either a boolean option, in which case it must be
|
|
followed with @samp{+} or @samp{-} (with no intervening space) to enable or
|
|
disable that option, or else it takes a value in the form
|
|
@samp{@var{command}=@var{value}}.
|
|
|
|
Currently, @command{parttool} is only useful on DOS partition tables (also
|
|
known as Master Boot Record, or MBR). On these partition tables, the
|
|
following commands are available:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
@item @samp{boot} (boolean)
|
|
When enabled, this makes the selected partition be the active (bootable)
|
|
partition on its disk, clearing the active flag on all other partitions.
|
|
This command is limited to @emph{primary} partitions.
|
|
|
|
@item @samp{type} (value)
|
|
Change the type of an existing partition. The value must be a number in the
|
|
range 0-0xFF (prefix with @samp{0x} to enter it in hexadecimal).
|
|
|
|
@item @samp{hidden} (boolean)
|
|
When enabled, this hides the selected partition by setting the @dfn{hidden}
|
|
bit in its partition type code; when disabled, unhides the selected
|
|
partition by clearing this bit. This is useful only when booting DOS or
|
|
Wwindows and multiple primary FAT partitions exist in one disk. See also
|
|
@ref{DOS/Windows}.
|
|
@end table
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node password
|
|
@subsection password
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command password user clear-password
|
|
Define a user named @var{user} with password @var{clear-password}.
|
|
@xref{Security}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node password_pbkdf2
|
|
@subsection password_pbkdf2
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command password_pbkdf2 user hashed-password
|
|
Define a user named @var{user} with password hash @var{hashed-password}.
|
|
Use @command{grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2} (@pxref{Invoking grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2})
|
|
to generate password hashes. @xref{Security}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node play
|
|
@subsection play
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command play file | tempo [pitch1 duration1] [pitch2 duration2] ...
|
|
Plays a tune
|
|
|
|
If the argument is a file name (@pxref{File name syntax}), play the tune
|
|
recorded in it. The file format is first the tempo as an unsigned 32bit
|
|
little-endian number, then pairs of unsigned 16bit little-endian numbers for
|
|
pitch and duration pairs.
|
|
|
|
If the arguments are a series of numbers, play the inline tune.
|
|
|
|
The tempo is the base for all note durations. 60 gives a 1-second base, 120
|
|
gives a half-second base, etc. Pitches are Hz. Set pitch to 0 to produce
|
|
a rest.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node pxe_unload
|
|
@subsection pxe_unload
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command pxe_unload
|
|
Unload the PXE environment (@pxref{Network}).
|
|
|
|
This command is only available on PC BIOS systems.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node reboot
|
|
@subsection reboot
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command reboot
|
|
Reboot the computer.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node search
|
|
@subsection search
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command search @
|
|
[@option{--file}|@option{--label}|@option{--fs-uuid}] @
|
|
[@option{--set} [var]] [@option{--no-floppy}] name
|
|
Search devices by file (@option{-f}, @option{--file}), filesystem label
|
|
(@option{-l}, @option{--label}), or filesystem UUID (@option{-u},
|
|
@option{--fs-uuid}).
|
|
|
|
If the @option{--set} option is used, the first device found is set as the
|
|
value of environment variable @var{var}. The default variable is
|
|
@samp{root}.
|
|
|
|
The @option{--no-floppy} option prevents searching floppy devices, which can
|
|
be slow.
|
|
|
|
The @samp{search.file}, @samp{search.fs_label}, and @samp{search.fs_uuid}
|
|
commands are aliases for @samp{search --file}, @samp{search --label}, and
|
|
@samp{search --fs-uuid} respectively.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node sendkey
|
|
@subsection sendkey
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command sendkey @
|
|
[@option{--num}|@option{--caps}|@option{--scroll}|@option{--insert}|@
|
|
@option{--pause}|@option{--left-shift}|@option{--right-shift}|@
|
|
@option{--sysrq}|@option{--numkey}|@option{--capskey}|@option{--scrollkey}|@
|
|
@option{--insertkey}|@option{--left-alt}|@option{--right-alt}|@
|
|
@option{--left-ctrl}|@option{--right-ctrl} @
|
|
@samp{on}|@samp{off}]@dots{} @
|
|
[@option{no-led}] @
|
|
keystroke
|
|
Insert keystrokes into the keyboard buffer when booting. Sometimes an
|
|
operating system or chainloaded boot loader requires particular keys to be
|
|
pressed: for example, one might need to press a particular key to enter
|
|
"safe mode", or when chainloading another boot loader one might send
|
|
keystrokes to it to navigate its menu.
|
|
|
|
You may provide up to 16 keystrokes (the length of the BIOS keyboard
|
|
buffer). Keystroke names may be upper-case or lower-case letters, digits,
|
|
or taken from the following table:
|
|
|
|
@c Please keep this table in the same order as in
|
|
@c commands/i386/pc/sendkey.c, for ease of maintenance.
|
|
@c Exception: The function and numeric keys are sorted, for aesthetics.
|
|
|
|
@multitable @columnfractions .4 .5
|
|
@headitem Name @tab Key
|
|
@item escape @tab Escape
|
|
@item exclam @tab !
|
|
@item at @tab @@
|
|
@item numbersign @tab #
|
|
@item dollar @tab $
|
|
@item percent @tab %
|
|
@item caret @tab ^
|
|
@item ampersand @tab &
|
|
@item asterisk @tab *
|
|
@item parenleft @tab (
|
|
@item parenright @tab )
|
|
@item minus @tab -
|
|
@item underscore @tab _
|
|
@item equal @tab =
|
|
@item plus @tab +
|
|
@item backspace @tab Backspace
|
|
@item tab @tab Tab
|
|
@item bracketleft @tab [
|
|
@item braceleft @tab @{
|
|
@item bracketright @tab ]
|
|
@item braceright @tab @}
|
|
@item enter @tab Enter
|
|
@item control @tab press and release Control
|
|
@item semicolon @tab ;
|
|
@item colon @tab :
|
|
@item quote @tab '
|
|
@item doublequote @tab "
|
|
@item backquote @tab `
|
|
@item tilde @tab ~
|
|
@item shift @tab press and release left Shift
|
|
@item backslash @tab \
|
|
@item bar @tab |
|
|
@item comma @tab ,
|
|
@item less @tab <
|
|
@item period @tab .
|
|
@item greater @tab >
|
|
@item slash @tab /
|
|
@item question @tab ?
|
|
@item rshift @tab press and release right Shift
|
|
@item alt @tab press and release Alt
|
|
@item space @tab space bar
|
|
@item capslock @tab Caps Lock
|
|
@item F1 @tab F1
|
|
@item F2 @tab F2
|
|
@item F3 @tab F3
|
|
@item F4 @tab F4
|
|
@item F5 @tab F5
|
|
@item F6 @tab F6
|
|
@item F7 @tab F7
|
|
@item F8 @tab F8
|
|
@item F9 @tab F9
|
|
@item F10 @tab F10
|
|
@item F11 @tab F11
|
|
@item F12 @tab F12
|
|
@item num1 @tab 1 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num2 @tab 2 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num3 @tab 3 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num4 @tab 4 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num5 @tab 5 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num6 @tab 6 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num7 @tab 7 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num8 @tab 8 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num9 @tab 9 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item num0 @tab 0 (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numperiod @tab . (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numend @tab End (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numdown @tab Down (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numpgdown @tab Page Down (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numleft @tab Left (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numcenter @tab 5 with Num Lock inactive (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numright @tab Right (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numhome @tab Home (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numup @tab Up (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numpgup @tab Page Up (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numinsert @tab Insert (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numdelete @tab Delete (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numasterisk @tab * (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numminus @tab - (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numplus @tab + (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numslash @tab / (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item numenter @tab Enter (numeric keypad)
|
|
@item delete @tab Delete
|
|
@item insert @tab Insert
|
|
@item home @tab Home
|
|
@item end @tab End
|
|
@item pgdown @tab Page Down
|
|
@item pgup @tab Page Up
|
|
@item down @tab Down
|
|
@item up @tab Up
|
|
@item left @tab Left
|
|
@item right @tab Right
|
|
@end multitable
|
|
|
|
As well as keystrokes, the @command{sendkey} command takes various options
|
|
that affect the BIOS keyboard status flags. These options take an @samp{on}
|
|
or @samp{off} parameter, specifying that the corresponding status flag be
|
|
set or unset; omitting the option for a given status flag will leave that
|
|
flag at its initial state at boot. The @option{--num}, @option{--caps},
|
|
@option{--scroll}, and @option{--insert} options emulate setting the
|
|
corresponding mode, while the @option{--numkey}, @option{--capskey},
|
|
@option{--scrollkey}, and @option{--insertkey} options emulate pressing and
|
|
holding the corresponding key. The other status flag options are
|
|
self-explanatory.
|
|
|
|
If the @option{--no-led} option is given, the status flag options will have
|
|
no effect on keyboard LEDs.
|
|
|
|
If the @command{sendkey} command is given multiple times, then only the last
|
|
invocation has any effect.
|
|
|
|
Since @command{sendkey} manipulates the BIOS keyboard buffer, it may cause
|
|
hangs, reboots, or other misbehaviour on some systems. If the operating
|
|
system or boot loader that runs after GRUB uses its own keyboard driver
|
|
rather than the BIOS keyboard functions, then @command{sendkey} will have no
|
|
effect.
|
|
|
|
This command is only available on PC BIOS systems.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node set
|
|
@subsection set
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command set [envvar=value]
|
|
Set the environment variable @var{envvar} to @var{value}. If invoked with no
|
|
arguments, print all environment variables with their values.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node unset
|
|
@subsection unset
|
|
|
|
@deffn Command unset envvar
|
|
Unset the environment variable @var{envvar}.
|
|
@end deffn
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node uppermem
|
|
@subsection uppermem
|
|
|
|
This command is not yet implemented for GRUB 2, although it is planned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Security
|
|
@chapter Authentication and authorisation
|
|
|
|
By default, the boot loader interface is accessible to anyone with physical
|
|
access to the console: anyone can select and edit any menu entry, and anyone
|
|
can get direct access to a GRUB shell prompt. For most systems, this is
|
|
reasonable since anyone with direct physical access has a variety of other
|
|
ways to gain full access, and requiring authentication at the boot loader
|
|
level would only serve to make it difficult to recover broken systems.
|
|
|
|
However, in some environments, such as kiosks, it may be appropriate to lock
|
|
down the boot loader to require authentication before performing certain
|
|
operations.
|
|
|
|
The @samp{password} (@pxref{password}) and @samp{password_pbkdf2}
|
|
(@pxref{password_pbkdf2}) commands can be used to define users, each of
|
|
which has an associated password. @samp{password} sets the password in
|
|
plain text, requiring @file{grub.cfg} to be secure; @samp{password_pbkdf2}
|
|
sets the password hashed using the Password-Based Key Derivation Function
|
|
(RFC 2898), requiring the use of @command{grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2}
|
|
(@pxref{Invoking grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2}) to generate password hashes.
|
|
|
|
In order to enable authentication support, the @samp{superusers} environment
|
|
variable must be set to a list of usernames, separated by any of spaces,
|
|
commas, semicolons, pipes, or ampersands. Superusers are permitted to use
|
|
the GRUB command line, edit menu entries, and execute any menu entry. If
|
|
@samp{superusers} is set, then use of the command line is automatically
|
|
restricted to superusers.
|
|
|
|
Other users may be given access to specific menu entries by giving a list of
|
|
usernames (as above) using the @option{--users} option to the
|
|
@samp{menuentry} command (@pxref{menuentry}). If the @option{--users}
|
|
option is not used for a menu entry, then that entry is unrestricted.
|
|
|
|
Putting this together, a typical @file{grub.cfg} fragment might look like
|
|
this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
set superusers="root"
|
|
password_pbkdf2 root grub.pbkdf2.sha512.10000.biglongstring
|
|
password user1 insecure
|
|
|
|
menuentry "May be run by any user" @{
|
|
set root=(hd0,1)
|
|
linux /vmlinuz
|
|
@}
|
|
|
|
menuentry "Superusers only" --users "" @{
|
|
set root=(hd0,1)
|
|
linux /vmlinuz single
|
|
@}
|
|
|
|
menuentry "May be run by user1 or a superuser" --users user1 @{
|
|
set root=(hd0,2)
|
|
chainloader +1
|
|
@}
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The @command{grub-mkconfig} program does not yet have built-in support for
|
|
generating configuration files with authentication. You can use
|
|
@file{/etc/grub.d/40_custom} to add simple superuser authentication, by
|
|
adding @kbd{set superusers=} and @kbd{password} or @kbd{password_pbkdf2}
|
|
commands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Supported kernels
|
|
@chapter Supported boot targets
|
|
|
|
X86 support is summarised in following table. ``Yes'' means that kernel works on the given platform, ``crashes'' means an early kernel crash which we hove will be fixed by concerned kernel developpers. ``no'' means GRUB doesn't load given kernel on a given platform. ``headless'' means that the kernel works but lacks console drivers (you can still use serial or network console). In case of ``no'' and ``crashes'' the reason is given in footnote.
|
|
@multitable @columnfractions .50 .15 .15 .15
|
|
@item @tab BIOS @tab Coreboot @tab 32-bit EFI
|
|
@item BIOS chainloading @tab yes @tab no (1) @tab no (1)
|
|
@item NTLDR @tab yes @tab no (1) @tab no (1)
|
|
@item FreeBSD bootloader @tab yes @tab crashes (1)@tab crashes (1)
|
|
@item 32-bit kFreeBSD @tab yes @tab ? @tab headless
|
|
@item 64-bit kFreeBSD @tab yes @tab crashes (2)@tab headless
|
|
@item 32-bit kNetBSD @tab yes @tab crashes (1)@tab crashes (1)
|
|
@item 64-bit kNetBSD @tab yes @tab crashes (2)@tab yes
|
|
@item 32-bit kOpenBSD @tab yes @tab yes @tab headless
|
|
@item 64-bit kOpenBSD @tab yes @tab yes @tab headless
|
|
@item Multiboot @tab yes @tab yes @tab yes
|
|
@item Multiboot2 @tab yes @tab yes @tab yes
|
|
@item 32-bit Linux (legacy protocol) @tab yes @tab no (1) @tab no (1)
|
|
@item 64-bit Linux (legacy protocol) @tab yes @tab no (1) @tab no (1)
|
|
@item 32-bit Linux (modern protocol) @tab yes @tab yes @tab yes
|
|
@item 64-bit Linux (modern protocol) @tab yes @tab yes @tab yes
|
|
@item 32-bit XNU @tab yes @tab ? @tab yes
|
|
@item 64-bit XNU @tab yes @tab ? @tab yes (5)
|
|
@item 32-bit EFI chainloader @tab no (3) @tab no (3) @tab yes
|
|
@item 64-bit EFI chainloader @tab no (3) @tab no (3) @tab no (4)
|
|
@item Appleloader @tab no (3) @tab no (3) @tab yes
|
|
@end multitable
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item Requires BIOS
|
|
@item Crashes because the memory at 0x0-0x1000 isn't available
|
|
@item EFI only
|
|
@item 32-bit and 64-bit EFI have different structures and work in different CPU modes so it's not possible to chainload 32-bit bootloader on 64-bit platform and vice-versa
|
|
@item Some modules may need to be disabled
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
|
|
PowerPC and Sparc ports support only Linux.
|
|
MIPS port supports Linux and multiboot2.
|
|
|
|
@chapter Boot tests
|
|
|
|
As you have seen in previous chapter the support matrix is pretty big and some of the configurations are only rarely used. To ensure the quality bootchecks are available for all x86 targets except EFI chainloader, Appleloader and XNU. All x86 platforms have bootcheck facility except multiboot and ieee1275. Multiboot, multiboot2, BIOS chainloader, ntldr and freebsd-bootloader boot targets are tested only with a fake kernel images. Only Linux is tested among the payloads using Linux protocols.
|
|
|
|
Following variables must be defined:
|
|
|
|
@multitable @columnfractions .30 .65
|
|
@item GRUB_PAYLOADS_DIR @tab directory containing the required kernels
|
|
@item GRUB_CBFSTOOL @tab cbfstoll from Coreboot package (for coreboot platform only)
|
|
@item GRUB_COREBOOT_ROM @tab empty Coreboot ROM
|
|
@item GRUB_QEMU_OPTS @tab additional options to be supplied to QEMU
|
|
@end multitable
|
|
|
|
Required files are:
|
|
|
|
@multitable @columnfractions .40 .55
|
|
@item kfreebsd_env.i386 @tab 32-bit kFreeBSD device hints
|
|
@item kfreebsd.i386 @tab 32-bit FreeBSD kernel image
|
|
@item kfreebsd.x86_64, kfreebsd_env.x86_64 @tab same from 64-bit kFreeBSD
|
|
@item knetbsd.i386 @tab 32-bit NetBSD kernel image
|
|
@item knetbsd.miniroot.i386 @tab 32-bit kNetBSD miniroot.kmod.
|
|
@item knetbsd.x86_64, knetbsd.miniroot.x86_64 @tab same from 64-bit kNetBSD
|
|
@item kopenbsd.i386 @tab 32-bit OpenBSD kernel bsd.rd image
|
|
@item kopenbsd.x86_64 @tab same from 64-bit kOpenBSD
|
|
@item linux.i386 @tab 32-bit Linux
|
|
@item linux.x86_64 @tab 64-bit Linux
|
|
@end multitable
|
|
|
|
@node Troubleshooting
|
|
@chapter Error messages produced by GRUB
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* GRUB only offers a rescue shell::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node GRUB only offers a rescue shell
|
|
@section GRUB only offers a rescue shell
|
|
|
|
GRUB's normal start-up procedure involves setting the @samp{prefix}
|
|
environment variable to a value set in the core image by
|
|
@command{grub-install}, setting the @samp{root} variable to match, loading
|
|
the @samp{normal} module from the prefix, and running the @samp{normal}
|
|
command. This command is responsible for reading
|
|
@file{/boot/grub/grub.cfg}, running the menu, and doing all the useful
|
|
things GRUB is supposed to do.
|
|
|
|
If, instead, you only get a rescue shell, this usually means that GRUB
|
|
failed to load the @samp{normal} module for some reason. It may be possible
|
|
to work around this temporarily: for instance, if the reason for the failure
|
|
is that @samp{prefix} is wrong (perhaps it refers to the wrong device, or
|
|
perhaps the path to @file{/boot/grub} was not correctly made relative to the
|
|
device), then you can correct this and enter normal mode manually:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
# Inspect the current prefix (and other preset variables):
|
|
set
|
|
# Set to the correct value, which might be something like this:
|
|
set prefix=(hd0,1)/grub
|
|
set root=(hd0,1)
|
|
insmod normal
|
|
normal
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
However, any problem that leaves you in the rescue shell probably means that
|
|
GRUB was not correctly installed. It may be more useful to try to reinstall
|
|
it properly using @kbd{grub-install @var{device}} (@pxref{Invoking
|
|
grub-install}). When doing this, there are a few things to remember:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet{}
|
|
@item
|
|
Drive ordering in your operating system may not be the same as the boot
|
|
drive ordering used by your firmware. Do not assume that your first hard
|
|
drive (e.g. @samp{/dev/sda}) is the one that your firmware will boot from.
|
|
@file{device.map} (@pxref{Device map}) can be used to override this, but it
|
|
is usually better to use UUIDs or file system labels and avoid depending on
|
|
drive ordering entirely.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
At least on BIOS systems, if you tell @command{grub-install} to install GRUB
|
|
to a partition but GRUB has already been installed in the master boot
|
|
record, then the GRUB installation in the partition will be ignored.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If possible, it is generally best to avoid installing GRUB to a partition
|
|
(unless it is a special partition for the use of GRUB alone, such as the
|
|
BIOS Boot Partition used on GPT). Doing this means that GRUB may stop being
|
|
able to read its core image due to a file system moving blocks around, such
|
|
as while defragmenting, running checks, or even during normal operation.
|
|
Installing to the whole disk device is normally more robust.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Check that GRUB actually knows how to read from the device and file system
|
|
containing @file{/boot/grub}. It will not be able to read from encrypted
|
|
devices, nor from file systems for which support has not yet been added to
|
|
GRUB.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Invoking grub-install
|
|
@chapter Invoking grub-install
|
|
|
|
The program @command{grub-install} installs GRUB on your drive using
|
|
@command{grub-mkimage} and (on some platforms) @command{grub-setup}. You
|
|
must specify the device name on which you want to install GRUB, like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub-install @var{install_device}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The device name @var{install_device} is an OS device name or a GRUB
|
|
device name.
|
|
|
|
@command{grub-install} accepts the following options:
|
|
|
|
@table @option
|
|
@item --help
|
|
Print a summary of the command-line options and exit.
|
|
|
|
@item --version
|
|
Print the version number of GRUB and exit.
|
|
|
|
@item --root-directory=@var{dir}
|
|
Install GRUB images under the directory @var{dir} instead of the root
|
|
directory. This option is useful when you want to install GRUB into a
|
|
separate partition or a removable disk. Here is an example in which
|
|
you have a separate @dfn{boot} partition which is mounted on
|
|
@file{/boot}:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{grub-install --root-directory=/boot hd0}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item --recheck
|
|
Recheck the device map, even if @file{/boot/grub/device.map} already
|
|
exists. You should use this option whenever you add/remove a disk
|
|
into/from your computer.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Invoking grub-mkconfig
|
|
@chapter Invoking grub-mkconfig
|
|
|
|
The program @command{grub-mkconfig} generates a configuration file for GRUB
|
|
(@pxref{Simple configuration}).
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@command{grub-mkconfig} accepts the following options:
|
|
|
|
@table @option
|
|
@item --help
|
|
Print a summary of the command-line options and exit.
|
|
|
|
@item --version
|
|
Print the version number of GRUB and exit.
|
|
|
|
@item -o @var{file}
|
|
@itemx --output=@var{file}
|
|
Send the generated configuration file to @var{file}. The default is to send
|
|
it to standard output.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Invoking grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2
|
|
@chapter Invoking grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2
|
|
|
|
The program @command{grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2} generates password hashes for
|
|
GRUB (@pxref{Security}).
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@command{grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2} accepts the following options:
|
|
|
|
@table @option
|
|
@item -c @var{number}
|
|
@itemx --iteration-count=@var{number}
|
|
Number of iterations of the underlying pseudo-random function. Defaults to
|
|
10000.
|
|
|
|
@item -l @var{number}
|
|
@itemx --buflen=@var{number}
|
|
Length of the generated hash. Defaults to 64.
|
|
|
|
@item -s @var{number}
|
|
@itemx --salt=@var{number}
|
|
Length of the salt. Defaults to 64.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Obtaining and Building GRUB
|
|
@appendix How to obtain and build GRUB
|
|
|
|
@quotation
|
|
@strong{Caution:} GRUB requires binutils-2.9.1.0.23 or later because the
|
|
GNU assembler has been changed so that it can produce real 16bits
|
|
machine code between 2.9.1 and 2.9.1.0.x. See
|
|
@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/binutils/}, to obtain information on
|
|
how to get the latest version.
|
|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
GRUB is available from the GNU alpha archive site
|
|
@uref{ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/grub} or any of its mirrors. The file
|
|
will be named grub-version.tar.gz. The current version is
|
|
@value{VERSION}, so the file you should grab is:
|
|
|
|
@uref{ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/grub/grub-@value{VERSION}.tar.gz}
|
|
|
|
To unbundle GRUB use the instruction:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{zcat grub-@value{VERSION}.tar.gz | tar xvf -}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
which will create a directory called @file{grub-@value{VERSION}} with
|
|
all the sources. You can look at the file @file{INSTALL} for detailed
|
|
instructions on how to build and install GRUB, but you should be able to
|
|
just do:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@group
|
|
@kbd{cd grub-@value{VERSION}}
|
|
@kbd{./configure}
|
|
@kbd{make install}
|
|
@end group
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Also, the latest version is available using Bazaar. See
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub-download.en.html} for more
|
|
information.
|
|
|
|
@node Reporting bugs
|
|
@appendix Reporting bugs
|
|
|
|
These are the guideline for how to report bugs. Take a look at this
|
|
list below before you submit bugs:
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item
|
|
Before getting unsettled, read this manual through and through. Also,
|
|
see the @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub-faq.html, GNU GRUB FAQ}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Always mention the information on your GRUB. The version number and the
|
|
configuration are quite important. If you build it yourself, write the
|
|
options specified to the configure script and your operating system,
|
|
including the versions of gcc and binutils.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you have trouble with the installation, inform us of how you
|
|
installed GRUB. Don't omit error messages, if any. Just @samp{GRUB hangs
|
|
up when it boots} is not enough.
|
|
|
|
The information on your hardware is also essential. These are especially
|
|
important: the geometries and the partition tables of your hard disk
|
|
drives and your BIOS.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If GRUB cannot boot your operating system, write down
|
|
@emph{everything} you see on the screen. Don't paraphrase them, like
|
|
@samp{The foo OS crashes with GRUB, even though it can boot with the
|
|
bar boot loader just fine}. Mention the commands you executed, the
|
|
messages printed by them, and information on your operating system
|
|
including the version number.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Explain what you wanted to do. It is very useful to know your purpose
|
|
and your wish, and how GRUB didn't satisfy you.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you can investigate the problem yourself, please do. That will give
|
|
you and us much more information on the problem. Attaching a patch is
|
|
even better.
|
|
|
|
When you attach a patch, make the patch in unified diff format, and
|
|
write ChangeLog entries. But, even when you make a patch, don't forget
|
|
to explain the problem, so that we can understand what your patch is
|
|
for.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Write down anything that you think might be related. Please understand
|
|
that we often need to reproduce the same problem you encounterred in our
|
|
environment. So your information should be sufficient for us to do the
|
|
same thing---Don't forget that we cannot see your computer directly. If
|
|
you are not sure whether to state a fact or leave it out, state it!
|
|
Reporting too many things is much better than omitting something
|
|
important.
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
If you follow the guideline above, submit a report to the
|
|
@uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?group=grub, Bug Tracking System}.
|
|
Alternatively, you can submit a report via electronic mail to
|
|
@email{bug-grub@@gnu.org}, but we strongly recommend that you use the
|
|
Bug Tracking System, because e-mail can be passed over easily.
|
|
|
|
Once we get your report, we will try to fix the bugs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Future
|
|
@appendix Where GRUB will go
|
|
|
|
We started the next generation of GRUB, GRUB 2. GRUB 2 includes
|
|
internationalization, dynamic module loading, real memory management,
|
|
multiple architecture support, a scripting language, and many other
|
|
nice features. If you are interested in the development of GRUB 2, take
|
|
a look at @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub.html, the
|
|
homepage}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Internals
|
|
@appendix Hacking GRUB
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Getting the source code::
|
|
* Finding your way around::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Getting the source code
|
|
@section Getting the source code
|
|
|
|
GRUB is maintained using the @uref{http://bazaar-vcs.org/, Bazaar revision
|
|
control system}. To fetch the primary development branch:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
bzr get http://bzr.savannah.gnu.org/r/grub/trunk/grub
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
The GRUB developers maintain several other branches with work in progress.
|
|
Of these, the most interesting is the experimental branch, which is a
|
|
staging area for new code which we expect to eventually merge into trunk but
|
|
which is not yet ready:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
bzr get http://bzr.savannah.gnu.org/r/grub/branches/experimental
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Once you have used @kbd{bzr get} to fetch an initial copy of a branch, you
|
|
can use @kbd{bzr pull} to keep it up to date. If you have modified your
|
|
local version, you may need to resolve conflicts when pulling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Finding your way around
|
|
@section Finding your way around
|
|
|
|
Here is a brief map of the GRUB code base.
|
|
|
|
GRUB uses Autoconf, but not (yet) Automake. The top-level build rules are
|
|
in @file{configure.ac}, @file{Makefile.in}, and @file{conf/*.rmk}. Each
|
|
@file{conf/*.rmk} file represents a particular target configuration, and is
|
|
processed into GNU Make rules by @file{genmk.rb} (which you only need to
|
|
look at if you are extending the build system). If you are adding a new
|
|
module which follows an existing pattern, such as a new command or a new
|
|
filesystem implementation, it is usually easiest to grep @file{conf/*.rmk}
|
|
for an existing example of that pattern to find out where it should be
|
|
added.
|
|
|
|
Low-level boot code, such as the MBR implementation on PC BIOS systems, is
|
|
in the @file{boot/} directory.
|
|
|
|
The GRUB kernel is in @file{kern/}. This contains core facilities such as
|
|
the device, disk, and file frameworks, environment variable handling, list
|
|
processing, and so on. The kernel should contain enough to get up to a
|
|
rescue prompt. Header files for kernel facilities, among others, are in
|
|
@file{include/}.
|
|
|
|
Terminal implementations are in @file{term/}.
|
|
|
|
Disk access code is spread across @file{disk/} (for accessing the disk
|
|
devices themselves), @file{partmap/} (for interpreting partition table
|
|
data), and @file{fs/} (for accessing filesystems). Note that, with the odd
|
|
specialised exception, GRUB only contains code to @emph{read} from
|
|
filesystems and tries to avoid containing any code to @emph{write} to
|
|
filesystems; this lets us confidently assure users that GRUB cannot be
|
|
responsible for filesystem corruption.
|
|
|
|
PCI and USB bus handling is in @file{bus/}.
|
|
|
|
Video handling code is in @file{video/}. The graphical menu system uses
|
|
this heavily, but is in a separate directory, @file{gfxmenu/}.
|
|
|
|
Most commands are implemented by files in @file{commands/}, with the
|
|
following exceptions:
|
|
|
|
@itemize
|
|
@item
|
|
A few core commands live in @file{kern/corecmd.c}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Commands related to normal mode live under @file{normal/}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Commands that load and boot kernels live under @file{loader/}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @samp{loopback} command is really a disk device, and so lives in
|
|
@file{disk/loopback.c}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @samp{gettext} command lives under @file{gettext/}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @samp{loadfont} and @samp{lsfonts} commands live under @file{font/}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @samp{serial}, @samp{terminfo}, and @samp{background_image} commands
|
|
live under @file{term/}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @samp{efiemu_*} commands live under @file{efiemu/}.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
There are a few other special-purpose exceptions; grep for them if they
|
|
matter to you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Copying This Manual
|
|
@appendix Copying This Manual
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* GNU Free Documentation License:: License for copying this manual.
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@include fdl.texi
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Index
|
|
@unnumbered Index
|
|
|
|
@c Currently, we use only the Concept Index.
|
|
@printindex cp
|
|
|
|
|
|
@bye
|
|
|
|
Some notes:
|
|
|
|
This is an attempt to make a manual for GRUB 2. The contents are
|
|
copied from the GRUB manual in GRUB Legacy, so they are not always
|
|
appropriate yet for GRUB 2.
|