Many Linux computers are multi-boot systems, or computers that can boot from a variety of operating systems, including multiple instances of Linux.
However, as the number of bootable operating systems increases, managing the boot process becomes more difficulty. In fact, for anything beyond a single OS on a machine, some form of advanced boot loader is a virtual necessity. A boot loader is a program that helps manage the OS boot process. (Even DOS and Windows use boot loaders, although their default boot loaders are very simple.)
This month’s column examines boot loader theory and the basics of setting up the Grand Unified Boot Loader (GRUB), an open source boot loader for Linux. You can download GRUB from its home page at http://www.gnu.org/software/grub. Next month’s column will describe how to configure GRUB to handle a variety of non-Linux operating systems.
Got GRUB?
GRUB is a powerful boot loader, although it’s not as user-friendly as some commercial offerings (such as PowerQuest’s BootMagic and V-Com’s System Commander). It’s configured through a file that can be stored on a FAT partition, which means that you can modify the GRUB configuration in any OS that can read FAT — a great advantage when you run into boot problems. Unlike LILO, you don’t need to re-install GRUB to the disk’s boot sector whenever you make a change to its configuration. That translates into less time spent rebooting. (Many people tend to forget to re-write LILO…
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