Re: Bootloader

Dr. Deb wrote:


Question:

I am running PCLinuxOS (Redhat/Mandriva based) and was wondering if it was
possible to have the bootloader launch a Debian/Ubuntu based OS and how
you would do it.

Adding additional copies of Redhat based stuff is merely a cut and paste
into "Menu.1st". It seems to be a bit more complicated when you try to
load the Debian based stuff.

Thanks

Deb


Here is my entry in "Menu.1st"

As Ray said, I do have my bootloaders write to the "/" partition of each
distro (all contained within a physical partition on the hd) The following
exerpt from Menu.1st is from the primary distro (PCLinuxOS installed on
sda6)


title Mint Linux 6
kernel (hd0,7)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic BOOT_IMAGE=Mint_Linux_6
root=/dev/sda8 ro quiet splash root=/dev/sda8
initrd (hd0,7)/boot/initrd.img

The problem is, I am getting an "Error 2 bad file or location" This is cut
directly from the Menu1st on the Mint6 (sda8) install. Here is the whole
Menu.1st from Mint6

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-legacy-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0,
and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default
entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or
your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## Graphical boot menu location
gfxmenu=/boot/gfxmenu/default.message

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default
entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

# Pretty colours
color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive
editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/sda8 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,7)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(single-user) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##


title Linux Mint 6, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
root (hd0,7)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda8 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic
quiet

title Linux Mint 6, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,7)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=/dev/sda8 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

title Linux Mint 6, kernel Last successful boot
root (hd0,7)
kernel /boot/last-good-boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda8 ro quiet splash
last-good-boot
quiet

title Linux Mint 6, memtest86+
root (hd0,7)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title Windows XP Media Center Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title PCLinuxOS_MiniMe08 (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PCLinuxOS_MiniMe08 root=/dev/sda6 acpi=on
resume=/dev/sda3 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title linux-nonfb (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=/dev/sda6 acpi=on
resume=/dev/sda3
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title failsafe (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=/dev/sda6 failsafe acpi=on
resume=/dev/sda3
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title PCLinuxOS2009 Beta (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PCLinuxOS2009_Beta
root=UUID=a3319429-47f1-48ce-89da-a7020c208f3e acpi=on
resume=UUID=cf1c254f-528c-458b-8c09-98f4388a2de8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title PcLinuxOS 2009-Beta2 (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PcLinuxOS_2009-Beta2
root=UUID=7ed82421-6a18-48e9-952e-73eba6f04e29 acpi=on
resume=UUID=cf1c254f-528c-458b-8c09-98f4388a2de8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,6)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda5.
title memtest-2.01 (on /dev/sda5)
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/memtest-2.01.bin BOOT_IMAGE=memtest-2.01
savedefault
boot


This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title PCLinuxOS_MiniMe 2008 (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PCLinuxOS_MiniMe_2008 root=/dev/sda6
acpi=on resume=/dev/sda3 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title linux-nonfb (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb root=/dev/sda6 acpi=on
resume=/dev/sda3
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title failsafe (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe root=/dev/sda6 failsafe acpi=on
resume=/dev/sda3
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title PCLinuxOS2009 Beta (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PCLinuxOS2009_Beta
root=UUID=a3319429-47f1-48ce-89da-a7020c208f3e acpi=on
resume=UUID=cf1c254f-528c-458b-8c09-98f4388a2de8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title PcLinuxOS 2009-Beta2 (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PcLinuxOS_2009-Beta2
root=UUID=7ed82421-6a18-48e9-952e-73eba6f04e29 acpi=on
resume=UUID=cf1c254f-528c-458b-8c09-98f4388a2de8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,6)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda6.
title memtest-2.01 (on /dev/sda6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/memtest-2.01.bin BOOT_IMAGE=memtest-2.01
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda7.
title PcLinuxOS 2009-Beta2 (on /dev/sda7)
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PcLinuxOS_2009-Beta2
root=UUID=7ed82421-6a18-48e9-952e-73eba6f04e29 acpi=on
resume=UUID=cf1c254f-528c-458b-8c09-98f4388a2de8 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,6)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda7.
title linux-nonfb (on /dev/sda7)
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=linux-nonfb
root=UUID=7ed82421-6a18-48e9-952e-73eba6f04e29 acpi=on
resume=UUID=cf1c254f-528c-458b-8c09-98f4388a2de8
initrd (hd0,6)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for an existing
# linux installation on /dev/sda7.
title failsafe (on /dev/sda7)
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=failsafe
root=UUID=7ed82421-6a18-48e9-952e-73eba6f04e29 failsafe acpi=on
initrd (hd0,6)/boot/initrd.img
savedefault
boot



Any pointers gratefully welcomed

Deb

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