yast : system : grub2 bootloader

[ellanios82]

Hello List,

- in yast grub2 bootloader there seems to be an option : to NOT
install any bootloader!

..........

- in what circumstances please may it be useful to install no bootloader ?

& , how might one use such a system that is not bootable?

.........

thanks
regards

[Peter]

Post by ellanios82
Hello List,
- in yast grub2 bootloader there seems to be an option : to NOT
install any bootloader!
..........
- in what circumstances please may it be useful to install no bootloader ?
& , how might one use such a system that is not bootable?
.........
thanks
regards

Are you referring to 13.2? I'd never seen this before and always gone
with the default suggestion of installing the boot files in the extended
partition I created, rather than in the root partition or MBR. However,
I just did an install of 13.2RC1 and although it suggested this same
thing, it also included a line in red text underneath warning that this
meant no bootloader would be installed and I could have problems booting
the system without further intervention.

I did a Google and found a comment from somebody saying they ignored the
warning and had no problems, so I did the same. Whether it's a result of
that or some other quirk that I've since filed a bug report for, the
step in the installer where it configures the bootloader failed.
Consequently, I couldn't boot and had to go through the rescue system to
fix a strange typo / misconfigured line in the grub.cfg file.

I wonder if this line in red text is a bug that will be fixed in the
final release of 13.2?

Peter

PS The option to not install a bootloader could be useful if you already
have a bootloader on the system from another install, e.g. another Linux
distro, and you prefer to reconfigure that instead of use openSUSE's
version.

[Felix Miata]

Post by ellanios82
- in yast grub2 bootloader there seems to be an option : to NOT
install any bootloader!
..........
- in what circumstances please may it be useful to install no bootloader ?

Here, it applies to all post-13.1 openSUSE installations from the point when
Grub Legacy was no longer an installation time option, and all Fedora
installations going back to when it dropped Grub Legacy.

Other bootloaders remain available on the repos, just not installable via
normal installation process.

Post by ellanios82
& , how might one use such a system that is not bootable?

"Install no bootloader" is not necessarily equivalent to "not bootable".

On computers with empty HDs, I first partition, then install legacy MBR code,
then format and install Grub Legacy using Knoppix media to boot, but I
install openSUSE's Grub Legacy previously saved to LAN, on an active primary
partition, not the MBR. Once that's been done once, there's no compelling
need for more Linux bootloaders. I manage menu.lst. I decide what belongs in
boot stanzas. I have no need for scripts to rearrange my bootloader stanzas.
I have no need for complicating my life more than it already is by the
inexplicable and confusing differences between Grub Legacy and the overweight
Grub2 constantly complaining about not being installed to MBR or presence of
vga= on cmdline of a gfxcard unsupported by KMS.

The bonus of sticking with Grub Legacy is the pleasant gfxboot menu with
penguin=100 configured.

AFAIK, Grub Legacy isn't subject to security risk that dictates periodic
updates. When I have something that works the way I like, I stick with it
until forced to do otherwise. At such time as I have any computers with EFI
BIOS will be soon enough to stop sticking exclusively with Grub Legacy.
--
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!

Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/

[ellanios82]

Post by Felix Miata

Post by ellanios82
- in yast grub2 bootloader there seems to be an option : to NOT
install any bootloader!
..........
- in what circumstances please may it be useful to install no bootloader ?

Here, it applies to all post-13.1 openSUSE installations from the point when
Grub Legacy was no longer an installation time option, and all Fedora
installations going back to when it dropped Grub Legacy.
Other bootloaders remain available on the repos, just not installable via
normal installation process.

Post by ellanios82
& , how might one use such a system that is not bootable?

"Install no bootloader" is not necessarily equivalent to "not bootable".
On computers with empty HDs, I first partition, then install legacy MBR code,
then format and install Grub Legacy using Knoppix media to boot, but I
install openSUSE's Grub Legacy previously saved to LAN, on an active primary
partition, not the MBR. Once that's been done once, there's no compelling
need for more Linux bootloaders. I manage menu.lst. I decide what belongs in
boot stanzas. I have no need for scripts to rearrange my bootloader stanzas.
I have no need for complicating my life more than it already is by the
inexplicable and confusing differences between Grub Legacy and the overweight
Grub2 constantly complaining about not being installed to MBR or presence of
vga= on cmdline of a gfxcard unsupported by KMS.
The bonus of sticking with Grub Legacy is the pleasant gfxboot menu with
penguin=100 configured.
AFAIK, Grub Legacy isn't subject to security risk that dictates periodic
updates. When I have something that works the way I like, I stick with it
until forced to do otherwise. At such time as I have any computers with EFI
BIOS will be soon enough to stop sticking exclusively with Grub Legacy.

.............

- aha - thank you

regards

[Per Jessen]

Post by ellanios82
Hello List,
- in yast grub2 bootloader there seems to be an option : to NOT
install any bootloader!
..........
- in what circumstances please may it be useful to install no bootloader ?

When you want to install your own for instance. E.g. LILO, which YaST
had code for up until recently. That code was removed, so now you need
to do your own if you want to use LILO.

[jdd]

Post by Per Jessen

Post by ellanios82
Hello List,
- in yast grub2 bootloader there seems to be an option : to NOT
install any bootloader!
..........
- in what circumstances please may it be useful to install no bootloader ?

When you want to install your own for instance. E.g. LILO, which YaST
had code for up until recently. That code was removed, so now you need
to do your own if you want to use LILO.

or simply when there is already one installed (other distro), that you
want to keep as default.

the only (non trivial) advantage of grub is the mini editor that saved
my life often (including last saturday)

jdd