Re: [Etherboot-developers] gPXE and GRUB2

[Robert Millan <rmh@aybabtu.com>]

On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 04:57:44PM +0100, Vladimir 'phcoder' Serbinenko wrote:
> > I think the fastest way to make GRUB2 use gPXE's networking features
> > is to use both of them as they currently are. GRUB2 can be integrated
> > as a embedded image into gPXE. gPXE boots, does a DHCP requests,
> > executes a PXE capable GRUB 2 image and GRUB 2 uses the standard PXE
> > functions.

Sure, we can do this.  But since both projects are free software, it seems
to me that source-level integration can provide the best experience to our
users.

That aside, our use of PXE facilities is a bit temporary.  In the future
we'd like to use free drivers rather than reliing on preinstalled, buggy
firmware blobs (gPXE sets a good example that this approach is viable).

> > There are also still problems preventing GRUB 2 from running with
> > gPXE. Please have a look at the thread at
> > http://etherboot.org/pipermail/gpxe/2009-November/000008.html
> > Having someone looking into this from the GRUB side of things would be helpful.

If he followed the instructions in http://grub.enbug.org/PXEBOOT it is
to be expected that GRUB only starts in rescue mode, because that's what
the selection of modules in that page provides.

I don't think there's anything wrong in either gPXE or GRUB; perhaps the
wiki page :-)

-- 
Robert Millan

  The DRM opt-in fallacy: "Your data belongs to us. We will decide when (and
  how) you may access your data; but nobody's threatening your freedom: we
  still allow you to remove your data and not access it at all."