Grub2 usb stick boot error

Grub2 usb stick boot error

[Fulvio Scapin]

I am having a problem using Grub2 to boot some bootable partition stored
on a usb stick.
Basically I am trying to fit several distros, all fat partitions made
bootable with syslinux, on a usb stick and use grub2 to select and boot
one of them.
I should say that I come across two distinct cases, one using a GPT
label and a much worse one employing the usual dos label.
First I tried the gpt label cause I didn't relish the idea of using
extended partitions. On a 8GB stick I create a BIOS Boot Partition,
marked it with parted, and grub embedded itself in it with no problem.
Then a second partition containing the configuration of grub, and
further on several partitions containing distros, all fat16 bootable
thanks to syslinux. I discovered, to my surprise, that grub allows me to
boot only the third and fouth partition, while anyone beyond the fourth
gives me boot error. I even created a fifth partition containing the
exact same files of the fourth, and while the fourth boots, the fifth
still doesn't.
Then, on another stick, a 4GB one, I tried with a dos label. This time,
after countless tries to get grub installed, and having succeeded, I
discover that I can't boot any partition, even when having just two
partitions, one with the configuration of grub and the other a bootable
fat16 fs with a distro.
I tried Grub legacy and it works fine. I tried chainloading Grub2 from
Grub Legacy, just to make an attempt, and still no luck booting from Grub2.
I have to specify the with booting one of the volumes I mean
chainloading syslinux on it, doing a "chainloader +1" on the volume.
The Grub 2 console works fine (it's brilliant by the way) but I can't
chainload anything (with the GPT restricted exception detailed above. )
I compiled and run grub2 (from cvs and from git) on a Gentoo system
running on a Macbook, and tested the sticks on 2 common x86 machines and
with qemu with the same results.
I figuratively beating my head against the wall, so any help or comment
would be greatly appreciated.

P.S.

I suppose I could just use Grub Legacy, but I just like Grub 2
immensely, so I'll keep that solution as a last resort, or maybe
chainload Grub2 from Grub Legacy at least to use the shell.

Thanks in advance,
Fulvio Scapin

Re: Grub2 usb stick boot error

[Bean]

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 6:05 AM, Fulvio Scapin <trantorvega@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am having a problem using Grub2 to boot some bootable partition stored
> on a usb stick.
> Basically I am trying to fit several distros, all fat partitions made
> bootable with syslinux, on a usb stick and use grub2 to select and boot
> one of them.
> I should say that I come across two distinct cases, one using a GPT
> label and a much worse one employing the usual dos label.
> First I tried the gpt label cause I didn't relish the idea of using
> extended partitions. On a 8GB stick I create a BIOS Boot Partition,
> marked it with parted, and grub embedded itself in it with no problem.
> Then a second partition containing the configuration of grub, and
> further on several partitions containing distros, all fat16 bootable
> thanks to syslinux. I discovered, to my surprise, that grub allows me to
> boot only the third and fouth partition, while anyone beyond the fourth
> gives me boot error. I even created a fifth partition containing the
> exact same files of the fourth, and while the fourth boots, the fifth
> still doesn't.
> Then, on another stick, a 4GB one, I tried with a dos label. This time,
> after countless tries to get grub installed, and having succeeded, I
> discover that I can't boot any partition, even when having just two
> partitions, one with the configuration of grub and the other a bootable
> fat16 fs with a distro.
> I tried Grub legacy and it works fine. I tried chainloading Grub2 from
> Grub Legacy, just to make an attempt, and still no luck booting from Grub2.
> I have to specify the with booting one of the volumes I mean
> chainloading syslinux on it, doing a "chainloader +1" on the volume.
> The Grub 2 console works fine (it's brilliant by the way) but I can't
> chainload anything (with the GPT restricted exception detailed above. )
> I compiled and run grub2 (from cvs and from git) on a Gentoo system
> running on a Macbook, and tested the sticks on 2 common x86 machines and
> with qemu with the same results.
> I figuratively beating my head against the wall, so any help or comment
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> P.S.
>
> I suppose I could just use Grub Legacy, but I just like Grub 2
> immensely, so I'll keep that solution as a last resort, or maybe
> chainload Grub2 from Grub Legacy at least to use the shell.
>

Hi,

First, you can check the size of partition, for example, does the ones
that doesn't boot cross any boundary, like 4G/2G ?

Also, you mention it apply to qemu as well, how do you test it, can
you produce a qemu image that illustrate the problem ?

-- 
Bean

Re: Grub2 usb stick boot error

[trantorvega]

-----Original Message-----
From: Bean <bean123ch@gmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, giu 24, 2008 5:46 am
Subject: Re: Grub2 usb stick boot error
To: "The development of GRUB 2" <grub-devel@gnu.org>Reply-To: The development of GRUB 2 <grub-devel@gnu.org>



>Hi,
>
>First, you can check the size of partition, for example, does the ones that doesn't boot cross any boundary, like 4G/2G ?
>
>Also, you mention it apply to qemu as well, how do you test it, can you produce a qemu image that illustrate the problem ?
>
>-- 
>Bean
>
>
I'll check and prepare a qemu image within the day.
Thanks

Re: Grub2 usb stick boot error

[Fulvio Scapin]

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2008/6/24 Bean <bean123ch@gmail.com>:

>
>
> Hi,
>
> First, you can check the size of partition, for example, does the ones
> that doesn't boot cross any boundary, like 4G/2G ?
>
> Also, you mention it apply to qemu as well, how do you test it, can
> you produce a qemu image that illustrate the problem ?
>
> --
> Bean
>
Output of parted on the GPT labeled stick:

Model: USB Flash Disk (scsi)
Disco /dev/sdc: 8120MB
Dimensione del settore (logica/fisica): 512B/512B
Tabella delle partizioni: gpt

Numero  Inizio  Fine    Dimensione  File System  Nome               Flag

 1      17,4kB  6000kB  5983kB
bios_grub
 3      6000kB  32,0MB  26,0MB      ext2         grub               avvio

 2      32,0MB  433MB   401MB       fat16        clonezilla-sysrsc  msftres

 4      433MB   532MB   99,0MB      fat16        puppylinux         msftres

 5      532MB   650MB   118MB                                       msftres

 6      650MB   800MB   150MB       fat16                           msftres



Partitions 4 and 6 contain  the same data, a syslinux-booted puppylinux.
4 chainloads correctly, 6 gives me "Boot error".
Interestingly, using Grub Legacy, chainloaded from Grub2, I can't boot the
4th partition either.

About qemu, I simply use the device as a raw disk with qemu and boot it.

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Re: Grub2 usb stick boot error

[Fulvio Scapin]

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USB stick with dos label:

Model: Kingston DataTraveler 2.0 (scsi)
Disco /dev/sdf: 4006MB
Dimensione del settore (logica/fisica): 512B/512B
Tabella delle partizioni: msdos

Numero  Inizio  Fine    Dimensione  Tipo      File System  Flag
 1      31,7kB  55,1MB  55,1MB      primary   ext2
 2      55,1MB  185MB   130MB       primary   fat16        lba
 3      185MB   295MB   110MB       primary   fat16        lba
 4      295MB   4003MB  3708MB      extended
 5      295MB   405MB   110MB       logical   fat16        lba



2 and 5 with same data. The 2nd partition boots, the other doesn't.

Same stick, new layout:
Model: Kingston DataTraveler 2.0 (scsi)
Disco /dev/sdf: 4006MB
Dimensione del settore (logica/fisica): 512B/512B
Tabella delle partizioni: msdos

Numero  Inizio  Fine    Dimensione  Tipo      File System  Flag
 1      31,7kB  55,1MB  55,1MB      primary   ext2
 2      55,1MB  185MB   130MB       primary   fat16        lba
 3      185MB   398MB   213MB       extended
 5      185MB   398MB   213MB       logical   fat16        lba
 4      398MB   4003MB  3606MB      primary   fat32        lba

This time 2,4 and 5 all can succeed to boot. All contain the same data.
I confess I do not quite understand.
In both cases above I chainloaded Grub 2 from Grub Legacy.

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