Alternative booting method for grub2

Alternative booting method for grub2

[Bean]

It's possible to boot grub2 using the grub4dos boot loader. 

1. create a kernel:

  grub-mkimage -d . -o core.img pc fat ntfs

make sure you include the necessary file system driver.

2. add a header to core.img.

  cat g2hdr.bin core.img > g2ldr

g2hdr.bin can be found in the grubutil package.

3. copy g2ldr to the root directory of any FAT/NTFS/EXT2 partition, and extra modules to /boot/grub/ in the same partition.

4. install the grub4dos boot loader.

You need grubinst, which can be downloaded at:

http://download.gna.org/grubutil/

The latest build is grubutil-1.1-bin-w32-15.zip.

1) Boot using the Windows NT boot manager

Generate boot file with grubinst:

  grubinst -2 -o C:\g2ldr.mbr

Then add a line to boot.ini:

  C:\g2ldr.mbr="GRUB2"

This is the safest method, no modification to MBR or boot sector is required.

2) Install to MBR

  grubinst -2 --save=mbr.sav (hd0)

Be careful, backup important data before install to MBR.

3) Install to boot sector

  grubinst -2 --save=bs.sav (hd0,0)

or

  grubinst -2 --save=bs.sav -p=0 (hd0)

Be careful, backup important data before install to boot sector.

Currently, grub4dos boot loader support FAT, NTFS and EXT2.

The advantage of using grub4dos boot loader is that the location of g2ldr is calculated at boot time, this means you can move it without causing problem.

Variable assignment not working as expected

[Bean]

I try the following command:

set AA=1
set BB=$AA

then type set, it shows:

AA=1
BB=

should the value of BB be 1 ?

BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Alex Roman]

On 09/06/07, Bean <bean123@126.com> wrote:
> I try the following command:
>
> set AA=1
> set BB=$AA

Taking a quick look at command.c where the "set" command is defined,
it doesn't look like that feature is implemented. Even in grub_env_set
in env.c it isn't implemented.

I'm willing to implement this feature... Where do you, devs, think
this would be better suited? In the set command, or in the
grub_env_set function?

>
> then type set, it shows:
>
> AA=1
> BB=
>
> should the value of BB be 1 ?
>
> BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.

Because echo is such a "core" command it is built right into the kernel AFAIK...

Cheers!

-- 
Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com>

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Alex Roman]

> I'm willing to implement this feature... Where do you, devs, think
> this would be better suited? In the set command, or in the
> grub_env_set function?

Hmm, after some further thought, I think it would make more sense to
put it in grub_env_set function because that allows the feature to be
use throughout the grub2 source code... It could be useful in some
places...

-- 
Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com>

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Alex Roman]

On 09/06/07, Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hmm, after some further thought, I think it would make more sense to
> put it in grub_env_set function because that allows the feature to be
> use throughout the grub2 source code... It could be useful in some
> places...

I'm trying to code this feature but I'm noticing something peculiar...

In command.c, function set_command I do the following just before "var
= args[0];":

grub_printf( "args[0]: %s\n", args[0] );

If args[0] contains a '$', the string is displayed up until the $, not
inclusive. Any other character is fine.

Does '$' get considered as a line-ending or command-ending character?
If so, we can't implement this feature because we don't get access to
anything after the '$'...


Thanks!

-- 
Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com>

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Bean]

On Sat, Jun 09, 2007 at 03:01:12AM -0400, Alex Roman wrote:
> >BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.
> 
> Because echo is such a "core" command it is built right into the kernel 
> AFAIK...
> 

But when i try to use it in the grub console, it says unknown command:

grub> echo Hello
error: unknown command `echo'

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Alex Roman]

On 09/06/07, Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to code this feature but I'm noticing something peculiar...
>
> In command.c, function set_command I do the following just before "var
> = args[0];":
>
> grub_printf( "args[0]: %s\n", args[0] );
>
> If args[0] contains a '$', the string is displayed up until the $, not
> inclusive. Any other character is fine.
>
> Does '$' get considered as a line-ending or command-ending character?
> If so, we can't implement this feature because we don't get access to
> anything after the '$'...

Furthermore, if I enter, say:
set A=$

In grub-emu, I get a segmentation fault!

-- 
Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com>

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Marco Gerards]

Bean <bean123@126.com> writes:

> I try the following command:
>
> set AA=1
> set BB=$AA
>
> then type set, it shows:
>
> AA=1
> BB=
>
> should the value of BB be 1 ?

This is a known bug :-/

> BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.

I will have a look at this.

--
Marco

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Marco Gerards]

"Alex Roman" <alex.roman@gmail.com> writes:

> On 09/06/07, Bean <bean123@126.com> wrote:
>> I try the following command:
>>
>> set AA=1
>> set BB=$AA
>
> Taking a quick look at command.c where the "set" command is defined,
> it doesn't look like that feature is implemented. Even in grub_env_set
> in env.c it isn't implemented.
>
> I'm willing to implement this feature... Where do you, devs, think
> this would be better suited? In the set command, or in the
> grub_env_set function?

The problem is different.  The command line parser should insert this,
but currently can't deal with the case where text and variables are
concatenated, IIRC.

>> then type set, it shows:
>>
>> AA=1
>> BB=
>>
>> should the value of BB be 1 ?
>>
>> BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.
>
> Because echo is such a "core" command it is built right into the kernel AFAIK...

No, it's even a normal mode command.

--
Marco

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Alex Roman]

On 09/06/07, Marco Gerards <mgerards@xs4all.nl> wrote:
> "Alex Roman" <alex.roman@gmail.com> writes:
>
> > On 09/06/07, Bean <bean123@126.com> wrote:
> >> I try the following command:
> >>
> >> set AA=1
> >> set BB=$AA
> >
> > Taking a quick look at command.c where the "set" command is defined,
> > it doesn't look like that feature is implemented. Even in grub_env_set
> > in env.c it isn't implemented.
> >
> > I'm willing to implement this feature... Where do you, devs, think
> > this would be better suited? In the set command, or in the
> > grub_env_set function?
>
> The problem is different.  The command line parser should insert this,
> but currently can't deal with the case where text and variables are
> concatenated, IIRC.

Ahh... I see now how it's handled. My bad.

... I wish I knew flex/yacc :(

>
> >> then type set, it shows:
> >>
> >> AA=1
> >> BB=
> >>
> >> should the value of BB be 1 ?
> >>
> >> BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.
> >
> > Because echo is such a "core" command it is built right into the kernel AFAIK...
>
> No, it's even a normal mode command.

So, is it built as part of a module which needs to be loaded, or does
it get built into GRUB2 like insmod/rmmod/etc?


-- 
Alex Roman <alex.roman@gmail.com>

Re: Variable assignment not working as expected

[Marco Gerards]

"Alex Roman" <alex.roman@gmail.com> writes:

[...]

>> >> BTW, i notice that echo.c exists, but no echo.mod is generated.
>> >
>> > Because echo is such a "core" command it is built right into the kernel AFAIK...
>>
>> No, it's even a normal mode command.
>
> So, is it built as part of a module which needs to be loaded, or does
> it get built into GRUB2 like insmod/rmmod/etc?

It's a module.  I just have to enable it.

--
Marco

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Robert Millan]

Works wonders.  I'm using it with win32-loader [1] [2], and plans are that
this will make it to official Debian CDs/DVDs for the next major release.

I wonder if it can create a "grub.com" executable like the one grub4dos had,
so that it's possible to load GRUB directly on a Win9x without rebooting or
messing with MBR.

[1] http://packages.debian.org/sid/win32-loader
[2] http://goodbye-microsoft.com/

On Fri, Jun 08, 2007 at 12:02:12PM +0800, Bean wrote:
> It's possible to boot grub2 using the grub4dos boot loader. 
> 
> 1. create a kernel:
> 
>   grub-mkimage -d . -o core.img pc fat ntfs
> 
> make sure you include the necessary file system driver.
> 
> 2. add a header to core.img.
> 
>   cat g2hdr.bin core.img > g2ldr
> 
> g2hdr.bin can be found in the grubutil package.
> 
> 3. copy g2ldr to the root directory of any FAT/NTFS/EXT2 partition, and extra modules to /boot/grub/ in the same partition.
> 
> 4. install the grub4dos boot loader.
> 
> You need grubinst, which can be downloaded at:
> 
> http://download.gna.org/grubutil/
> 
> The latest build is grubutil-1.1-bin-w32-15.zip.
> 
> 1) Boot using the Windows NT boot manager
> 
> Generate boot file with grubinst:
> 
>   grubinst -2 -o C:\g2ldr.mbr
> 
> Then add a line to boot.ini:
> 
>   C:\g2ldr.mbr="GRUB2"
> 
> This is the safest method, no modification to MBR or boot sector is required.
> 
> 2) Install to MBR
> 
>   grubinst -2 --save=mbr.sav (hd0)
> 
> Be careful, backup important data before install to MBR.
> 
> 3) Install to boot sector
> 
>   grubinst -2 --save=bs.sav (hd0,0)
> 
> or
> 
>   grubinst -2 --save=bs.sav -p=0 (hd0)
> 
> Be careful, backup important data before install to boot sector.
> 
> Currently, grub4dos boot loader support FAT, NTFS and EXT2.
> 
> The advantage of using grub4dos boot loader is that the location of g2ldr is calculated at boot time, this means you can move it without causing problem.
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Grub-devel mailing list
> Grub-devel@gnu.org
> http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/grub-devel
> 

-- 
Robert Millan

<GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call!
<DRM> What use is a phone call, if you are unable to speak?
(as seen on /.)

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[김민준]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 205 bytes --]

If I command

grub-mkimage -d . -o core.img pc fat ntfs


The result is
Target format not specified (use the -O option).
Try `grub-mkimage --help' for more information

How can I create a kernel?

Thanks.

[-- Attachment #2: Type: text/html, Size: 1548 bytes --]

Alternative booting method for grub2

[김민준]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 206 bytes --]

If I command

grub-mkimage -d . -o core.img pc fat ntfs


The result is

Target format not specified (use the -O option).
Try `grub-mkimage --help' for more information

How can I create a kernel?

Thanks.

[-- Attachment #2: Type: text/html, Size: 1550 bytes --]

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Jérôme Poulin]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 550 bytes --]

-O i386-pc as a target would work.

Envoyé de mon appareil mobile.

Jérôme Poulin
Solutions G.A.

On 2011-07-19, at 07:48, "김민준" <goodwin7hongyang@gmail.com> wrote:

If I command

grub-mkimage -d . -o core.img pc fat ntfs


The result is

Target format not specified (use the -O option).
Try `grub-mkimage --help' for more information

How can I create a kernel?

Thanks.

_______________________________________________
Grub-devel mailing list
Grub-devel@gnu.org
https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/grub-devel

[-- Attachment #2: Type: text/html, Size: 2121 bytes --]

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[김민준]

When I command with -O i386-pc
the result is

grub-mkimage: error: cannot open ./moddep.lst.

If I command as root, the result is same.

Please help me.

Thanks.

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Vladimir 'φ-coder/phcoder' Serbinenko]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 517 bytes --]

On 19.07.2011 13:08, 김민준 wrote:
> If I command
> grub-mkimage -d . -o core.img pc fat ntfs
>
Just use grub-install
> The result is
>
> Target format not specified (use the -O option). 
> Try `grub-mkimage --help' for more information
>
> How can I create a kernel?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Grub-devel mailing list
> Grub-devel@gnu.org
> https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/grub-devel


-- 
Regards
Vladimir 'φ-coder/phcoder' Serbinenko



[-- Attachment #2: OpenPGP digital signature --]
[-- Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 294 bytes --]

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Cui Lei]

try -d ./grub-core
> When I command with -O i386-pc
> the result is
>
> grub-mkimage: error: cannot open ./moddep.lst.
>
> If I command as root, the result is same.
>
> Please help me.
>
> Thanks.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Grub-devel mailing list
> Grub-devel@gnu.org
> https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/grub-devel
>

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[김민준]

When I command
sudo grub-mkimage -d ./grub-core -o core.img pc fat ntfs -O i386-pc

the result is
grub-mkimage: error: cannot open ./grub-core/moddep.lst.

When I command at /boot/grub, the result is same.

I can't understand why creating kernel is very hard.

Please, help me.

thanks.

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Cui Lei]

1. the "-d" means where the "moddep.lst" is , so ,you should find it first.
2. It looks like you want to install grub in you PC, doesn't it? If 
does, you can use grub-install.
3. http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html  can help you.
> When I command
> sudo grub-mkimage -d ./grub-core -o core.img pc fat ntfs -O i386-pc
>
> the result is
> grub-mkimage: error: cannot open ./grub-core/moddep.lst.
>
> When I command at /boot/grub, the result is same.
>
> I can't understand why creating kernel is very hard.
>
> Please, help me.
>
> thanks.
>

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[김민준]

Thank you very much, Cui Lei.
I find moddep.lst is in /boot/grub and /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/.
If I command as root in that folder, the result

grub-mkimage: error: cannot stat ./pc.mod.

please help me.

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Vladimir 'φ-coder/phcoder' Serbinenko]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 724 bytes --]

On 20.07.2011 11:43, 김민준 wrote:
> Thank you very much, Cui Lei.
> I find moddep.lst is in /boot/grub and /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/.
> If I command as root in that folder, the result
>
> grub-mkimage: error: cannot stat ./pc.mod.
>
> please help me.
>
There should be no reason to use grub-mkimage directly on i386-pc
platform. Please use grub-install, grub-mknetdir or grub-mkrescue
depending on your goal. If your case isn't covered by any of them please
explain what you're trying to do.
> _______________________________________________
> Grub-devel mailing list
> Grub-devel@gnu.org
> https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/grub-devel
>


-- 
Regards
Vladimir 'φ-coder/phcoder' Serbinenko



[-- Attachment #2: OpenPGP digital signature --]
[-- Type: application/pgp-signature, Size: 294 bytes --]

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[Cui Lei]

the *.mod file should be in the same folder with the *.lst file.
> Thank you very much, Cui Lei.
> I find moddep.lst is in /boot/grub and /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/.
> If I command as root in that folder, the result
>
> grub-mkimage: error: cannot stat ./pc.mod.
>
> please help me.
>

Re: Alternative booting method for grub2

[김민준]

Yes. *.mod and *.lst file is in /boot/grub folder.
But when I find the pc.mod in /, there are no pc.mod file.

Please help me.
I don't want to install grub, I want to make g2ldr.