Linux From Scratch - Version 6.3

Chapter 6. Installing Basic System Software

6.34. GRUB-0.97

The GRUB package contains the GRand Unified Bootloader.

Approximate build time: 0.2 SBU
Required disk space: 10.2 MB

6.34.1. Installation of GRUB

This package is known to have issues when its default optimization flags (including the -march and -mcpu options) are changed. If any environment variables that override default optimizations have been defined, such as CFLAGS and CXXFLAGS, unset them when building GRUB.

Start by applying the following patch to allow for better drive detection, fix some GCC 4.x issues, and provide better SATA support for some disk controllers: 

patch -Np1 -i ../grub-0.97-disk_geometry-1.patch

Prepare GRUB for compilation: 

./configure --prefix=/usr

Compile the package: 

make

To test the results, issue: make check.

Install the package: 

make install
mkdir -v /boot/grub
cp -v /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/stage{1,2} /boot/grub

Replace i386-pc with whatever directory is appropriate for the hardware in use.

The i386-pc directory contains a number of *stage1_5 files, different ones for different file systems. Review the files available and copy the appropriate ones to the /boot/grub directory. Most users will copy the e2fs_stage1_5 and/or reiserfs_stage1_5 files.

6.34.2. Contents of GRUB

Installed programs: grub, grub-install, grub-md5-crypt, grub-set-default, grub-terminfo, and mbchk

Short Descriptions

grub

The Grand Unified Bootloader's command shell

grub-install

Installs GRUB on the given device

grub-md5-crypt

Encrypts a password in MD5 format

grub-set-default

Sets the default boot entry for GRUB

grub-terminfo

Generates a terminfo command from a terminfo name; it can be employed if an unknown terminal is being used

mbchk

Checks the format of a multi-boot kernel