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docs: admin-guide: Update bootloader and installation instructions
Updates the bootloader and installation instructions in admin-guide/README.rst to align with modern practices. Details of Changes: - Added guidance on using EFISTUB for UEFI/EFI systems. - Noted that LILO is no longer in active development and provides alternatives. - Kept LILO instructions but marked as Legacy LILO Instructions. Suggest removal in future patch. Signed-off-by: Hunter Chasens <hunter.chasens18@ncf.edu> Signed-off-by: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net> [jc: repaired added whitespace warnings] Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20240207171007.45405-1-hunter.chasens18@ncf.edu
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Documentation/admin-guide/README.rst

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@@ -262,9 +262,11 @@ Compiling the kernel
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- Make sure you have at least gcc 5.1 available.
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For more information, refer to :ref:`Documentation/process/changes.rst <changes>`.
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- Do a ``make`` to create a compressed kernel image. It is also
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possible to do ``make install`` if you have lilo installed to suit the
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kernel makefiles, but you may want to check your particular lilo setup first.
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- Do a ``make`` to create a compressed kernel image. It is also possible to do
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``make install`` if you have lilo installed or if your distribution has an
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install script recognised by the kernel's installer. Most popular
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distributions will have a recognized install script. You may want to
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check your distribution's setup first.
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To do the actual install, you have to be root, but none of the normal
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build should require that. Don't take the name of root in vain.
@@ -301,32 +303,51 @@ Compiling the kernel
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image (e.g. .../linux/arch/x86/boot/bzImage after compilation)
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to the place where your regular bootable kernel is found.
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- Booting a kernel directly from a floppy without the assistance of a
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bootloader such as LILO, is no longer supported.
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If you boot Linux from the hard drive, chances are you use LILO, which
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uses the kernel image as specified in the file /etc/lilo.conf. The
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kernel image file is usually /vmlinuz, /boot/vmlinuz, /bzImage or
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/boot/bzImage. To use the new kernel, save a copy of the old image
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and copy the new image over the old one. Then, you MUST RERUN LILO
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to update the loading map! If you don't, you won't be able to boot
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the new kernel image.
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Reinstalling LILO is usually a matter of running /sbin/lilo.
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You may wish to edit /etc/lilo.conf to specify an entry for your
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old kernel image (say, /vmlinux.old) in case the new one does not
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work. See the LILO docs for more information.
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After reinstalling LILO, you should be all set. Shutdown the system,
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- Booting a kernel directly from a storage device without the assistance
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of a bootloader such as LILO or GRUB, is no longer supported in BIOS
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(non-EFI systems). On UEFI/EFI systems, however, you can use EFISTUB
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which allows the motherboard to boot directly to the kernel.
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On modern workstations and desktops, it's generally recommended to use a
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bootloader as difficulties can arise with multiple kernels and secure boot.
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For more details on EFISTUB,
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see "Documentation/admin-guide/efi-stub.rst".
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- It's important to note that as of 2016 LILO (LInux LOader) is no longer in
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active development, though as it was extremely popular, it often comes up
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in documentation. Popular alternatives include GRUB2, rEFInd, Syslinux,
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systemd-boot, or EFISTUB. For various reasons, it's not recommended to use
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software that's no longer in active development.
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- Chances are your distribution includes an install script and running
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``make install`` will be all that's needed. Should that not be the case
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you'll have to identify your bootloader and reference its documentation or
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configure your EFI.
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Legacy LILO Instructions
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------------------------
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- If you use LILO the kernel images are specified in the file /etc/lilo.conf.
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The kernel image file is usually /vmlinuz, /boot/vmlinuz, /bzImage or
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/boot/bzImage. To use the new kernel, save a copy of the old image and copy
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the new image over the old one. Then, you MUST RERUN LILO to update the
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loading map! If you don't, you won't be able to boot the new kernel image.
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- Reinstalling LILO is usually a matter of running /sbin/lilo. You may wish
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to edit /etc/lilo.conf to specify an entry for your old kernel image
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(say, /vmlinux.old) in case the new one does not work. See the LILO docs
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for more information.
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- After reinstalling LILO, you should be all set. Shutdown the system,
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reboot, and enjoy!
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If you ever need to change the default root device, video mode,
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etc. in the kernel image, use your bootloader's boot options
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where appropriate. No need to recompile the kernel to change
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these parameters.
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- If you ever need to change the default root device, video mode, etc. in the
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kernel image, use your bootloader's boot options where appropriate. No need
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to recompile the kernel to change these parameters.
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- Reboot with the new kernel and enjoy.
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If something goes wrong
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-----------------------
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