Changing your boot loader in Linux

Changing your boot loader in Linux

GRUB and LILO are the most popular boot loaders in Linux. Most distributions use GRUB by default. It is not hard to change to a different boot loader. To switch your boot loader from GRUB to LILO, do the following:

1) Configure the /etc/lilo.conf file. Example:

boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/message

prompt
timeout = 80
default = Linux
vga = normal

image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda1
label = Linux
read-only
append=”hdc=ide-scsi hdd=ide-scsi”

image = /boot/vmlinuz.old
root = /dev/hda1
label = Failsafe
read-only

2) As root user from a Terminal window, type the following:

# lilo

3) The new Master Boot Record is written, including the entries in /etc/lilo.conf.

4) Reboot your computer. You should see the LILO boot screen.

To change your boot loader from LILO to GRUB, do the following:

1) configure the /boot/grub/grub.conf. Example:

# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel paths are relative to /boot/
default=0
timeout=30
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz

title Red Hat Linux (2.4.18-0.12)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.4.18-0.12 ro root=/dev/hda3
initrd /initrd-2.4.18-0.12.img

2) You need to know the device on which you want to install GRUB. For example, to install GRUB on the master boot record of the first disk, type the following as root user from a Terminal window:

# grub-install /dev/hda

The new Master Boot Record is written to boot with the GRUB boot loader.

3) Reboot your computer. You should see the GRUB boot screen.