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Getting to know GRUB

Install and use this robust boot loader

Daniel Robbins, Chief architect, Gentoo Linux, Microsoft

Daniel Robbins lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was the founder and chief architect of the Gentoo Linux project. Daniel now works with Microsoft and describes his position as "helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects."

Summary: This tutorial shows you how to install and use GRUB, the Grand Unified Boot Loader. Like LILO, GRUB allows you to boot your Linux® system, taking care of loading and booting the kernel. Unlike LILO, GRUB is feature rich, easier to use, more reliable and flexible, and just plain neat-o.

Date: 11 Jan 2001
Level: Advanced
PDF: A4 and Letter (43 KB | 12 pages)Get Adobe® Reader®

Activity: 22775 views
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Resources

Learn

The article "Boot loader showdown: Getting to know LILO and GRUB" (developerWorks, August 2005) shows how these two popular boot loaders stack up against each other.
The tutorial "Build a Linux test network" (developerWorks, May 2003) shows how to combine Samba and GRUB to build a compact, highly adaptable, cross-platform test network, capable of booting and networking a large number of operating systems on a small number of machines.
"Boot Linux from a FireWire device" (developerWorks, July 2004) explains how to boot Linux from a removable drive (breathing new life into old machines).
"Tip: Dual-booting Linux" (developerWorks, April 2002) explains how to install multiple instances of Linux on a single box.
"Lightweight Linux, Part 1" (developerWorks, October 2002) shows you how to build LILO.
Find more tutorials for Linux developers in the developerWorks Linux zone.
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Get products and technologies

Get the latest version of the GRUB boot loader, and take a look at GRUB2 as well.
Pick up the latest LILO.
Download IBM trial software directly from developerWorks.

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