New Bootloader for FreeBSD

Dan writes "FreeBSD Release Engineering team's Scott Long has written a bootloader front-end script that allows one to enable/disable acpi, boot single users, etc. His primary motivation was to allow users to easily disable ACPI, since so many problems are popping up these days with it. He is hoping to have this be on at least the i386 bootcd for FreeBSD 5.1 scheduled for release June 2nd, and is looking for feedback."

Comments

Re:It's not a bootloader

[Arandir]

Read the article again. It's not a "bootloader" front-end script, but a "bootloader front-end script". Notice the difference in quotes. One is a bootloader, and the other is a front-end script to a bootloader.

p.s. Please people, take him up on his offer of working on the BSD loading code for GRUB. It's seriously out of date. I've got my own projects on the front burner so I can't at the moment.

Ahem

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not a new boot loader. It's a new interactive script that runs on the existing boot loader. The FICL (Forth-Inspired Command Language) based loader has always allowed you to do things like this. It's a nice addition anyway, although I'll probably disable it on my machine if it gets committed.

Re:It's not a bootloader

[evilviper]

Get a clue dude! BSD folk (like me) don't want to write GPLd software, don't want to link to GPLd software, and don't want to put GPLd software in the base system if we can help it, but we have no problem with *using* GPLd software if its worthwhile.

Just so you know, you are lecturing someone who is typing this message on a notebook with OpenBSD 3.3 installed, using an OpenBSD 3.2/Alpha fileserver as a foot-rest, and has a FreeBSD 4.7 box to my left.

don't want to write GPLd software

Well the parent wants you to!

GRUB requires installation in a partition but offers a lot of flexibility.

Wonderful. I was asking what exactly those features are... I would especially like to hear what incredible features make it worth the effort of doing the coding work, and worth the hassle of actually using the GRUB command-line, which is more cumbersome than any other boot-loader (with a command-line) that I've used. Saying "It's so great dude!" isn't exactly going to change my mind.

GRUB's not bad

[siskbc]

Wonderful. I was asking what exactly those features are... I would especially like to hear what incredible features make it worth the effort of doing the coding work, and worth the hassle of actually using the GRUB command-line, which is more cumbersome than any other boot-loader (with a command-line) that I've used. Saying "It's so great dude!" isn't exactly going to change my mind.

First, to disclose, I'm a linux user (Hey! stop throwing things!) though I'm thinking of trying some *BSD flavor. I used to use LILO, it really sucks (I'm sure you guys are really going to argue that one, huh?), so I tried GRUB. It doesn't.

Now, as some pundits have said, GRUB does sort of render your box a tad inoperable if you remove the HDD or partition that contains GRUB. Now, that's not so fun, but it would screw you the same if you removed the HDD with the MBR you're booting from, even if you use a different loader, and that's a similar issue. And really, reinstalling grub on the new HDD isn't hard either assuming you're not swapping drives every day (at which point it might become tedious). So I don't think GRUB's immobilizing one of your drives is a big deal.

I like a few things about GRUB. First, it has no cylinder issues or boot partition size issues like some boot loaders (ahem: LILO!). Also, you don't have to reinstall the loader when you make a configuration change, which is nice if you're screwing with things. Changing the config file is sufficient. Configuration is pretty simple too. It just seems to have a good clean implementation of whatever you'd need to do - kind of like the opposite of sendmail, that's the best way I can put it.

Now, don't get me wrong - I don't LIKE that I like GRUB, as I also tend to avoid GNU software whenever possible (if not GPL software), simply because I consider Stallman to be an annoying turd. But all in all, I think GRUB's a pretty nice bootloader, especially for us poor linux hacks who get tired of mucking around with LILO.

Admittedly, I'm not the best person to be comparing GRUB to BSD bootloaders, but no one else seems to be sticking up for it at all. ;)