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

It's not a bootloader

[ciaran_o_riordan]

Heh, great research. He's written a "bootloader front-end script that allows one to enable/disable acpi". Not a boot loader.

He says later that "[if] the script cannot start, it might leave your loader unable to load the kernel".

For people interested in actual boot loaders, GRUB is looking for people to work on the BSD loading code (it works but needs some updating).

Ciaran O'Riordan

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 It's seriously out of date.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.

Re:It's not a bootloader

[shlong]

Dude, give the editors a break on this one. I purposely made the subject of my announcement abiguous in order to attract attention. Which sounds better, "New Bootloader!", or "My attempt to enhance the user experience with 100 lines of Forth".
Anyways, this is just a start. Hopefully I'll have some time to do cool stuff, like have the loader scan for kernels and present you with a choice, control the serial console, etc. While GRUB is cool and all, editing configuration files is still a turn-off to many people.