Handbook:SPARC/Blocks/Bootloader

SILO, the SPARC bootloader

Now install and configure SILO, the Sparc Improved boot LOader.

root #emerge --ask sys-boot/silo

Next create /etc/silo.conf:

root #nano -w /etc/silo.conf

Below an example silo.conf file is shown. It uses the partitioning scheme we use throughout this book, kernel-3.16.5-gentoo as kernel image and initramfs-genkernel-sparc64-3.16.5-gentoo as initramfs.

FILE /etc/silo.confExample configuration file

partition = 1         # Boot partition (= root partition)
root = /dev/sda1      # Root partition
timeout = 150         # Wait 15 seconds before booting the default section
  
image = /boot/kernel-3.16.5-gentoo
  label = linux
  append = "initrd=/boot/initramfs-genkernel-sparc64-3.16.5-gentoo root=/dev/sda1"

When using the example silo.conf file as delivered by Portage, be sure to comment out all lines that aren't needed.

If the physical disk on which to install SILO (as bootloader) differs from the physical disk on which /etc/silo.conf resides, then first copy over /etc/silo.conf to a partition on that disk. If /boot/ is a separate partition on that disk, copy over the configuration file to /boot/ and run /sbin/silo:

root #cp /etc/silo.conf /boot

root #/sbin/silo -C /boot/silo.conf

/boot/silo.conf appears to be valid

Otherwise just run /sbin/silo:

root #/sbin/silo

/etc/silo.conf appears to be valid

Note
Run silo (with parameters if necessary) again each time after updating or installing the sys-boot/silo package.