Handbook:SPARC/Installation/Bootloader

SPARC Handbook
Installation
About the installation
Choosing the media
Configuring the network
Preparing the disks
Installing stage3
Installing base system
Configuring the kernel
Configuring the system
Installing tools
Configuring the bootloader
Finalizing
Working with Gentoo
Portage introduction
USE flags
Portage features
Initscript system
Environment variables
Working with Portage
Files and directories
Variables
Mixing software branches
Additional tools
Custom package repository
Advanced features
Network configuration
Getting started
Advanced configuration
Modular networking
Wireless
Adding functionality
Dynamic management

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.

Rebooting the system

Exit the chrooted environment and unmount all mounted partitions. Then type in that one magical command that initiates the final, true test: reboot.

root #exit

cdimage ~#cd

cdimage ~#umount -l /mnt/gentoo/dev{/shm,/pts,}

cdimage ~#umount -R /mnt/gentoo

cdimage ~#reboot

Do not forget to remove the bootable CD, otherwise the CD might be booted again instead of the new Gentoo system.

Once rebooted in the freshly installed Gentoo environment, finish up with Finalizing the Gentoo installation.

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