GNU GRUB

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Requirements
• Download
• Mailing List
• Documentation

Introduction

GNU GRUB is a Multiboot bootloader. It was derived from GRUB, GRand Unified Bootload, which was originally designed and implemented by Erich Stefan Boleyn.

Briefly, bootloader is the first software program that runs when a computer starts. It is responsible for loading and transferring control to the operating system kernel software (such as the Hurd or the Linux). The kernel, in turn, initializes the rest of the operating system (usually GNU).

GNU GRUB follows these requirements below:

• Compliant with the Multiboot Standard.
• Basic functions are easy for an end-user to use.
• Rich functionality for OS experts/designers.
• Compatibility for booting FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and GNU/Linux. Proprietary OS's such as Windows 98, Windows NT, and OS/2 are supported via a chain-loading function.

In addition to the requirements above, GNU GRUB has the following features:

• Support multiple executable formats.
• Support non-Multiboot OS's.
• Load multiple modules.
• Support a human-readable configuration file.
• Menu interface.
• Flexible command-line interface.
• Support multiple filesystem types.
• Support automatic decompression.
• Access data on any installed device.
• Geometry translation independent.
• Detect all installed RAM.
• Support Logical Block Address (LBA) mode.

Requirements

GNU GRUB requires GCC, GNU binutils 2.9.1.0.23 and later, which is available from ftp.XX.kernel.org:/pub/linux/devel/gcc/ (XX is your country code), GNU Texinfo 3.12h and later, which is available from alpha.gnu.org.

Download

For now, GNU GRUB is not released publicly yet, but you can still get the alpha release from alpha.gnu.org:/gnu/hurd/src/, and the latest version from the CVS. See GNU Development Resources, for more information.

Mailing List

GNU GRUB has one mailing list <bug-grub@gnu.org>, to which you should send a mail whenever you find bugs, and have suggestions, ideas or questions related to GNU GRUB.

You can subscribe this mailing list; just send empty mail to <bug-grub-request@gnu.org>.

Documentation

Under construction.

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Copyright (C) 1999 OKUJI Yoshinori

Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.

Updated: Last modified: Wed Jun 2 23:40:09 JST 1999