fc4t2 - grub install on mbr - choose which hdd

John Austin ja at jaa.org.uk
Mon Apr 18 10:43:56 UTC 2005


On Sun, 2005-04-17 at 23:41 +0200, Cimmo wrote:
> Cimmo ha scritto: 
> > In my opinion we have to add: "or IDE and SATA devices" after "or
> > both SCSI and IDE adapters"
> 
> Sorry want to say: "or P-ATA and S-ATA devices" after "or both SCSI
> and IDE adapters"
> 
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Hi
I have carried out 3 further installs of FC4T2 to check
that "grub things" are written where I want them which
was my main concern.

I am not using Logical Volumes or RAID
I AM INSTALLING TO USB DISK in all cases

The SATA disk(s) use the sata_sil module
It is a RAID controller but is NOT set up that way.

The BIOS boot order is CDROM, USB HDD, SCSI

Setup 1
SATA main disk (Seen as /dev/sdb by installer)
External USB disk (Seen as /dev/sda by installer)
Requested "grub things" on MBR of USB disk

Setup 2
SATA main disk(/dev/sdb) + 2nd SATA disk(/dev/sdc)
External USB disk
Requested "grub things" on MBR of USB disk

Setup 3
SATA main disk (/dev/sdc - I think!! forgotten)
External USB disk + 2nd Ext USB disk
Requested "grub things" on MBR of 1st USB disk

There appeared to be absolutely NO PROBLEMS concerning where "grub
things" have been put

My problem, which isn't a problem, if you don't play about during
install is as follows:

In my cases on the "Standard" boot config page the top line says
something like
The GRUB bootloader will be installed on /dev/sdb (not where I want it)

You select Config Advanced and press NEXT
and then rearrange the location for "grub things".
Bringing /dev/sda to the top in my case

The top of that page then reflects the new information - great
If you press NEXT then it all works fine!!!!

BUT if you go BACK just to check, just for fun, whatever
the statement at the top of the first page still says /dev/sdb

So I had doubts !!!!
If you were to uncheck Config Advanced and go NEXT from this
first page would the changes you made in Config Advanced be valid ?
I assume the answer is yes, but maybe not.

The second point - PLEASE LET ME KNOW if I am mistaken
There is no indication that if the disk selected for
"grub things" is a USB disk then the machine will not
boot because the standard initrd does not include the correct modules.

In my case I had a suitable, kernel matching initrd_usb built on one of
the other disks and hence could pick this out interactively at boot
time.
Flame WAR - something you could not do using LILO !!!!

I assume that when FC4 proper is released a USB install
will be possible.  It appears to be only a small step
to have the option of a USB enabled initrd.

Conclusion
No problems unless you play around and are of a doubting nature
Need a matching initrd_usb for USB booting

Hope this help
John





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