2009-11-21 Samuel Thibault <samuel.thibault@ens-lyon.org>

[grub2.git] / docs / grub.texi

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@include version.texi
@settitle GNU GRUB Manual @value{VERSION}
@c Unify all our little indices for now.
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@copying
This manual is for GNU GRUB (version @value{VERSION},
@value{UPDATED}).

Copyright @copyright{} 1999,2000,2001,2002,2004,2006,2008,2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
Invariant Sections.
@end quotation
@end copying

@dircategory Kernel
@direntry
* GRUB: (grub).                 The GRand Unified Bootloader
* grub-install: (grub)Invoking grub-install.    Install GRUB on your drive
* grub-terminfo: (grub)Invoking grub-terminfo.  Generate a terminfo
                                                command from a
                                                terminfo name
@end direntry

@setchapternewpage odd

@titlepage
@sp 10
@title the GNU GRUB manual
@subtitle The GRand Unified Bootloader, version @value{VERSION}, @value{UPDATED}.
@author Gordon Matzigkeit
@author Yoshinori K. Okuji
@c The following two commands start the copyright page.
@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
@insertcopying
@end titlepage

@c Output the table of contents at the beginning.
@contents

@finalout
@headings double

@ifnottex
@node Top
@top GNU GRUB manual

This is the documentation of GNU GRUB, the GRand Unified Bootloader,
a flexible and powerful boot loader program for a wide range of
architectures.

This edition documents version @value{VERSION}.

@insertcopying
@end ifnottex

@menu
* Introduction::                Capturing the spirit of GRUB
* Naming convention::           Names of your drives in GRUB
* Installation::                Installing GRUB on your drive
* Booting::                     How to boot different operating systems
* Configuration::               Writing your own configuration file
* Network::                     Downloading OS images from a network
* Serial terminal::             Using GRUB via a serial line
* Preset Menu::                 Embedding a configuration file into GRUB
* Images::                      GRUB image files
* Filesystem::                  Filesystem syntax and semantics
* Interface::                   The menu and the command-line
* Commands::                    The list of available builtin commands
* Troubleshooting::             Error messages produced by GRUB
* Invoking the grub shell::     How to use the grub shell
* Invoking grub-install::       How to use the GRUB installer
* Invoking grub-terminfo::      How to generate a terminfo command
* Obtaining and Building GRUB:: How to obtain and build GRUB
* Reporting bugs::              Where you should send a bug report
* Future::                      Some future plans on GRUB
* Internals::                   Hacking GRUB
* Copying This Manual::         Copying This Manual
* Index::
@end menu


@node Introduction
@chapter Introduction to GRUB

@menu
* Overview::                    What exactly GRUB is and how to use it
* History::                     From maggot to house fly
* Features::                    GRUB features
* Role of a boot loader::       The role of a boot loader
@end menu


@node Overview
@section Overview

Briefly, a @dfn{boot loader} is the first software program that runs when
a computer starts.  It is responsible for loading and transferring
control to an operating system @dfn{kernel} software (such as Linux or
GNU Mach).  The kernel, in turn, initializes the rest of the operating
system (e.g. a GNU system).

GNU GRUB is a very powerful boot loader, which can load a wide variety
of free operating systems, as well as proprietary operating systems with
chain-loading@footnote{@dfn{chain-load} is the mechanism for loading
unsupported operating systems by loading another boot loader. It is
typically used for loading DOS or Windows.}. GRUB is designed to
address the complexity of booting a personal computer; both the
program and this manual are tightly bound to that computer platform,
although porting to other platforms may be addressed in the future.

One of the important features in GRUB is flexibility; GRUB understands
filesystems and kernel executable formats, so you can load an arbitrary
operating system the way you like, without recording the physical
position of your kernel on the disk. Thus you can load the kernel
just by specifying its file name and the drive and partition where the
kernel resides.

When booting with GRUB, you can use either a command-line interface
(@pxref{Command-line interface}), or a menu interface (@pxref{Menu
interface}). Using the command-line interface, you type the drive
specification and file name of the kernel manually. In the menu
interface, you just select an OS using the arrow keys. The menu is
based on a configuration file which you prepare beforehand
(@pxref{Configuration}). While in the menu, you can switch to the
command-line mode, and vice-versa. You can even edit menu entries
before using them.

In the following chapters, you will learn how to specify a drive, a
partition, and a file name (@pxref{Naming convention}) to GRUB, how to
install GRUB on your drive (@pxref{Installation}), and how to boot your
OSes (@pxref{Booting}), step by step.


@node History
@section History of GRUB

GRUB originated in 1995 when Erich Boleyn was trying to boot the GNU
Hurd with the University of Utah's Mach 4 microkernel (now known as GNU
Mach).  Erich and Brian Ford designed the Multiboot Specification
(@pxref{Top, Multiboot Specification, Motivation, multiboot, The Multiboot
Specification}), because they were determined not to add to the large
number of mutually-incompatible PC boot methods.

Erich then began modifying the FreeBSD boot loader so that it would
understand Multiboot. He soon realized that it would be a lot easier
to write his own boot loader from scratch than to keep working on the
FreeBSD boot loader, and so GRUB was born.

Erich added many features to GRUB, but other priorities prevented him
from keeping up with the demands of its quickly-expanding user base. In
1999, Gordon Matzigkeit and Yoshinori K. Okuji adopted GRUB as an
official GNU package, and opened its development by making the latest
sources available via anonymous CVS. @xref{Obtaining and Building
GRUB}, for more information.


@node Features
@section GRUB features

The primary requirement for GRUB is that it be compliant with the
@dfn{Multiboot Specification}, which is described in @ref{Top, Multiboot
Specification, Motivation, multiboot, The Multiboot Specification}.

The other goals, listed in approximate order of importance, are:

@itemize @bullet{}
@item
Basic functions must be straightforward for end-users.

@item
Rich functionality to support kernel experts and designers.

@item
Backward compatibility for booting FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and
Linux. Proprietary kernels (such as DOS, Windows NT, and OS/2) are
supported via a chain-loading function.
@end itemize

Except for specific compatibility modes (chain-loading and the Linux
@dfn{piggyback} format), all kernels will be started in much the same
state as in the Multiboot Specification. Only kernels loaded at 1 megabyte
or above are presently supported. Any attempt to load below that
boundary will simply result in immediate failure and an error message
reporting the problem.

In addition to the requirements above, GRUB has the following features
(note that the Multiboot Specification doesn't require all the features
that GRUB supports):

@table @asis
@item Recognize multiple executable formats
Support many of the @dfn{a.out} variants plus @dfn{ELF}. Symbol
tables are also loaded.

@item Support non-Multiboot kernels
Support many of the various free 32-bit kernels that lack Multiboot
compliance (primarily FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and
Linux). Chain-loading of other boot loaders is also supported.

@item Load multiples modules
Fully support the Multiboot feature of loading multiple modules.

@item Load a configuration file
Support a human-readable text configuration file with preset boot
commands. You can also load another configuration file dynamically and
embed a preset configuration file in a GRUB image file. The list of
commands (@pxref{Commands}) are a superset of those supported on the
command-line. An example configuration file is provided in
@ref{Configuration}.

@item Provide a menu interface
A menu interface listing preset boot commands, with a programmable
timeout, is available. There is no fixed limit on the number of boot
entries, and the current implementation has space for several hundred.

@item Have a flexible command-line interface
A fairly flexible command-line interface, accessible from the menu,
is available to edit any preset commands, or write a new boot command
set from scratch. If no configuration file is present, GRUB drops to
the command-line.

The list of commands (@pxref{Commands}) are a subset of those supported
for configuration files. Editing commands closely resembles the Bash
command-line (@pxref{Command Line Editing, Bash, Command Line Editing,
features, Bash Features}), with @key{TAB}-completion of commands,
devices, partitions, and files in a directory depending on context.

@item Support multiple filesystem types
Support multiple filesystem types transparently, plus a useful explicit
blocklist notation. The currently supported filesystem types are
@dfn{BSD FFS}, @dfn{DOS FAT16 and FAT32}, @dfn{Minix fs}, @dfn{Linux
ext2fs}, @dfn{ReiserFS}, @dfn{JFS}, @dfn{XFS}, and @dfn{VSTa
fs}. @xref{Filesystem}, for more information.

@item Support automatic decompression
Can decompress files which were compressed by @command{gzip}. This
function is both automatic and transparent to the user (i.e. all
functions operate upon the uncompressed contents of the specified
files). This greatly reduces a file size and loading time, a
particularly great benefit for floppies.@footnote{There are a few
pathological cases where loading a very badly organized ELF kernel might
take longer, but in practice this never happen.}

It is conceivable that some kernel modules should be loaded in a
compressed state, so a different module-loading command can be specified
to avoid uncompressing the modules.

@item Access data on any installed device
Support reading data from any or all floppies or hard disk(s) recognized
by the BIOS, independent of the setting of the root device.

@item Be independent of drive geometry translations
Unlike many other boot loaders, GRUB makes the particular drive
translation irrelevant. A drive installed and running with one
translation may be converted to another translation without any adverse
effects or changes in GRUB's configuration.

@item Detect all installed @sc{ram}
GRUB can generally find all the installed @sc{ram} on a PC-compatible
machine. It uses an advanced BIOS query technique for finding all
memory regions. As described on the Multiboot Specification (@pxref{Top,
Multiboot Specification, Motivation, multiboot, The Multiboot
Specification}), not all kernels make use of this information, but GRUB
provides it for those who do.

@item Support Logical Block Address mode
In traditional disk calls (called @dfn{CHS mode}), there is a geometry
translation problem, that is, the BIOS cannot access over 1024
cylinders, so the accessible space is limited to at least 508 MB and to
at most 8GB. GRUB can't universally solve this problem, as there is no
standard interface used in all machines. However, several newer machines
have the new interface, Logical Block Address (@dfn{LBA}) mode. GRUB
automatically detects if LBA mode is available and uses it if
available. In LBA mode, GRUB can access the entire disk.

@item Support network booting
GRUB is basically a disk-based boot loader but also has network
support. You can load OS images from a network by using the @dfn{TFTP}
protocol.

@item Support remote terminals
To support computers with no console, GRUB provides remote terminal
support, so that you can control GRUB from a remote host. Only serial
terminal support is implemented at the moment.
@end table


@node Role of a boot loader
@section The role of a boot loader

The following is a quotation from Gordon Matzigkeit, a GRUB fanatic:

@quotation
Some people like to acknowledge both the operating system and kernel when
they talk about their computers, so they might say they use
``GNU/Linux'' or ``GNU/Hurd''.  Other people seem to think that the
kernel is the most important part of the system, so they like to call
their GNU operating systems ``Linux systems.''

I, personally, believe that this is a grave injustice, because the
@emph{boot loader} is the most important software of all. I used to
refer to the above systems as either ``LILO''@footnote{The LInux LOader,
a boot loader that everybody uses, but nobody likes.} or ``GRUB''
systems.

Unfortunately, nobody ever understood what I was talking about; now I
just use the word ``GNU'' as a pseudonym for GRUB.

So, if you ever hear people talking about their alleged ``GNU'' systems,
remember that they are actually paying homage to the best boot loader
around@dots{} GRUB!
@end quotation

We, the GRUB maintainers, do not (usually) encourage Gordon's level of
fanaticism, but it helps to remember that boot loaders deserve
recognition.  We hope that you enjoy using GNU GRUB as much as we did
writing it.


@node Naming convention
@chapter Naming convention

The device syntax used in GRUB is a wee bit different from what you may
have seen before in your operating system(s), and you need to know it so
that you can specify a drive/partition.

Look at the following examples and explanations:

@example
(fd0)
@end example

First of all, GRUB requires that the device name be enclosed with
@samp{(} and @samp{)}. The @samp{fd} part means that it is a floppy
disk. The number @samp{0} is the drive number, which is counted from
@emph{zero}. This expression means that GRUB will use the whole floppy
disk.

@example
(hd0,2)
@end example

Here, @samp{hd} means it is a hard disk drive. The first integer
@samp{0} indicates the drive number, that is, the first hard disk, while
the second integer, @samp{1}, indicates the partition number (or the
@sc{pc} slice number in the BSD terminology). The partition numbers are
counted from @emph{one}, not from zero (as was the case in previous
versions of GRUB). This expression means the second partition of the
first hard disk drive. In this case, GRUB uses one partition of the
disk, instead of the whole disk.

@example
(hd0,5)
@end example

This specifies the first @dfn{extended partition} of the first hard disk
drive. Note that the partition numbers for extended partitions are
counted from @samp{5}, regardless of the actual number of primary
partitions on your hard disk.

@example
(hd1,a)
@end example

This means the BSD @samp{a} partition of the second hard disk. If you
need to specify which @sc{pc} slice number should be used, use something
like this: @samp{(hd1,1,a)}. If the @sc{pc} slice number is omitted,
GRUB searches for the first @sc{pc} slice which has a BSD @samp{a}
partition.

Of course, to actually access the disks or partitions with GRUB, you
need to use the device specification in a command, like @samp{root
(fd0)} or @samp{unhide (hd0,3)}. To help you find out which number
specifies a partition you want, the GRUB command-line
(@pxref{Command-line interface}) options have argument
completion. This means that, for example, you only need to type

@example
root (
@end example

followed by a @key{TAB}, and GRUB will display the list of drives,
partitions, or file names. So it should be quite easy to determine the
name of your target partition, even with minimal knowledge of the
syntax.

Note that GRUB does @emph{not} distinguish IDE from SCSI - it simply
counts the drive numbers from zero, regardless of their type. Normally,
any IDE drive number is less than any SCSI drive number, although that
is not true if you change the boot sequence by swapping IDE and SCSI
drives in your BIOS.

Now the question is, how to specify a file? Again, consider an
example:

@example
(hd0,1)/vmlinuz
@end example

This specifies the file named @samp{vmlinuz}, found on the first
partition of the first hard disk drive. Note that the argument
completion works with file names, too.

That was easy, admit it. Now read the next chapter, to find out how to
actually install GRUB on your drive.


@node Installation
@chapter Installation

In order to install GRUB as your boot loader, you need to first
install the GRUB system and utilities under your UNIX-like operating
system (@pxref{Obtaining and Building GRUB}). You can do this either
from the source tarball, or as a package for your OS.

After you have done that, you need to install the boot loader on a
drive (floppy or hard disk). There are two ways of doing that - either
using the utility @command{grub-install} (@pxref{Invoking
grub-install}) on a UNIX-like OS, or by running GRUB itself from a
floppy. These are quite similar, however the utility might probe a
wrong BIOS drive, so you should be careful.

Also, if you install GRUB on a UNIX-like OS, please make sure that you
have an emergency boot disk ready, so that you can rescue your computer
if, by any chance, your hard drive becomes unusable (unbootable).

GRUB comes with boot images, which are normally put in the directory
@file{/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc}. Hereafter, the directory where GRUB images are
initially placed (normally @file{/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc}) will be
called the @dfn{image directory}, and the directory where the boot
loader needs to find them (usually @file{/boot/grub}) will be called
the @dfn{boot directory}.

@menu
* Installing GRUB using grub-install::
@end menu


@node Installing GRUB using grub-install
@section Installing GRUB using grub-install

@strong{Caution:} This procedure is definitely less safe, because
there are several ways in which your computer can become
unbootable. For example, most operating systems don't tell GRUB how to
map BIOS drives to OS devices correctly---GRUB merely @dfn{guesses}
the mapping. This will succeed in most cases, but not
always. Therefore, GRUB provides you with a map file called the
@dfn{device map}, which you must fix if it is wrong. @xref{Device
map}, for more details.

If you still do want to install GRUB under a UNIX-like OS (such
as @sc{gnu}), invoke the program @command{grub-install} (@pxref{Invoking
grub-install}) as the superuser (@dfn{root}).

The usage is basically very simple. You only need to specify one
argument to the program, namely, where to install the boot loader. The
argument can be either a device file (like @samp{/dev/hda}) or a
partition specified in GRUB's notation. For example, under Linux the
following will install GRUB into the MBR of the first IDE disk:

@example
# @kbd{grub-install /dev/hda}
@end example

Likewise, under GNU/Hurd, this has the same effect:

@example
# @kbd{grub-install /dev/hd0}
@end example

If it is the first BIOS drive, this is the same as well:

@example
# @kbd{grub-install '(hd0)'}
@end example

Or you can omit the parentheses:

@example
# @kbd{grub-install hd0}
@end example

But all the above examples assume that GRUB should use images under
the root directory. If you want GRUB to use images under a directory
other than the root directory, you need to specify the option
@option{--root-directory}. The typical usage is that you create a GRUB
boot floppy with a filesystem. Here is an example:

@example
@group
# @kbd{mke2fs /dev/fd0}
# @kbd{mount -t ext2 /dev/fd0 /mnt}
# @kbd{grub-install --root-directory=/mnt fd0}
# @kbd{umount /mnt}
@end group
@end example

Another example is when you have a separate boot partition
which is mounted at @file{/boot}. Since GRUB is a boot loader, it
doesn't know anything about mountpoints at all. Thus, you need to run
@command{grub-install} like this:

@example
# @kbd{grub-install --root-directory=/boot /dev/hda}
@end example

By the way, as noted above, it is quite difficult to guess BIOS drives
correctly under a UNIX-like OS. Thus, @command{grub-install} will prompt
you to check if it could really guess the correct mappings, after the
installation. The format is defined in @ref{Device map}. Please be
quite careful. If the output is wrong, it is unlikely that your
computer will be able to boot with no problem.

Note that @command{grub-install} is actually just a shell script and the
real task is done by the grub shell @command{grub} (@pxref{Invoking the
grub shell}). Therefore, you may run @command{grub} directly to install
GRUB, without using @command{grub-install}. Don't do that, however,
unless you are very familiar with the internals of GRUB. Installing a
boot loader on a running OS may be extremely dangerous.


@node Making a GRUB bootable CD-ROM
@section Making a GRUB bootable CD-ROM

GRUB supports the @dfn{no emulation mode} in the El Torito
specification@footnote{El Torito is a specification for bootable CD
using BIOS functions.}. This means that you can use the whole CD-ROM
from GRUB and you don't have to make a floppy or hard disk image file,
which can cause compatibility problems.

For booting from a CD-ROM, GRUB uses a special Stage 2 called
@file{stage2_eltorito}. The only GRUB files you need to have in your
bootable CD-ROM are this @file{stage2_eltorito} and optionally a config file
@file{grub.cfg}. You don't need to use @file{stage1} or @file{stage2},
because El Torito is quite different from the standard boot process.

Here is an example of procedures to make a bootable CD-ROM
image. First, make a top directory for the bootable image, say,
@samp{iso}:

@example
$ @kbd{mkdir iso}
@end example

Make a directory for GRUB:

@example
$ @kbd{mkdir -p iso/boot/grub}
@end example

Copy the file @file{stage2_eltorito}:

@example
$ @kbd{cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/stage2_eltorito iso/boot/grub}
@end example

If desired, make the config file @file{grub.cfg} under @file{iso/boot/grub}
(@pxref{Configuration}), and copy any files and directories for the disc to the
directory @file{iso/}.

Finally, make a ISO9660 image file like this:

@example
$ @kbd{mkisofs -R -b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito -no-emul-boot \
    -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -o grub.iso iso}
@end example

This produces a file named @file{grub.iso}, which then can be burned
into a CD (or a DVD).  @kbd{mkisofs} has already set up the disc to boot
from the @kbd{boot/grub/stage2_eltorito} file, so there is no need to
setup GRUB on the disc.  (Note that the @kbd{-boot-load-size 4} bit is
required for compatibility with the BIOS on many older machines.)

You can use the device @samp{(cd)} to access a CD-ROM in your
config file. This is not required; GRUB automatically sets the root device
to @samp{(cd)} when booted from a CD-ROM. It is only necessary to refer to
@samp{(cd)} if you want to access other drives as well.


@node Booting
@chapter Booting

GRUB can load Multiboot-compliant kernels in a consistent way,
but for some free operating systems you need to use some OS-specific
magic.

@menu
* General boot methods::        How to boot OSes with GRUB generally
* OS-specific notes::           Notes on some operating systems
@end menu


@node General boot methods
@section How to boot operating systems

GRUB has two distinct boot methods. One of the two is to load an
operating system directly, and the other is to chain-load another boot
loader which then will load an operating system actually. Generally
speaking, the former is more desirable, because you don't need to
install or maintain other boot loaders and GRUB is flexible enough to
load an operating system from an arbitrary disk/partition. However,
the latter is sometimes required, since GRUB doesn't support all the
existing operating systems natively.

@menu
* Loading an operating system directly::
* Chain-loading::
@end menu


@node Loading an operating system directly
@subsection How to boot an OS directly with GRUB

Multiboot (@pxref{Top, Multiboot Specification, Motivation, multiboot,
The Multiboot Specification}) is the native format supported by GRUB.
For the sake of convenience, there is also support for Linux, FreeBSD,
NetBSD and OpenBSD. If you want to boot other operating systems, you
will have to chain-load them (@pxref{Chain-loading}).

FIXME: this section is incomplete.

@enumerate
@item
Run the command @command{boot} (@pxref{boot}).
@end enumerate

However, DOS and Windows have some deficiencies, so you might have to
use more complicated instructions. @xref{DOS/Windows}, for more
information.


@node OS-specific notes
@section Some caveats on OS-specific issues

Here, we describe some caveats on several operating systems.

@menu
* GNU/Hurd::
* GNU/Linux::
@end menu


@node GNU/Hurd
@subsection GNU/Hurd

Since GNU/Hurd is Multiboot-compliant, it is easy to boot it; there is
nothing special about it. But do not forget that you have to specify a
root partition to the kernel.

FIXME: this section is incomplete.

@enumerate
@item
Run the command @command{boot} (@pxref{boot}).
@end enumerate


@node GNU/Linux
@subsection GNU/Linux

It is relatively easy to boot GNU/Linux from GRUB, because it somewhat
resembles to boot a Multiboot-compliant OS.

FIXME: this section is incomplete.

@enumerate
@item
Set GRUB's root device to the same drive as GNU/Linux's.

@item
Finally, run the command @command{boot} (@pxref{boot}).
@end enumerate

@strong{Caution:} If you use an initrd and specify the @samp{mem=}
option to the kernel to let it use less than actual memory size, you
will also have to specify the same memory size to GRUB. To let GRUB know
the size, run the command @command{uppermem} @emph{before} loading the
kernel. @xref{uppermem}, for more information.


@node Serial terminal
@chapter Using GRUB via a serial line

This chapter describes how to use the serial terminal support in GRUB.

If you have many computers or computers with no display/keyboard, it
could be very useful to control the computers through serial
communications. To connect one computer with another via a serial line,
you need to prepare a null-modem (cross) serial cable, and you may need
to have multiport serial boards, if your computer doesn't have extra
serial ports. In addition, a terminal emulator is also required, such as
minicom. Refer to a manual of your operating system, for more
information.

As for GRUB, the instruction to set up a serial terminal is quite
simple. First of all, make sure that you haven't specified the option
@option{--disable-serial} to the configure script when you built your
GRUB images. If you get them in binary form, probably they have serial
terminal support already.

Then, initialize your serial terminal after GRUB starts up. Here is an
example:

@example
@group
grub> @kbd{serial --unit=0 --speed=9600}
grub> @kbd{terminal serial}
@end group
@end example

The command @command{serial} initializes the serial unit 0 with the
speed 9600bps. The serial unit 0 is usually called @samp{COM1}, so, if
you want to use COM2, you must specify @samp{--unit=1} instead. This
command accepts many other options, so please refer to @ref{serial},
for more details.

The command @command{terminal} (@pxref{terminal}) chooses which type of
terminal you want to use. In the case above, the terminal will be a
serial terminal, but you can also pass @code{console} to the command,
as @samp{terminal serial console}. In this case, a terminal in which
you press any key will be selected as a GRUB terminal.

However, note that GRUB assumes that your terminal emulator is
compatible with VT100 by default. This is true for most terminal
emulators nowadays, but you should pass the option @option{--dumb} to
the command if your terminal emulator is not VT100-compatible or
implements few VT100 escape sequences. If you specify this option then
GRUB provides you with an alternative menu interface, because the normal
menu requires several fancy features of your terminal.


@node Filesystem
@chapter Filesystem syntax and semantics

GRUB uses a special syntax for specifying disk drives which can be
accessed by BIOS. Because of BIOS limitations, GRUB cannot distinguish
between IDE, ESDI, SCSI, or others. You must know yourself which BIOS
device is equivalent to which OS device. Normally, that will be clear if
you see the files in a device or use the command @command{find}
(@pxref{find}).

@menu
* Device syntax::               How to specify devices
* File name syntax::            How to specify files
* Block list syntax::           How to specify block lists
@end menu


@node Device syntax
@section How to specify devices

The device syntax is like this:

@example
@code{(@var{device}[,@var{part-num}][,@var{bsd-subpart-letter}])}
@end example

@samp{[]} means the parameter is optional. @var{device} should be
either @samp{fd} or @samp{hd} followed by a digit, like @samp{fd0}.
But you can also set @var{device} to a hexadecimal or a decimal number
which is a BIOS drive number, so the following are equivalent:

@example
(hd0)
(0x80)
(128)
@end example

@var{part-num} represents the partition number of @var{device}, starting
from one for primary partitions and from five for extended partitions,
and @var{bsd-subpart-letter} represents the BSD disklabel subpartition,
such as @samp{a} or @samp{e}.

A shortcut for specifying BSD subpartitions is
@code{(@var{device},@var{bsd-subpart-letter})}, in this case, GRUB
searches for the first PC partition containing a BSD disklabel, then
finds the subpartition @var{bsd-subpart-letter}. Here is an example:

@example
(hd0,a)
@end example

The syntax @samp{(hd0)} represents using the entire disk (or the
MBR when installing GRUB), while the syntax @samp{(hd0,1)}
represents using the first partition of the disk (or the boot sector
of the partition when installing GRUB).

If you enabled the network support, the special drive, @samp{(nd)}, is
also available. Before using the network drive, you must initialize the
network. @xref{Network}, for more information.

If you boot GRUB from a CD-ROM, @samp{(cd)} is available. @xref{Making
a GRUB bootable CD-ROM}, for details.


@node File name syntax
@section How to specify files

There are two ways to specify files, by @dfn{absolute file name} and by
@dfn{block list}.

An absolute file name resembles a Unix absolute file name, using
@samp{/} for the directory separator (not @samp{\} as in DOS). One
example is @samp{(hd0,1)/boot/grub/grub.cfg}. This means the file
@file{/boot/grub/grub.cfg} in the first partition of the first hard
disk. If you omit the device name in an absolute file name, GRUB uses
GRUB's @dfn{root device} implicitly. So if you set the root device to,
say, @samp{(hd1,1)} by the command @command{root} (@pxref{root}), then
@code{/boot/kernel} is the same as @code{(hd1,1)/boot/kernel}.


@node Block list syntax
@section How to specify block lists

A block list is used for specifying a file that doesn't appear in the
filesystem, like a chainloader. The syntax is
@code{[@var{offset}]+@var{length}[,[@var{offset}]+@var{length}]@dots{}}.
Here is an example:

@example
@code{0+100,200+1,300+300}
@end example

This represents that GRUB should read blocks 0 through 99, block 200,
and blocks 300 through 599. If you omit an offset, then GRUB assumes
the offset is zero.

Like the file name syntax (@pxref{File name syntax}), if a blocklist
does not contain a device name, then GRUB uses GRUB's @dfn{root
device}. So @code{(hd0,2)+1} is the same as @code{+1} when the root
device is @samp{(hd0,2)}.


@node Interface
@chapter GRUB's user interface

GRUB has both a simple menu interface for choosing preset entries from a
configuration file, and a highly flexible command-line for performing
any desired combination of boot commands.

GRUB looks for its configuration file as soon as it is loaded. If one
is found, then the full menu interface is activated using whatever
entries were found in the file. If you choose the @dfn{command-line} menu
option, or if the configuration file was not found, then GRUB drops to
the command-line interface.

@menu
* Command-line interface::      The flexible command-line interface
* Menu interface::              The simple menu interface
@end menu


@node Command-line interface
@section The flexible command-line interface

The command-line interface provides a prompt and after it an editable
text area much like a command-line in Unix or DOS. Each command is
immediately executed after it is entered@footnote{However, this
behavior will be changed in the future version, in a user-invisible
way.}. The commands (@pxref{Command-line and menu entry commands}) are a
subset of those available in the configuration file, used with exactly
the same syntax.

Cursor movement and editing of the text on the line can be done via a
subset of the functions available in the Bash shell:

@table @key
@item C-f
@itemx PC right key
Move forward one character.

@item C-b
@itemx PC left key
Move back one character.

@item C-a
@itemx HOME
Move to the start of the line.

@item C-e
@itemx END
Move the the end of the line.

@item C-d
@itemx DEL
Delete the character underneath the cursor.

@item C-h
@itemx BS
Delete the character to the left of the cursor.

@item C-k
Kill the text from the current cursor position to the end of the line.

@item C-u
Kill backward from the cursor to the beginning of the line.

@item C-y
Yank the killed text back into the buffer at the cursor.

@item C-p
@itemx PC up key
Move up through the history list.

@item C-n
@itemx PC down key
Move down through the history list.
@end table

When typing commands interactively, if the cursor is within or before
the first word in the command-line, pressing the @key{TAB} key (or
@key{C-i}) will display a listing of the available commands, and if the
cursor is after the first word, the @kbd{@key{TAB}} will provide a
completion listing of disks, partitions, and file names depending on the
context. Note that to obtain a list of drives, one must open a
parenthesis, as @command{root (}.

Note that you cannot use the completion functionality in the TFTP
filesystem. This is because TFTP doesn't support file name listing for
the security.


@node Menu interface
@section The simple menu interface

The menu interface is quite easy to use. Its commands are both
reasonably intuitive and described on screen.

Basically, the menu interface provides a list of @dfn{boot entries} to
the user to choose from. Use the arrow keys to select the entry of
choice, then press @key{RET} to run it.  An optional timeout is
available to boot the default entry (the first one if not set), which is
aborted by pressing any key.

Commands are available to enter a bare command-line by pressing @key{c}
(which operates exactly like the non-config-file version of GRUB, but
allows one to return to the menu if desired by pressing @key{ESC}) or to
edit any of the @dfn{boot entries} by pressing @key{e}.

If you protect the menu interface with a password (@pxref{Security}),
all you can do is choose an entry by pressing @key{RET}, or press
@key{p} to enter the password.


@node Menu entry editor
@section Editing a menu entry

The menu entry editor looks much like the main menu interface, but the
lines in the menu are individual commands in the selected entry instead
of entry names.

If an @key{ESC} is pressed in the editor, it aborts all the changes made
to the configuration entry and returns to the main menu interface.

When a particular line is selected, the editor places the user in a
special version of the GRUB command-line to edit that line.  When the
user hits @key{RET}, GRUB replaces the line in question in the boot
entry with the changes (unless it was aborted via @key{ESC},
in which case the changes are thrown away).

If you want to add a new line to the menu entry, press @key{o} if adding
a line after the current line or press @key{O} if before the current
line.

To delete a line, hit the key @key{d}. Although GRUB unfortunately
does not support @dfn{undo}, you can do almost the same thing by just
returning to the main menu.


@node Commands
@chapter The list of available commands

In this chapter, we list all commands that are available in GRUB.

Commands belong to different groups. A few can only be used in
the global section of the configuration file (or ``menu''); most
of them can be entered on the command-line and can be used either
anywhere in the menu or specifically in the menu entries.

@menu
* Menu-specific commands::
* General commands::
* Command-line and menu entry commands::
@end menu


@node Menu-specific commands
@section The list of commands for the menu only

The semantics used in parsing the configuration file are the following:

@itemize @bullet
@item
The menu-specific commands have to be used before any others.

@item
The files @emph{must} be in plain-text format.

@item
@samp{#} at the beginning of a line in a configuration file means it is
only a comment.

@item
Options are separated by spaces.

@item
All numbers can be either decimal or hexadecimal. A hexadecimal number
must be preceded by @samp{0x}, and is case-insensitive.

@item
Extra options or text at the end of the line are ignored unless otherwise
specified.

@item
Unrecognized commands are added to the current entry, except before entries
start, where they are ignored.
@end itemize

These commands can only be used in the menu:

@menu
* menuentry::                   Start a menu entry
@end menu


@node menuentry
@subsection menuentry

@deffn Command title name @dots{}
Start a new boot entry, and set its name to the contents of the rest of
the line, starting with the first non-space character.
@end deffn


@node General commands
@section The list of general commands

Commands usable anywhere in the menu and in the command-line.

@menu
* serial::                      Set up a serial device
* terminfo::                    Define escape sequences for a terminal
@end menu


@node serial
@subsection serial

@deffn Command serial [@option{--unit=unit}] [@option{--port=port}] [@option{--speed=speed}] [@option{--word=word}] [@option{--parity=parity}] [@option{--stop=stop}] [@option{--device=dev}]
Initialize a serial device. @var{unit} is a number in the range 0-3
specifying which serial port to use; default is 0, which corresponds to
the port often called COM1. @var{port} is the I/O port where the UART
is to be found; if specified it takes precedence over @var{unit}.
@var{speed} is the transmission speed; default is 9600. @var{word} and
@var{stop} are the number of data bits and stop bits. Data bits must
be in the range 5-8 and stop bits must be 1 or 2. Default is 8 data
bits and one stop bit. @var{parity} is one of @samp{no}, @samp{odd},
@samp{even} and defaults to @samp{no}. The option @option{--device}
can only be used in the grub shell and is used to specify the
tty device to be used in the host operating system (@pxref{Invoking the
grub shell}).

The serial port is not used as a communication channel unless the
@command{terminal} command is used (@pxref{terminal}).

This command is only available if GRUB is compiled with serial
support. See also @ref{Serial terminal}.
@end deffn


@node terminfo
@subsection terminfo

@deffn Command terminfo @option{--name=name} @option{--cursor-address=seq} [@option{--clear-screen=seq}] [@option{--enter-standout-mode=seq}] [@option{--exit-standout-mode=seq}]
Define the capabilities of your terminal. Use this command to define
escape sequences, if it is not vt100-compatible. You may use @samp{\e}
for @key{ESC} and @samp{^X} for a control character.

You can use the utility @command{grub-terminfo} to generate
appropriate arguments to this command. @xref{Invoking grub-terminfo}.

If no option is specified, the current settings are printed.
@end deffn


@node Command-line and menu entry commands
@section The list of command-line and menu entry commands

These commands are usable in the command-line and in menu entries.  If
you forget a command, you can run the command @command{help}
(@pxref{help}).

@menu
* acpi::                        Load ACPI tables
* blocklist::                   Print a block list
* boot::                        Start up your operating system
* cat::                         Show the contents of a file
* chainloader::                 Chain-load another boot loader
* cmp::                         Compare two files
* configfile::                  Load a configuration file
* crc::                         Calculate CRC32 checksums
* date::                        Display or set current date and time
* echo::                        Display a line of text
* export::                      Export an environment variable
* halt::                        Shut down your computer
* help::                        Show help messages
* insmod::                      Insert a module
* keystatus::                   Check key modifier status
* ls::                          List devices or files
* reboot::                      Reboot your computer
* set::                         Set an environment variable
* unset::                       Unset an environment variable
@end menu


@node acpi
@subsection acpi

@deffn Command acpi [@option{-1}|@option{-2}] @
 [@option{--exclude=table1,@dots{}}|@option{--load-only=table1,@dots{}}] @
 [@option{--oemid=id}] [@option{--oemtable=table}] @
 [@option{--oemtablerev=rev}] [@option{--oemtablecreator=creator}] @
 [@option{--oemtablecreatorrev=rev}] [@option{--no-ebda}] @
 filename @dots{}
Modern BIOS systems normally implement the Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface (ACPI), and define various tables that describe the interface
between an ACPI-compliant operating system and the firmware. In some cases,
the tables provided by default only work well with certain operating
systems, and it may be necessary to replace some of them.

Normally, this command will replace the Root System Description Pointer
(RSDP) in the Extended BIOS Data Area to point to the new tables. If the
@option{--no-ebda} option is used, the new tables will be known only to
GRUB, but may be used by GRUB's EFI emulation.
@end deffn


@node blocklist
@subsection blocklist

@deffn Command blocklist file
Print a block list (@pxref{Block list syntax}) for @var{file}.
@end deffn


@node boot
@subsection boot

@deffn Command boot
Boot the OS or chain-loader which has been loaded. Only necessary if
running the fully interactive command-line (it is implicit at the end of
a menu entry).
@end deffn


@node cat
@subsection cat

@deffn Command cat file
Display the contents of the file @var{file}. This command may be useful
to remind you of your OS's root partition:

@example
grub> @kbd{cat /etc/fstab}
@end example
@end deffn


@node chainloader
@subsection chainloader

@deffn Command chainloader [@option{--force}] file
Load @var{file} as a chain-loader. Like any other file loaded by the
filesystem code, it can use the blocklist notation to grab the first
sector of the current partition with @samp{+1}. If you specify the
option @option{--force}, then load @var{file} forcibly, whether it has a
correct signature or not. This is required when you want to load a
defective boot loader, such as SCO UnixWare 7.1 (@pxref{SCO UnixWare}).
@end deffn


@node cmp
@subsection cmp

@deffn Command cmp file1 file2
Compare the file @var{file1} with the file @var{file2}. If they differ
in size, print the sizes like this:

@example
Differ in size: 0x1234 [foo], 0x4321 [bar]
@end example

If the sizes are equal but the bytes at an offset differ, then print the
bytes like this:

@example
Differ at the offset 777: 0xbe [foo], 0xef [bar]
@end example

If they are completely identical, nothing will be printed.
@end deffn


@node configfile
@subsection configfile

@deffn Command configfile file
Load @var{file} as a configuration file.
@end deffn


@node crc
@subsection crc

@deffn Command crc file
Display the CRC32 checksum of @var{file}.
@end deffn


@node date
@subsection date

@deffn Command date [[year-]month-day] [hour:minute[:second]]
With no arguments, print the current date and time.

Otherwise, take the current date and time, change any elements specified as
arguments, and set the result as the new date and time.  For example, `date
01-01' will set the current month and day to January 1, but leave the year,
hour, minute, and second unchanged.
@end deffn


@node echo
@subsection echo

@deffn Command echo [@option{-n}] [@option{-e}] string @dots{}
Display the requested text and, unless the @option{-n} option is used, a
trailing new line.  If there is more than one string, they are separated by
spaces in the output.  As usual in GRUB commands, variables may be
substituted using @samp{$@{var@}}.

The @option{-e} option enables interpretation of backslash escapes.  The
following sequences are recognised:

@table @code
@item \\
backslash

@item \a
alert (BEL)

@item \c
suppress trailing new line

@item \f
form feed

@item \n
new line

@item \r
carriage return

@item \t
horizontal tab

@item \v
vertical tab
@end table

When interpreting backslash escapes, backslash followed by any other
character will print that character.
@end deffn


@node export
@subsection export

@deffn Command export envvar
Export the environment variable @var{envvar}. Exported variables are visible
to subsidiary configuration files loaded using @command{configfile}.
@end deffn


@node halt
@subsection halt

@deffn Command halt @option{--no-apm}
The command halts the computer. If the @option{--no-apm} option
is specified, no APM BIOS call is performed. Otherwise, the computer
is shut down using APM.
@end deffn


@node help
@subsection help

@deffn Command help @option{--all} [pattern @dots{}]
Display helpful information about builtin commands. If you do not
specify @var{pattern}, this command shows short descriptions of most of
available commands. If you specify the option @option{--all} to this
command, short descriptions of rarely used commands (such as
@ref{testload}) are displayed as well.

If you specify any @var{patterns}, it displays longer information
about each of the commands which match those @var{patterns}.
@end deffn


@node insmod
@subsection insmod

@deffn Command insmod module
Insert the dynamic GRUB module called @var{module}.
@end deffn


@node keystatus
@subsection keystatus

@deffn Command keystatus [@option{--shift}] [@option{--ctrl}] [@option{--alt}]
Return true if the Shift, Control, or Alt modifier keys are held down, as
requested by options. This is useful in scripting, to allow some user
control over behaviour without having to wait for a keypress.

Checking key modifier status is only supported on some platforms. If invoked
without any options, the @command{keystatus} command returns true if and
only if checking key modifier status is supported.
@end deffn


@node ls
@subsection ls

@deffn Command ls [arg]
List devices or files.

With no arguments, print all devices known to GRUB.

If the argument is a device name enclosed in parentheses (@pxref{Device
syntax}), then list all files at the root directory of that device.

If the argument is a directory given as an absolute file name (@pxref{File
name syntax}), then list the contents of that directory.
@end deffn


@node reboot
@subsection reboot

@deffn Command reboot
Reboot the computer.
@end deffn


@node set
@subsection set

@deffn Command set [envvar=value]
Set the environment variable @var{envvar} to @var{value}. If invoked with no
arguments, print all environment variables with their values.
@end deffn


@node unset
@subsection unset

@deffn Command unset envvar
Unset the environment variable @var{envvar}.
@end deffn


@node Invoking grub-install
@chapter Invoking grub-install

The program @command{grub-install} installs GRUB on your drive using the
grub shell (@pxref{Invoking the grub shell}). You must specify the
device name on which you want to install GRUB, like this:

@example
grub-install @var{install_device}
@end example

The device name @var{install_device} is an OS device name or a GRUB
device name.

@command{grub-install} accepts the following options:

@table @option
@item --help
Print a summary of the command-line options and exit.

@item --version
Print the version number of GRUB and exit.

@item --root-directory=@var{dir}
Install GRUB images under the directory @var{dir} instead of the root
directory. This option is useful when you want to install GRUB into a
separate partition or a removable disk. Here is an example in which
you have a separate @dfn{boot} partition which is mounted on
@file{/boot}:

@example
@kbd{grub-install --root-directory=/boot hd0}
@end example

@item --recheck
Recheck the device map, even if @file{/boot/grub/device.map} already
exists. You should use this option whenever you add/remove a disk
into/from your computer.
@end table


@node Obtaining and Building GRUB
@appendix How to obtain and build GRUB

@quotation
@strong{Caution:} GRUB requires binutils-2.9.1.0.23 or later because the
GNU assembler has been changed so that it can produce real 16bits
machine code between 2.9.1 and 2.9.1.0.x. See
@uref{http://sources.redhat.com/binutils/}, to obtain information on
how to get the latest version.
@end quotation

GRUB is available from the GNU alpha archive site
@uref{ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/grub} or any of its mirrors. The file
will be named grub-version.tar.gz. The current version is
@value{VERSION}, so the file you should grab is:

@uref{ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/grub/grub-@value{VERSION}.tar.gz}

To unbundle GRUB use the instruction:

@example
@kbd{zcat grub-@value{VERSION}.tar.gz | tar xvf -}
@end example

which will create a directory called @file{grub-@value{VERSION}} with
all the sources. You can look at the file @file{INSTALL} for detailed
instructions on how to build and install GRUB, but you should be able to
just do:

@example
@group
@kbd{cd grub-@value{VERSION}}
@kbd{./configure}
@kbd{make install}
@end group
@end example

Also, the latest version is available from the SVN. See
@uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/svn/?group=grub} for more information.

@node Reporting bugs
@appendix Reporting bugs

These are the guideline for how to report bugs. Take a look at this
list below before you submit bugs:

@enumerate
@item
Before getting unsettled, read this manual through and through. Also,
see the @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub-faq.html, GNU GRUB FAQ}.

@item
Always mention the information on your GRUB. The version number and the
configuration are quite important. If you build it yourself, write the
options specified to the configure script and your operating system,
including the versions of gcc and binutils.

@item
If you have trouble with the installation, inform us of how you
installed GRUB. Don't omit error messages, if any. Just @samp{GRUB hangs
up when it boots} is not enough.

The information on your hardware is also essential. These are especially
important: the geometries and the partition tables of your hard disk
drives and your BIOS.

@item
If GRUB cannot boot your operating system, write down
@emph{everything} you see on the screen. Don't paraphrase them, like
@samp{The foo OS crashes with GRUB, even though it can boot with the
bar boot loader just fine}. Mention the commands you executed, the
messages printed by them, and information on your operating system
including the version number.

@item
Explain what you wanted to do. It is very useful to know your purpose
and your wish, and how GRUB didn't satisfy you.

@item
If you can investigate the problem yourself, please do. That will give
you and us much more information on the problem. Attaching a patch is
even better.

When you attach a patch, make the patch in unified diff format, and
write ChangeLog entries. But, even when you make a patch, don't forget
to explain the problem, so that we can understand what your patch is
for.

@item
Write down anything that you think might be related. Please understand
that we often need to reproduce the same problem you encounterred in our
environment. So your information should be sufficient for us to do the
same thing---Don't forget that we cannot see your computer directly. If
you are not sure whether to state a fact or leave it out, state it!
Reporting too many things is much better than omitting something
important.
@end enumerate

If you follow the guideline above, submit a report to the
@uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?group=grub, Bug Tracking System}.
Alternatively, you can submit a report via electronic mail to
@email{bug-grub@@gnu.org}, but we strongly recommend that you use the
Bug Tracking System, because e-mail can be passed over easily.

Once we get your report, we will try to fix the bugs.


@node Future
@appendix Where GRUB will go

We started the next generation of GRUB, GRUB 2. GRUB 2 includes
internationalization, dynamic module loading, real memory management,
multiple architecture support, a scripting language, and many other
nice feature. If you are interested in the development of GRUB 2, take
a look at @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/grub.html, the
homepage}.



@node Copying This Manual
@appendix Copying This Manual

@menu
* GNU Free Documentation License::  License for copying this manual.
@end menu

@include fdl.texi


@node Index
@unnumbered Index

@c Currently, we use only the Concept Index.
@printindex cp


@bye

Some notes:

  This is an attempt to make a manual for GRUB 2. The contents are
  copied from the GRUB manual in GRUB Legacy, so they are not always
  appropriate yet for GRUB 2.