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10. Configuring the Bootloader

• Making your Choice
• Default: Using Yaboot
• Alternative: BootX
• Rebooting the System

10.a. Making your Choice

Introduction

Now that your kernel is configured and compiled and the necessary system configuration files are filled in correctly, it is time to install a program that will fire up your kernel when you start the system. Such a program is called a bootloader. But before you start, consider your options...

Several bootloaders exist for Linux/PPC. We have Yaboot (for NewWorld Apple and IBM machines) and BootX (for OldWorld Apple and IBM machines). The Pegasos does not require a bootloader. You cannot use Yaboot or BootX on them at this time. Pegasos users should therefore continue with Rebooting the System.

10.b. Default: Using Yaboot

Introduction

First we have to create the /dev files in our new home, which is needed during the bootloader installation. This could be done by "bind"-mapping the /dev-filesystem from the LiveCD:

# exit  # this will exit the chroot
# mount -o bind /dev /mnt/gentoo/dev
# chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash
# /usr/sbin/env-update && source /etc/profile 

There are two ways to configure Yaboot for your system. You can use the included yabootconfig to automatically set up Yaboot. If for some reason you do not want to run yabootconfig to automatically set up /etc/yaboot.conf or you are installing Gentoo on a G5 (on which yabootconfig does not always work), you can just edit the sample file already installed on your system.

• Default: Using yabootconfig
• Alternative: Manual Yaboot Configuration

Default: Using yabootconfig

yabootconfig will auto-detect the partitions on your machine and will set up dual and triple boot combinations with Linux, Mac OS, and Mac OS X.

To use yabootconfig, your drive must have a bootstrap partition, and /etc/fstab must be configured with your Linux partitions. Both of these should have been done already in the steps above. To start, ensure that you have the latest yaboot installed.

# emerge --usepkg --update yaboot

Now exit the chroot and run yabootconfig --chroot /mnt/gentoo. The program will run and it will confirm the location of the bootstrap partition. Type Y if it is correct. If not, double check /etc/fstab. yabootconfig will then scan your system setup, create /etc/yaboot.conf and run mkofboot for you. mkofboot is used to format the bootstrap partition, and install the Yaboot configuration file into it. After this enter the chroot again.

# chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash
# /usr/sbin/env-update && source /etc/profile

You might want to verify the contents of /etc/yaboot.conf. If you make changes to /etc/yaboot.conf (like setting the default/boot OS), make sure to rerun ybin -v to apply changes to the bootstrap partition.

Now continue with Rebooting the System.

Alternative: Manual Yaboot Configuration

First make sure you have the latest yaboot installed on your system:

# emerge --usepkg --update yaboot

Below you find a completed yaboot.conf file. Alter it at will. G5 users should be aware that their disks are Serial ATA disks which are seen as SCSI disks by the Linux kernel (so substitute /dev/hda with /dev/sda).

## /etc/yaboot.conf
##
## run: "man yaboot.conf" for details. Do not make changes until you have!!
## see also: /usr/share/doc/yaboot/examples for example configurations.
##
## For a dual-boot menu, add one or more of:
## bsd=/dev/hdaX, macos=/dev/hdaY, macosx=/dev/hdaZ

## our bootstrap partition:

boot=/dev/hda2

## ofboot is the openfirmware way to specify the bootstrap partition.
## If this isn't defined, yaboot fails on the G5 and some G4s (unless 
## you pass the necessary arguments to the mkofboot/ybin program).
## hd:X means /dev/sdaX (or /dev/hdaX).
## 
## G5 users should uncomment this line!!

#ofboot=hd:2

## hd: is open firmware speak for hda
device=hd:

delay=5
defaultos=macosx
timeout=30
install=/usr/lib/yaboot/yaboot
magicboot=/usr/lib/yaboot/ofboot

#################
## This section can be duplicated if you have more than one kernel or set of
## boot options - replace 2.6.9 with your kernel-version
#################
image=/boot/kernel-2.6.9
  label=Linux
  root=/dev/hda3
  partition=3
  sysmap=/boot/System.map-2.6.9
  read-only
##################

## G5 users and some G4 users should set 
##   macos=hd:13
##   macosx=hd:12
## instead of the example values.
macos=/dev/hda13
macosx=/dev/hda12
enablecdboot
enableofboot

Once yaboot.conf is set up the way you want it, you run mkofboot -v to install the settings in the bootstrap partition. Don't forget this! Confirm when mkofboot asks you to create a new filesystem.

If all goes well, and you have the same options as the sample above, your next reboot will give you a simple, five-entry boot menu. If you update your yaboot config later on, you'll just need to run ybin -v to update the bootstrap partition - mkofboot is for initial setup only.

For more information on Yaboot, take a look at the yaboot project. For now, continue the installation with Rebooting the System.

10.c. Alternative: BootX

BootX requires that you reboot first. So, let's reboot shall we :)

First exit the chrooted environment and unmount all mounted partitions, then type in the one magical command you have been waiting for: reboot.

# exit
cdimage ~# cd
cdimage ~# umount /mnt/gentoo/proc /mnt/gentoo
cdimage ~# reboot

Of course, don't forget to remove the bootable CD, otherwise the CD will be booted again instead of MacOS.

Now your machine is booted in MacOS, open the BootX control panel. Select Options and uncheck Used specified RAM disk. When you return to the BootX main screen, you will now find an option to specify your machine's root disk and partition. Fill these in with the appropriate values.

BootX can be configured to start Linux upon boot. If you do this, you will first see your machine boot into MacOS then, during startup, BootX will load and start Linux. See the BootX home page for more information.

Now reboot again and boot into Linux, then continue with Finalizing your Gentoo Installation.

10.d. Rebooting the System

Exit the chrooted environment and unmount all mounted partitions. Then type in that one magical command you have been waiting for: reboot.

# exit
livecd ~# umount /mnt/gentoo/proc /mnt/gentoo/dev /mnt/gentoo
livecd ~# reboot

Of course, don't forget to remove the bootable CD, otherwise the CD will be booted again instead of your new Gentoo system.

Once rebooted in your Gentoo installation, finish up with Finalizing your Gentoo Installation.

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