[Clfs-dev] Concerning Sparc users and Grub 1.97.2

[William Harrington]

Ahoy mateys,


     I decided to see if Grub 1.97.2 and 1.98 were up to the test  
with my Ultra 60 since Vincent, who contributes to the sparc  
component of grub.

I finally got grub to get me a menu and boot my system.

Things are easier if you use an external device and create a an alias  
with nvalias rather than using a long OF path to the device.

Also, I couldn't get the boot loader to use my second partition I use  
for boot for multiple builds so I made it the first partition.
If the grub modules and config aren't accessible on the first  
partition of the device used, then problems will be encountered
and you'll be manually booting every time from the grub rescue> prompt.

Install grub2 as usual: configure --prefix=/usr --sysconfdir=/etc  
whatever else you want. If you have fomit-frame-pointer in your CFLAGS,
remove them as it will affect the boot loader. If it is default in  
your compiler's specs, add -fno-omit-frame-pointer to your CFLAGS and  
configure.

make a grub config.
run grub-install
run grub-setup

Ya may need to createa a devicemap with grub-mkdevicemap and then  
edit it as you like.
Use that devicemap file with grub-install and setup if required.

Reboot, and boot the device while at the ok> prompt.

If all goes okay it'll have the grub welcome message and start grub  
in normal mode itself from the grub rescue> prompt.

I could not use 1.98 as it would always result in data access error  
when reading the kernel. 1.97.2 is what I have working at
the moment.

gfxterm I haven't messed with and it probably still needs work. Keep  
close eye on the grub lists as it is always in discussion.

Also, if you use powerpc, it'll use the same of module as sparc.  I'm  
still working on powerpc and I may need to use 1.97.2 with it as well.
I'll attempt that some time soonl

So, for now, with my Ultra 60, I can use grub 1.97.2 to boot my linux  
systems fine. Just have to make sure the grub data is on the first  
partition.
No matter what I tried, it'd always default to the first partition,  
even if I set the --root-directory option when doing grub-setup. I  
even put
prefix and root information in a grubenv file and it still didn't  
work. So I'm sure it will get ironed out. I usually include swap as  
my first
partition but I guess I'll make it my 2nd partition now and make the  
boot data the first partition.

Party on!

-William