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Title: SuSE Linux 6.3 Boot concept

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SuSE Linux 6.3 Boot concept

Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 6.3

Description:

Since SuSE Linux 6.3 the boot concept has changed which has, among other implications, the consequence that you no longer need to choose a special SCSI kernel.  What follows is a step by step look at the normal bootiong sequence of SuSE Linux.  For a normal IDE system the changes are minor.


Boot sequence up to, and including, SuSE Linux 6.2:

With this boot sequence the driver necessary to mount the Root-filesystem must be compiled in the kernel.


New Boot sequence (since SuSE Linux 6.3):

Because the new boot concept offers, in addittion to the standard kernel, special kernels (e.g. SMP or Pentium-optimized, etc.) there would be an extremely long list (over 200) of possible kernels using the old boot concept.

Therefore the boot concept is as follows:


What changes for the User:

The main difference for the user is the selection of kernels in YaST.  There is no longer a list of kernels for every SCSI driver rather only Basic kernels for your platform (i386, Pentium, SMP, APM, etc.).  The necessary SCSI driver is, in most cases, automatically detected during installation.

For Experts

Experts that wish to change system-basics should be aware of the following:

For LOADLIN Users:

If you boot using LOADLIN you'll need to copy, in addition to the kernel-image, the file /boot/initrd (also made using mk_initrd) in a DOS directory (for example c:\loadlin\initdisk) as well adding the following line to the file linux.par:
initrd=c:\loadlin\initdisk
or you can enter it at the LOADLIN command-line as in:
loadlin ... initrd=c:\loadlin\initdisk

Attention!

If you've compiled your own kernel which includes all the necessary drivers to mount the Root-filesystem you don't need a Ramdisk and you should leave out the initrd line in /etc/lilo.conf and/or the loadlin parameter file.  Don't forget to re-intialize LILO with the command lilo at the command-prompt.

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Keywords: BOOT, INITRD, RAMDISK, VFS, SCSI, LILO, LOADLIN

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Categories: Installation , LILO , Loadlin

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SDB-adrian_6.3_boot, Copyright SuSE GmbH, Nuremberg, Germany - Version: 30. Nov 1999
SuSE GmbH - Last generated: 30. Nov 1999 23:16:34 by wimer with sdb_gen 1.00.0