LILO (LInux LOader): A boot manager. The key is its configuration file, lilo.conf. On bootup it gives the user a choice of which bootable partition (s)he would like to boot from, very useful for dual boot. Can usually be installed in one of four places:

• A floppy disk
• A Root superblock
• The MBR (Master Boot Record usually on hda)
• Any boot record (??) (is that the same as the root superblock? where did I get that from anyway?)

Contents

Resources

• http://sdb.suse.de/sdb/en/html/kgw_lilo_errmsg.html
• http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Boot+Root+RAID+LILO-3.html
• http://octoped.net/linux/lilo-cfg.html
• LILO mini-HOWTO; Miroslav "Misko" Skoric; v3.10, 2002-04-06 -- "This file describes some typical Lilo installations. It's intended as a supplement to the Lilo User's Guide." -- as it says/implies, more examples than explanation, especially sparse in explaining bootups for large disks -- Chapter 4 ("Installing hdc to Boot as hda and Using bios") answers why I've had trouble installing (running) lilo on a drive other than hda
• secondary boot loader

A Sample lilo.conf

From:

Subject: Re: [Bltnewuser] Booting problems
   Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2002 23:08:07 -0600
   From: Jim Westbrook <jimw@austin.rr.com>
     To: Bltnewuser@basiclinux.net

den2:/home/jim # cat /etc/lilo.conf
boot    = /dev/hda
vga     = normal
read-only
menu-scheme = Wg:kw:Wg:Wg
lba32
prompt
timeout = 80
# message       = /boot/message

  image  = /boot/vmlinuz
  label  = linux
  root   = /dev/hda2
  initrd = /boot/initrd
  append = "enableapic vga=0x0314"

  image  = /boot/vmlinuz.suse
  label  = failsafe
  root   = /dev/hda2
  initrd = /boot/initrd.suse
  append = "disableapic ide=nodma apm=off"
  optional

  image  = /boot/memtest.bin
  label  = memtest86

Update: One way to change the default boot is to change the order of the images in the file. (I learned the hard way that you must then run lilo (as root) to get the new "lilo image" stored. Also, in the timeout = 80 line, the time is in tenths of seconds (so 80 means an 8 second delay).

Lilo from a Floppy (for Dos/Windows)

Jeff Zartler found this using googlegroups and forwarded it to me (I guess I should google some day and get a proper attribution):

>> Hi. I would like to use lilo to select between two non-linux partitions.
>> Is that possible without any Linux partition on the disk ?
>
>Yes, but you will need a bootable linux floppy to install
>and configure lilo.

Remember: the map and install files both need to be on devices that LILO can read using BIOS at boot time.

Here's the configuration I use to create a generic floppy based loader that will boot from either of the first two IDE drives. There's an ext2 filesystem on the floppy, and it's mounted as /a at the time when /sbin/lilo is run. I've got a swappable drive drawer thingy as /dev/hda (which may or may not be bootable), so having a floppy that controls the boot process is sometimes vital:

boot=/dev/fd0
map=/a/map
install=/a/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
default=hdb

other=/dev/hda
        label=hda
        unsafe

other=/dev/hda1
        label=hda1
        unsafe

other=/dev/hda2
        label=hda2
        unsafe

other=/dev/hda3
        label=hda3
        unsafe

other=/dev/hda4
        label=hda4
        unsafe

other=/dev/hdb
        label=hdb
        unsafe

other=/dev/hdb1
        label=hdb1
        unsafe

other=/dev/hdb2
        label=hdb2
        unsafe

other=/dev/hdb3
        label=hdb3
        unsafe

other=/dev/hdb4
        label=hdb4
        unsafe

Other Resources

• How can I make a boot floppy or rescue disk?; -- this is truly a boot disk, not part of a boot root set, uses ext2, talks about initially mounting read only and "Linux remounting" read/write after the system comes up -- perhaps true, but not working for me with my relocated Vector disk, so what is it exactly that does the remounting (I'll look in inittab, or maybe I don't have an inittab) -- label not necessary -- runs lilo on the floppy without chroot (ALAFG -- at least at first glance) -- writes something like I do, with open / unanswered questions -- too bad it's not on a wiki

• Mr. Curious: General FAQ -- short, worth reading -- explains that the map file, created by lilo at install time and with its address stored in the boot loader, lets lilo find everything it needs on the disk -- and that it saves old copies of your bootloader in the boot directory with names like boot.0300 -- uninstall (??) can restore old copies (but not the old map file)

• "Ranish Partition Manager is a boot manager and hard disk partitioner. It gives users high level of control for running multiple operating systems, such as Windows 98/NT/XP, Linux, FreeDOS, and FreeBSD on a single disk." -- first page has some interesting sounding links -- might be a free replacement for Partition Commander or whatever.

Contributors

• GrantFraser - 18 Jan 2002 - From Wendy F
• JasoK - 20 Jan 2002
• RandyKramer - 02 Feb 2002
• <If you edit this page, add your name here, move this to the next line>