GNU/Linux: Replacing boot floppy with GRUB floppy
Keywords: Upgrading Redhat 8 to Redhat Fedora Core 6

I have run alternative Unices since their beginning and was never fond of fooling with MBR or installing any type of boot loader on a hard drive.

I have always used a floppy to boot into alternative PC based systems.

Recently I fixed a machine (power supply/motherboard) that died when Redhat 8 was current.

My partner (with a high speed connection) sent me a full set of Redhat Fedora Core 6 iso CDs when I sent him the following graphic (grin) after seven days of downloading via dial-up:

The install was 'smooth' [Note: If one installs the optional developer's package, one can expect Package Updater to download approximately 122 extra packages, amounting to >370 MB = >24 hours +/- via dial-up.]

In the past I have used /sbin/mkbootdisk to create a boot floppy, discovered the new kernel was now too large to store on a floppy, and was not about to write anything to the hard disks. Enter Grub and the construction of a Grub floppy:

Note: The following assumes one is using two or more hard disks for operating systems, Redhat Fedora Core 6 is running, the main floppy is fd0, and installation is done as root.

Insert blank floppy in drive, open terminal window, log in as root:

# /sbin/mkfs /dev/fd0
# blah blah done blah blah
# mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/
# cd /mnt
# rmdir lost+found
# mkdir boot
# cd boot
# mkdir grub
# cd /boot/grub
# cp * /mnt/boot/grub/
# cd /mnt/boot/grub
# rm menu.lst
# rm: remove regular file `menu;lst'? y <---note answer y
# ln -s grub.conf menu.lst
-----at this point you may want to modify grub.conf
# cd /boot/grub
# umount /dev/fd0
# /sbin/grub
grub> root (fd0)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, using whole disk

grub> setup (fd0)
5+/- lines of blah blah ... succeeded
Done.

grub> quit
blah, blah

-----with floppy still in drive and bios set to boot floppy first
# /sbin/shutdown -r now

Shortly after grub's stage 2 starts loading a blue selection screen appears.

When the blue selection screen appears press c and all available kernels and operating systems will be displayed. If you do select c you are also given the ability to edit grub.conf.

If one does not select c the system will boot the latest Fedora Core 6 kernel and image.

A new kernel will require part of the above to be redone.

Addendum: Date: 200612.23 - Updating Grub floppy with new kernel:

With Grub floppy disk in drive, open terminal window, log in as root:

# mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/
# cd /boot/grub
# cp * /mnt/boot/grub/ - Replace all files by answering y to each replacement file, with exception to menu.lst = answer n
# cd /boot/grub
# umount /dev/fd0
# /sbin/grub
grub> root (fd0)
Filesystem type is ext2fs, using whole disk

grub> setup (fd0)
5+/- lines of blah blah (this will take a few moments) ... succeeded
Done.

grub> quit
blah, blah

-----with floppy still in drive and bios set to boot floppy first
# /sbin/shutdown -r now

Note: The new kernel (2.6.18-1.2868.fc6) and image (2.6.18-1.2868.fc6.img) can be edited and booted from original Grub floppy using the e (edit) and b (boot) keys under Grub edit; however, I used the above method.

(fwiw) The following is an aid (<params>) for ;-) locating ones system.

Note: If fc6 iso is used, the following files are located in /boot

vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6
initrd-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.img

If Package Update has run the new files will be:

vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6
initrd-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6.img

New kernel (200612.22)

vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2868.fc6
initrd-2.6.18-1.2868.fc6.img

Location of current and past release numbers:

http://fedora.redhat.com/docs/release-notes/

Dated: 200612.01
Updated: 200612.23

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