lilo on /dev/hdb to work as /dev/hda

["Jeremy C. Reed" <reed@wcug.wwu.edu>]

I have /dev/hdb that is a mirror of /dev/hda. It is not a image copy
though, so files may be in different sector/cylinder locations.

I want to be able to pull the /dev/hdb and /dev/hda out; then replace
/dev/hda with this /dev/hdb.

So when I do this I get Lilo's "L" error message. It can't find the second
stage boot loader.

I want my /etc/lilo.conf files to be exact (since it is a mirror).

I tried:

/mnt/root/sbin/lilo -r /mnt/root -v -v -v -b /dev/hdb

My lilo.conf:

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
message=/boot/message
linear
default=linux

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
        label=linux
        read-only
        root=/dev/hda1

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
        label=linux-up
        read-only
        root=/dev/hda1

-=-=-=-=

It reports:

LILO version 21.4-4, Copyright (C) 1992-1998 Werner Almesberger
'lba32' extensions Copyright (C) 1999,2000 John Coffman

Ignoring entry 'boot'
Reading boot sector from /dev/hdb
Warning: /dev/hdb is not on the first disk
Merging with /boot/boot.b
Device 0x0341: BIOS drive 0x81, 255 heads, 4863 cylinders,
               63 sectors. Partition offset: 63 sectors.
Secondary loader: 11 sectors.
Device 0x0341: BIOS drive 0x81, 255 heads, 4863 cylinders,
               63 sectors. Partition offset: 63 sectors.
Mapping message file /boot/message
Device 0x0341: BIOS drive 0x81, 255 heads, 4863 cylinders,
               63 sectors. Partition offset: 63 sectors.
Message: 46 sectors.
Boot image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
Device 0x0341: BIOS drive 0x81, 255 heads, 4863 cylinders,
               63 sectors. Partition offset: 63 sectors.
Setup length is 10 sectors.
Mapped 1529 sectors.
Added linux *
    <dev=0xc1,hd=9,cyl=69,sct=63>
    "ro root=301 BOOT_FILE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2"
Boot image: /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2
Device 0x0341: BIOS drive 0x81, 255 heads, 4863 cylinders,
               63 sectors. Partition offset: 63 sectors.
Setup length is 10 sectors.
Mapped 1529 sectors.
Added linux-up
    <dev=0xc1,hd=9,cyl=69,sct=81>
    "ro root=301 BOOT_FILE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.2-2"
/boot/boot.0340 exists - no backup copy made.
Map file size: 21504 bytes.
Writing boot sector.

-=-=-=-


I read about the bios option like:
disk=/dev/hdb
	bios=0x80

Then lilo does not say: Warning: /dev/hdb is not on the first disk. But
still says BIOS drive 0x81.

But this doesn't seem to matter, since it will be /dev/hda and it will be
at 0x80.

Any ideas?

Should I use grub?

Thanks,

  Jeremy C. Reed

http://www.isp-faq.com/