Re: SUCCESS: Grub2 on Dell Optiplex GX270
Michael D. Norwick wrote:
To whom it may concern;
Machine : Dell Optiplex 270 server
Intel P4 2.8GHz (non HT)
1G PC2700 Memory
Onboard Intel Gb ethernet adapter
Onboard Intel Extreme 8x AGP graphics controller
40 G Western Digital Harddrive
OS's: Debian kernel image 2.6.22-2
Debian kernel image 2.6.22-3
Win XP Pro SP3
Reason: Trying to build and install Xen 3.2.1 as a replacement for
the Debian kernel images above.
Successfully used the current GParted boot CD to re-partition the disk
to 13 G for WinXP and 27 G
for some Linux variant (using Ext3). While trying to install Debian
stable from either the current
Debian Netinst or the full stable CD's, Grub and Lilo would not
install to the MBR. It appears that
some Dell bios or ACPI issue prevents this, Thus, the workaround. I
was able to install Lilo from a boot
CD to get both OS's to boot, then, installed the Debian current Lilo
package once the installation was
complete and I booted into the new Linux installation.
I wanted to test the current XEN kernels either from a Debian package
or Xensource package but found
from the requirements that XEN needs grub not Lilo. I decided to try
Grub2 from the Lenny distribution
(which I am currently on) and all stages installed successfully. A
config file edit(add) for chainloading
Windows was required in /etc/grub.d to get grub-update to see the Win
XP installation.
I have yet to do the 'make install' of the XEN enabled kernel I was
finally able to build. That will be the
next step when I verify I have all the elements for success (I"ve got
to build an initrd for one).
Michael
Original subject line changed due to stupid spelling error. A 'heads
up' on problems with Grub2_1.96+20080203-1_i386.
On 2/06/08 noted that Grub2 1.96 was available for Debian testing.
I performed an update and upgrade from within aptitude. All packages
appeared to install normally. It was a large update so I elected to
reboot. When the machine came up the 'Welcome to Grub' message line
flashed for a moment, it then went into an infinite loop with the
following error;
'Syntax error'
'Incorrect command'
Ctrl-Alt-Del rebooted the machine. I booted from Debian Netinst 4.0r2
and entered rescue mode. I manually mounted the partitions for / and
/usr (I do not have a separate boot partition). I scanned the files in
/boot/grub and /etc/grub.d and noted a new file
/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme. Thinking this is where the syntax error
was coming from I moved it to a new name. I issued
#>update-grub
I rebooted the machine and was again greeted with the same error. I
appended a message to bug #21865 at bug-grub@gnu.org and received the
reply that this had been reported and fixed and I should have issued;
#>grub-install
then
#>update-grub
I booted and mounted partitions / and /usr from the Netinst CD in rescue
mode. I then issued.
#>/etc/grub-install /dev/hda
and
#>/etc/update-grub
and the system came up after rebooting. Grub2 appears worthwhile and I
am glad it works on this persnickity Dell.
I hope this helps someone.
Thank You Developers
Michael
PS Also got Xen 3.2 compiled and installed. Haven't got /boot/grub.cfg
correct yet. I have to write a script - /etc/grub.d/12_xen. I also
have to figure out how to package it, buy more ram, go ice fishing.
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