grub2 EFI boot loader internal/external booting

[a1234]

Hello pxwpxw
Thanks for all your posting. Cannot read them all since I just got back on to linux aftre hearing about the grub.efi.
Two reports:
These are tested on my MBP 5,1 (C2D 2.8 2009)
Using VM to make disk image on a usb with fat32/ext3(casper-rw no go on 9.04. However 9.10 will get to the configured grub.cfg part. After that every selection return "kernel must be loaded first"
Following your #7 and subsequent post. Use an 8g kingston 1 fat32 where I copy the efi change it to EFI and bless the bootx64.efi.
As for the distro I used the 9.04-i386 renamed to amd64 to suite the .cfg that you compiled. It show up with option key and will boot all to busy box stage and then will get stuck. I have to reboot since no key board functions. OSX selection return nothing.
1) I guess I can say 2009 MBP works with grub.efi as well as bootx64.efi
2) refit is not needed to be shown on option.
How can the kernel be loaded through grub.efi?
Is that the extend of grub.efi on mac so far?
I will use the amd64 next time and report.
Incidentally i 9.10(karmic) the initrd is labelled as initrd.lz instead of x.gz.

Seems like .lz is the correct kernel. It worKs great in vmware2.05 so far. Just no sound yet

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1269078

[pxwpxw]

Hello pxwpxw
Thanks for all your posting. Cannot read them all since I just got back on to linux aftre hearing about the grub.efi.
Two reports:
These are tested on my MBP 5,1 (C2D 2.8 2009)
Using VM to make disk image on a usb with fat32/ext3(casper-rw no go on 9.04. However 9.10 will get to the configured grub.cfg part. After that every selection return "kernel must be loaded first"
Following your #7 and subsequent post. Use an 8g kingston 1 fat32 where I copy the efi change it to EFI and bless the bootx64.efi.
As for the distro I used the 9.04-i386 renamed to amd64 to suite the .cfg that you compiled. It show up with option key and will boot all to busy box stage and then will get stuck. I have to reboot since no key board functions. OSX selection return nothing.
1) I guess I can say 2009 MBP works with grub.efi as well as bootx64.efi
2) refit is not needed to be shown on option.
How can the kernel be loaded through grub.efi?
Is that the extend of grub.efi on mac so far?
I will use the amd64 next time and report.
Incidentally i 9.10(karmic) the initrd is labelled as initrd.lz instead of x.gz.

Seems like .lz is the correct kernel. It worKs great in vmware2.05 so far. Just no sound yet

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1269078

You seem to have a mixture of loop mounted iso as in post #1002 grub.cfg above, ( menuentry "C ubuntu-9.04-desktop-amd64.iso fbdev persistent ), and the other methods for live usb install giving /casper and other files (menuentry "ubuntu-9.04-desktop-amd64 casper fbdev single persistent).

There has been some cross posting between the 2 threads -

The loop iso method is on
How to create a Live-USB-Stick, that is able to boot a Mac
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1261747

The /casper alternative
Using a Live-USB Distro....
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1194649

Also efi booting i386 kernel on MBP5,1 would probably need some different menuentry commnd line options, other MBP5x have only used amd64.

[pxwpxw]

@buntuLo
Alternative to booting the iso on a usb stick is to boot it from a FAT32 or EXT2/3 partition on the HD post #919..
Might give a different result for EFI, also can be done using grub2-pc with similar mneuentry (excludig the EFI options).

(i.e. time delay and usb detection might be a factor in variable results).

[a1234]

pxwpxw
Just used 9.04amd installed in vmw on my imac 2008 to make usb disk image. Used bootx86.efi and grub.cfg with these entry;

## grub.cfg pxw 20090916

menuviewer="text"

timeout=20
default=0

set F1=ctrl-x

set color_normal=yellow/red

menuentry "reboot from grub.cfg fat usb " {
reboot
}
menuentry "use /grub2.cfg" {
search --set -f /grub2.cfg
configfile /grub2.cfg
}
menuentry "OSX" {
search --set -f /usr/standalone/i386/boot.efi
chainloader /usr/standalone/i386/boot.efi
}
menuentry "ubuntu-9.04-desktop-amd64 casper fbdev single persistent " {
fakebios
search --set -f /casper/vmlinuz
linux /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper video=efifb fbdev noefi single persistent
initrd /casper/initrd.gz

}
menuentry "CD" {
appleloader CD
}
menuentry "MBR1" {
appleloader HD
}
menuentry "REBOOT" {
reboot
}

1) Perfect persistent on my imac tested multiple time.
2) always got stuck on "ubuntu@ubuntu~$" on my MBP 5,1.
Anyway the persistent can be used on any mac or is the persistent specific "mac loyal"?
Thanks.
May be I will try the original from my MBP5,1 and see what happen.

[buntuLo]

Alternative to booting the iso on a usb stick is to boot it from a FAT32 or EXT2/3 partition on the HD post #919..
Might give a different result for EFI, also can be done using grub2-pc with similar mneuentry (excludig the EFI options).
(i.e. time delay and usb detection might be a factor in variable results).

correct, it was the case for rEFIt. copying bootx64.efi and its config file to the EFI fat32 partition on the internal drive, grub efi is seen by rEFIt at every boot, consistently.
copying instead u904.iso to the internal drive (in particular i placed it in the root of my u810 partition) did not make any difference: i succeeded in booting it only once after many attempts, using the menu entry by Nikos from post #897. then i try the same boot, and it fails twice.

[pxwpxw]

correct, it was the case for rEFIt. copying bootx64.efi and its config file to the EFI fat32 partition on the internal drive, grub efi is seen by rEFIt at every boot, consistently.
copying instead u904.iso to the internal drive (in particular i placed it in the root of my u810 partition) did not make any difference: i succeeded in booting it only once after many attempts, using the menu entry by Nikos from post #897. then i try the same boot, and it fails twice.

I think the situation is being confused by problems booting the loop iso on the MBP5, maybe something in the Live startup that is not in the normal initrd.img.
I don't know if you are seeing just the [linux ....... ] message , or gettting to the [initrd..... ] line before it hangs.

It might be a good idea to do a straight install of ubuntu904-amd64 on a USB stick and see how that boots from the HD grub.efi, should be no problem according to other MBP5x reports, but I can't confirm that.

It will be a bit slow to install on the USB stick, so do a minimal install.
Unless of course you can do a test install to a HD partition.

[pxwpxw]

a1234

With this -

menuentry "ubuntu-9.04-desktop-amd64 casper fbdev single persistent " {
fakebios
search --set -f /casper/vmlinuz
linux /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper video=efifb fbdev noefi single persistent
initrd /casper/initrd.gz
}

On the MBP5,1 - (and on MBP41 here)

Restart should first stop at a "root@ubuntu~#" prompt - then what did you do to get to a "ubuntu@ubuntu~$".
You should just need to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf to use Driver "fbdev", exit and resume normal boot.
But you have to do that every restart until you add another script.
Described in great detail in the 2 other threads.

If you have IMAC with radeon graphics, it may be a bit different.

[a1234]

pxwpxw:

No go onwardbeyound the 'continue normal boot or else window' prompt,
I have tried:
dpkg repair, xotg-xservrethingy and root with network to up date all possible nvidia and install still the same when resume to normal booting. I notice a flickering b/f plunging mr to the
ubuntu@ubuntu~$.
The Imac booth to persistent everytime without problem.
I was hoping to use this trial and error to move on to booting win7 from a stick.
Any suggestion on the"menuentry" for win7.
In the past I have success in using Activeboot disk as a WIn PE installer to start the setup.exe. As you know that is for the 32 bit. Need some more oomph for the 64 one.
Thanks for your input. I believe there is tremendous potential in configuring the grub.cfg using the grub.efi.

[pxwpxw]

a1234
You don't mention editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf, Section "Device" to change Driver to
Driver "fbdev".
Have you done that from the root console before resume normal boot?

Re Win7, grub.efi does not boot windows, but can use Appleloader to run MBR boot code.

[a1234]

pxwpxw
Absolutely. I gedit xorg.conf, even put a .failsafe, did muti xsever-xorg thingy, hi lite fbdev every where even a root level ,prompt b/f resume normal boot.
WIth the Imac the persistent get right into graphic display after the prompt screen.