Installation of 14.04 Server with LILO rather than GRUB

[davzd]

I recently tried installing a clean install of Ubuntu Server x64 14.04.2 (just downloaded earlier today). Everything seemed to go smoothly, but when I rebooted after taking out the USB stick I used to install, all I got was a blank screen. I then went back and checked my notes as I had tried a test install on I believe a much earlier version (maybe 12.04?) and experienced the same problem, but was successful when I tried selecting LILO rather than GRUB. However, there doesn't seem to be an option to do this any more - GRUB seems to be installed automatically, without the ability to choose (which I recall was in the previous version).

I was wondering if anyone would know which version had the ability to choose between GRUB and LILO or, alternatively, if there's a relatively simple way to replace GRUB with LILO on an unbootable system. I tried booting again from the USB to recover, but there still doesn't seem to be an option to install LILO. But I'm sure I'm missing something (as I'm somewhat a newbie to Ubuntu). I also tried searching a fair bit - was able to find some material on replacing GRUB with LILO, but unfortunately seemed to be oriented to someone who could already boot into their system, which I can't. Also of course open to any other thoughts or suggestions as to how to fix an unbootable system - not even sure how to diagnose something like this, seeing as how the system just doesn't boot.

In case it's relevant, I suspect this is due to the fact that the machine I'm trying to install it on is rather old - dates from circa 2008 - an old Rackspace S5000PSL. Currently only one single 500 GB drive and Ubuntu is the only thing I'm trying to install.

Also tried a couple of different times - first time installing an image using the Universal USB Installer (pendrivelinux.com), second time using Rufus. Not sure if relevant, but oddly enough I got a different install screen between the two and slightly different menu options, even though it was supposedly the same image being written to the USB. The first time had many more options for additional stuff (e.g. Mythbuntu, VM hosting, etc.) while the second time it did not (and seemed to go much faster). Also tried 14.04.1. However, each time I've tried (been about 4 now), when I reboot, it's still the same blank screen.

Any guidance, suggestions or recommendations would certainly be most appreciated.

[davzd]

I managed to boot a LiveCD and ran a boot info script. As far as I can tell, everything seems normal:


Boot Info Script 0.61 [1 April 2012]



============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================


=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
in partition 112 for .
=> Syslinux MBR (3.61-4.03) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb.


sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________


File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab


sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________


File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:


sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________


File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:


sdb1: __________________________________________________ ________________________


File system: vfat
Boot sector type: SYSLINUX 4.03 2010-10-22 ........>..sr>.......}..9...0...~.....~...f...M.f.f....f..0~....>E}.u......
Boot sector info: Syslinux looks at sector 3200754 of /dev/sdb1 for its
second stage. SYSLINUX is installed in the directory.
The integrity check of the ADV area failed. No errors
found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /syslinux.cfg
/efi/BOOT/grubx64.efi /ldlinux.sys


============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================


Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________


Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes


Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System


/dev/sda1 * 2,048 943,230,975 943,228,928 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 943,233,022 976,771,071 33,538,050 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 943,233,024 976,771,071 33,538,048 82 Linux swap / Solaris




Drive: sdb __________________________________________________ ___________________


Disk /dev/sdb: 2003 MB, 2003828736 bytes
43 heads, 42 sectors/track, 2167 cylinders, total 3913728 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes


Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System


/dev/sdb1 * 32 3,913,727 3,913,696 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)




"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________


Device UUID TYPE LABEL


/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/loop1 0dbe5d83-2c86-e74b-b078-e9c6a5d6e1d8 ext2
/dev/sda1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718 ext4
/dev/sda5 f64f7dba-dcc5-4f32-adac-eba55dc53e52 swap
/dev/sdb1 0FE7-1655 vfat UUI


================================ Mount points: =================================


Device Mount_Point Type Options


/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sdb1 /cdrom vfat (rw,noatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=437,ioc harset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)




=========================== sda1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi


if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi


export menuentry_id_option


if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi


function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}


if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi


if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_CA
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=-1
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=2
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=2
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=7
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Ubuntu' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
fi
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Ubuntu' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718' {
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.13.0-32-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.13.0-32-generic-advanced-9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.13.0-32-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718 ro
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 3.13.0-32-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.13.0-32-generic-recovery-9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718' {
recordfail
load_video
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 3.13.0-32-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic root=UUID=9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-3.13.0-32-generic
}
}


### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###


### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+)' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
fi
knetbsd /boot/memtest86+.elf
}
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718
fi
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###


### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


=============================== sda1/etc/fstab: ================================


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=9dbbc0a0-cb6e-4ac6-b6e2-931399aa7718 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=f64f7dba-dcc5-4f32-adac-eba55dc53e52 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================


GiB - GB File Fragment(s)




=========================== sdb1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


if loadfont /boot/grub/font.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod gfxterm
terminal_output gfxterm
fi


set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray


menuentry "Install Ubuntu Server" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/linux cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt NULL=vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-server.seed quiet --
initrd /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/initrd.gz
}
menuentry "OEM install (for manufacturers)" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/linux cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt NULL=vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-server.seed quiet oem-config/enable=true --
initrd /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/initrd.gz
}
menuentry "Multiple server install with MAAS" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/linux cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt NULL=vmlinuz modules=maas-enlist-udeb vga=788 initrd=/install/initrd.gz quiet --
initrd /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/initrd.gz
}
menuentry "Check disc for defects" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/linux cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt NULL=vmlinuz MENU=/bin/cdrom-checker-menu quiet --
initrd /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/initrd.gz
}
menuentry "Rescue a broken system" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/linux cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt NULL=vmlinuz rescue/enable=true --
initrd /install/netboot/ubuntu-installer/amd64/initrd.gz
}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


============================== sdb1/syslinux.cfg: ==============================


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
default menu.c32
prompt 0
menu title UNetbootin
timeout 100


label unetbootindefault
menu label Default
kernel /ubnkern
append initrd=/ubninit file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash -- persistent


label ubnentry0
menu label ^Help
kernel /ubnkern
append initrd=/ubninit persistent


label ubnentry1
menu label ^Try Ubuntu without installing
kernel /casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/casper/initrd.lz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash -- persistent


label ubnentry2
menu label ^Install Ubuntu
kernel /casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/casper/initrd.lz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity quiet splash -- persistent


label ubnentry3
menu label ^Check disc for defects
kernel /casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/casper/initrd.lz boot=casper integrity-check quiet splash -- persistent


label ubnentry4
menu label Test ^memory
kernel /install/mt86plus
append initrd=/ubninit persistent


label ubnentry5
menu label ^Boot from first hard disk
kernel /ubnkern
append initrd=/ubninit persistent


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================


GiB - GB File Fragment(s)




================= sdb1: Location of files loaded by Syslinux: ==================


GiB - GB File Fragment(s)




============== sdb1: Version of COM32(R) files used by Syslinux: ===============


menu.c32 : COM32R module (v4.xx)


=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================


cat: /tmp/BootInfo-aqrXYX6t/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
/home/ubuntu/Downloads/bootinfoscript-061/bootinfoscript: line 1646: [: 2.73495e+09: integer expression expected
cat: /tmp/BootInfo-aqrXYX6t/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
cat: /tmp/BootInfo-aqrXYX6t/Tmp_Log: No such file or directory
No volume groups found

[oldfred]

Please use code tags for longer text.

Some older systems have issues with newer larger drives. They could only boot if all boot files were in the first 137GB of the drive. So either / (root) should be smaller and fully within the first part of drive or separate /boot at beginning of drive. I normally suggest & use 20 or 25GB for / and rest of drive as data or /home.

Report did leave blank the locations of files, so that may indicate it is part of issue.

You can quickly test is that is issue, by using Desktop live installer and gparted or a gparted liveCD and shrink the / partition to 100GB or less. If it then works you can create /home or data partitions or reinstall. This suggestion has only worked on about half of those I suggest so no guarantees.

[davzd]

Oops. Very sorry about that. I mistakenly used quote rather than code tags. Thanks very much for the suggestion, but it appears the issue was not with the system.

I was able to find instructions elsewhere on how to replace GRUB with LILO and tried that. Perhaps not surprisingly it didn't work - I got a "No boot signature in partition" edition and tried researching that but it didn't lead anywhere.

So I decided I had nothing left to lose by trying yet another installation, this time from the LiveCD I had created using unetbootin. I suspected it was a desktop version but figured I had nothing to lose. Ran through and, amazingly, this time it booted up just fine. Not sure why or what had gone wrong the last several times when I had tried creating a bootable USB stick from an image of the server. I would think that installs would be the same regardless.

In any event, I really do appreciate your thoughts on the issue, oldfred, and taking the time to respond. I suspect given the age of the box, it won't be the last problem I have, which makes me wonder if I should perhaps consider replacing it with something a bit more current...

[davzd]

Well, this is a bit frustrating. As noted above, I was able to install the desktop version just fine. I then tried converting it to a server install using the following:



sudo apt-get install tasksel
sudo tasksel install server


There were some updates available in Software Center, so I updated those as well. It prompted me to reboot, and boom, same place as before. Just a dead, blank screen. It blinks a bit after BIOS finishes up and then nothing. When I power down if an OS is actually running, I need to hold the button down. But in this state, a quick press and it shuts down right away.

I imagine this has something to do with some element of the server that I'm trying to install, though I'm surprised it would cause such a severe problem. Given the nature of the problem, not really sure where to begin. Any help would be most appreciated.

[davzd]

Sorry - should have mentioned that I also installed openssh server, though I don't think that had anything to do with it.

[oldfred]

I do not really know server installs. But it is just more software on top of the same grub & kernel.

Did you use a smaller / (root) partition on second install?
Even the first install may have had all boot files inside the 137GB, but an update installed a file beyond that point.

If running Desktop version you can try running Boot-Repair which runs the same bootinfosummary but includes more info and can reinstall grub.

Your Lilo install sounded like you only had the MBR updated. Lilo works like a Windows boot loader and can be a Windows boot loader if you just install the MBR part. It looks for the partition with the boot flag and jumps to more code in the partition boot sector and then menus & more code in the /boot partition. But it seemed like you did not have the full Lilo install.

[davzd]

Thanks again oldfred. Yes, I would have thought updating or adding server modules wouldn't actually break things so badly, but it looks like they have.

No, I didn't use a smaller root partition, but you do raise a good point - I will try that with a LiveCD, as well as your suggestions for boot-repair.

As for LILO, based on the instructions I've seen elsewhere, supposedly all that is needed is sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbr if replacing grub. I also checked the partitions - and /dev/sda1 did seem to have the boot flag. Very puzzling.

[oldfred]

That instruction on Lilo is just the MBR, more for booting Windows as Linux does not have the actual Windows boot loader due to copyright.

I had installed Lilo just to test it for booting Windows, but always have used grub and grub2. But after I installed Lilo, I would always get error messages on kernel updates that Lilo was not correctly configured. Never fully installed Lilo as a Linux boot loader.

Found this in my old notes, but I still suggest & prefer grub2:
Lilo info
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/LILO.html#toc2

[davzd]

Thanks again oldfred. Since I was able to get GRUB to work (at least for a while), hoping to stick with it.