Does openSuse10.2 use grub differently?

[user_r]

This might be a really stupid question...

I've read so much about grub and I feel like I know how to use it but I'm a little unsure about grub in conjunction with openSuse10.2 specifically.


So this is the question: Does the grub with suse10.2 look for menu.lst or grub.conf?


...and this is the background...

I had to re-install grub (v0.97) to the MBR of (hd0) and now I can only reach the "grub>" prompt.

System...
pri master: suse
pri slave: CD
sec master: win2000


I have the following files:

/boot/grub/menu.lst

this shows all 5 options I'd like to see... looks fine to me
(when I open it with configfile I only get 3 options, then kernel panic)

/boot/grub/device.map

(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd1) /dev/hdc
(hd0) /dev/hda

/etc/grub.conf

setup --stage2=/boot/grub/stage2 (hd0,1) (hd0,1)
quit

I started to suspect grub.conf was being launched by grub because I noticed I now have more "/boot"s and kernels than the North Korean army... (I can see as far as '(hd0,1)/boot/boot/boot/boot/boot/boot/' before grub complains.)


The only thing that makes sense to me is that grub is grabbing grub.conf and adding files and folder to my system on each start-up, and (probably because I've changed the grub version) menu.lst is being ignored... does that make sense?

If you could shed a little on this I'd be grateful... I think I'm going to end up re-installing from here but I'd like to understand the current situation before doing so...

Thanks

[devils casper]

GRUB working is same in all Linux Distros and SuSe uses menu.lst file only.
Post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst file and contents of /etc/fstab file.

[user_r]

ok, thanks devils_casper.

I'll have to do this by hand, as I can only get to grub>

Is there another way to do this? and to edit them?

this might take a while...

[devils casper]

Do you have any LiveCD? You can mount Suse partitions and edit/copy files easily with it.

[daark.child]

SUSE does have /etc/grub.conf, but it only shows where the stage 2 of grub is installed. The main configuration is done in /boot/grub/menu.lst. As for the multiple boot directories, I've noticed this behaviour as well on SUSE. They are just symlinks to the main /boot.

[user_r]

I have no LiveCD, just original installation CDs.

I will try through windows, but last time I couldn't see this partition.

I'm guessing these files may need editing - is that possible without the liveCD?

[daark.child]

You can use the openSUSE installation disc to rescue the system. Take a look here for more details.

If that does not work for you, you could download a small live cd such as partedmagic or gparted and boot from that. You will need to mount your SUSE /boot (or just / if you do not have a separate /boot partition) and make the changes you want.

[user_r]

SUSE does have /etc/grub.conf, but it only shows where the stage 2 of grub is installed. The main configuration is done in /boot/grub/menu.lst.

Thanks, I thought that how it worked, but having installed grub v0.97 with a floppy have I now changed that? In other words, has replacing the original Suse grub caused the new one to look for /etc/grub.conf?

As for the multiple boot directories, I've noticed this behaviour as well on SUSE. They are just symlinks to the main /boot.

great info, thanks

[user_r]

Thanks again daark.child - I will look into a rescue...

For now, here is /etc/fstab:

/dev/hda1	swap			swap	defaults          			0 0
/dev/hda2	/             		ext3   	acl, user_xattr				1 1
/dev/hda3	/home         		ext3	acl, user_xattr				1 2
/dev/hdc1	/windows/C		vfat	users,gid=users,umask=0002,utf8=true	0 0
proc		/proc			proc	defaults				0 0
sysfs		/sys			sysfs	noauto					0 0
debugfs		/sys/kernel/debug	degusfs	noauto					0 0
devpts		/dev/pts		devpts	mode=0620,gid=5				0 0
/dev/fd0	/media/floppy		auto	noauto, user, sync			0 0
usbfs		/proc/bus/usb		usbfs	noauto					0 0

[user_r]

ok, I'm in rescue mode now... I should be able work it out...

here is /boot/grub/menu.lst: (I'm still doing this by hand, so I didn't bother with the Suse comment lines - thay are all still in there...)

default 0
timeout 8
gfxmenu (hd0,1)/boot/message

title openSuse 10.2

title windows
   rootnoverify (hd0,0)
   chainloader (hd1,0)+1

title floppy
   rootnoverify (hd0,0)
   chainloader (fd0)+1

title Failsafe - open Suse

title 2.6.18.2-34-default
   initrd (hd0,1)/boot/initrd-2.6.18.2-34-default

I guess I can see why I only get 3 options in the gfxmenu.

I used to use the last option: 2.6.18.2-34-default
(adding: kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18.2-34-default)

The "(hd0,1)" in the initrd line is new - I haven't been able to boot linux since it appeared (even if I add it to the kernel line too) - both give Kernel Panic

Thanks again for spending time helping me out - I really appreciate it.