A boot loader is a program that is found by the system ["BIOS"] (or ["EFI"]) in the boot sector of your storage device (floppy or hard drive's Master_boot_record), and which locates and starts your ["operating system"] ( ["Linux"] ) for you.
Debian default boot loaders
Architecture |
Default?BRBootloader |
Alternatives ?BRBootloader |
["i386"], [:DebianAMD64:amd64] (BIOS) |
grub |
lilo, syslinux, grub-pc-v2 |
["i386"], [:DebianAMD64:amd64] (EFI) |
? |
lilo, syslinux, grub-efi-v2 |
[:PowerPC:powerpc] (NewWorld) |
yaboot |
|
[:PowerPC:powerpc] (OldWorld) |
? |
quick, yaboot |
[:SunSparc:sparc] |
silo |
|
[:HP-PArisc:hppa] |
palo |
|
[:MIPSPort:mips] |
|
|
m68k |
|
|
alpha |
|
|
Available Bootloaders
i386 + amd64
- GRUB : GRand Unified Bootloader
["GRUB"] "version 1" is a GPLed bootloader intended to unify bootloading across x86 operating systems. In addition to loading the Linux kernel, it implements the Multiboot standard, which allows for flexible loading of multiple boot images (needed for modular kernels such as the GNU Hurd).(package:grub) ?BR PROs : very stable, very powerful.?BR CONs :
- GRUB2 (PC) : GRand Unified Bootloader, "version 2" (PC/BIOS version)
GRUB 2 (also known as PUPA) is the Preliminary Universal Programming Architecture for GRUB. It is a research project for the next generation of GNU GRUB. The most important goal is to make GNU GRUB cleaner, safer, more robust, more powerful, and more portable. ?BR This package contains a version of GRUB that has been built for use with traditional PC/BIOS architecture.(package:grub-pc) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs : cannot understand LVM2.
- GRUB2 (EFI) : GRand Unified Bootloader, "version 2" (EFI version)
GRUB 2 (also known as PUPA) is the Preliminary Universal Programming Architecture for GRUB. It is a research project for the next generation of GNU GRUB. The most important goal is to make GNU GRUB cleaner, safer, more robust, more powerful, and more portable.?BR This package contains a version of GRUB that has been built for use with EFI architecture, such as the one provided by Intel Macs (that is, unless they are in MBR emulation mode).(package:grub-efi) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs :
- LILO : LInux LOader - The Classic OS loader can load Linux and others
This Package contains ["LILO"] (the installer) and boot-record-images to install Linux, OS/2, DOS and generic Boot Sectors of other OSes. You can use LILO to manage your Master Boot Record (with a simple text screen, text menu or colorful splash graphics) or call LILO from other Boot-Loaders to jump-start the Linux kernel.(package:lilo) ?BRPROs : can understand LVM2 ?BRCONs : has to be "reinstalled" every time you touch the kernel or initrd.
- ELILO : Bootloader for systems using EFI-based firmware
This is the Linux bootloader for systems using the Intel EFI firmware specification. This includes all ia64 systems, and some ia32 systems.(package:elilo) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs : Doesn't support Hursd/Mach.
SPARC
- SILO : Sparc Improved LOader
Like LILO or MILO, but for SPARC. This is the program you need to use if you plan to boot SPARC/Linux via a hard drive, floppy or CDROM. It installs to the boot block of your system and will allow for booting of Linux, Solaris, and SunOS.(package:silo) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs :
parisc/hppa
- PALO : Linux boot loader for parisc/hppa
This package contains the parisc boot loader itself, plus palo which is the boot media management tool as lilo is for i386.(package:palo) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs :
PowerPC
?Anchor(YaBoot)
- YaBoot : Yet Another Bootloader
This package contains ["YaBoot"], the bootloader of choice on the NewWorld line of Power Macintosh computers and on IBM CHRP computers. It supports loading a kernel from several different filesystems, including ext2, ext3, xfs, and reiserfs, as well as separate ramdisks and dual-booting. ?BR This package includes the installer tools ybin and mkofboot, and a yabootconfig program for generating a simple /etc/yaboot.conf file. (package:yaboot) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs :
- QUIK : Bootloader for PowerMac or CHRP systems
["QUIK"] provides the functionality necessary for booting a Linux Debian/PowerPC PowerMac or CHRP system from disk. It includes first and second stage disk bootstrap and a program for installing the first stage bootstrap on the root disk. ?BR Note that if you are running on a NewWorld machine, quik will be of limited use to you. You should install yaboot instead. It may even come handy on an OldWorld machine, since it provides the ofpath program and some documentation. (package:quik) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs :
Other Loaders (not MBR Bootloaders)
- LoadLin - LInux LOader - The Classic OS loader can load Linux and others
This Package contains lilo (the installer) and boot-record-images to install Linux, OS/2, DOS and generic Boot Sectors of other OSes. You can use LILO to manage your Master Boot Record (with a simple text screen, text menu or colorful splash graphics) or call LILO from other Boot-Loaders to jump-start the Linux kernel. (package:loadlin) ?BRPROs : ?BRCONs :
- GRUB4DOS and WINGRUB
GRUB4DOS is an universal boot loader based on GNU GRUB. It can boot off DOS/LINUX, or via Windows boot manager/syslinux/lilo, or from MBR/CD. It also has builtin BIOS disk emulation, ATAPI CDROM driver, etc.(package: none ; [http://grub4dos.sourceforge.net/ WWW]) ?BRPROs : grubldr can be added to Windows boot.ini?BRCONs :
- SysLinux : Bootloader for Linux/i386 using MS-DOS floppies
SYSLINUX is a boot loader for the Linux/i386 operating system which operates off an MS-DOS/Windows FAT filesystem. It is intended to simplify first-time installation of Linux, and for creation of rescue and other special-purpose boot disks.(package:syslinux) ?BRPROs : also a PXE and CD Bootloader ?BRCONs :