Multiboot Lilo

MULTIBOOT LILO

The Mandrake GUI has a nice looking Lilo, that is why I like to use that one to add other distro´s. As an example we will add Slackware ( located on hda5 ) to the Mandrake Lilo. You can add as many distro´s as you like. All commands are given in Mandrake.

First we have to make a few directories, one in /mnt to mount the slack partition on ( temporary ) and one in /boot.

And open a console:

CODE

$ su
< password >
# mkdir /mnt/slack
# mkdir /boot/slack

Then we mount the Slack partition and copy the Slack vmlinuz to the /boot directory of Mandrake ( in this case ¨ vmlinuz-ide-2.4.20¨ while in other cases just vmlinuz, BUT know that the vmlinuz often is just a link to the vmlinuz+number and a copy of the link won't work ). Please have a look before you start what the vmlinuz is called that is in the /boot of the distro that you want to add . ( Also: if there is a initrd.img present, like in other distro's, you need to copy that as well )

CODE

# mount /dev/hda5 /mnt/slack
# cp /mnt/slack/boot/vmlinuz-ide-2.4.20 /boot/slack

Now that is done we can change the /etc/lilo.conf, but first we will make a backup:

CODE

# cp /etc/lilo.conf /home/julia

Then we open the file in vi:

CODE

# vi /etc/lilo.conf

( the changes are in red .)

QUOTE (Text @ Screen)

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
default="Mandrake" ( ! I did change Linux to Mandrake ! )
keytable=/boot/us.klt
prompt
nowarn
timeout=100
message=/boot/message
menu-scheme=wb:bw:wb:bw
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="Mandrake" ( ! I did change linux to Mandrake ! )
root=/dev/hdb5
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount hdd=ide-scsi acpi=off quiet"
vga=788 (check this number, this is for my monitor, and copy it to the Slack part)
read-only
image=/boot/slack/vmlinuz-ide-2.4.20
label="Slackware"
root=/dev/hda5
append="hdd=ide-scsi"
vga=788
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="linux-nonfb"
root=/dev/hdb5
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount hdd=ide-scsi acpi=off"
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label="failsafe"
root=/dev/hdb5
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=nomount hdd=ide-scsi acpi=off failsafe"
read-only
other=/dev/fd0
label="floppy"
unsafe

then save

Esc
ZZ

Now we want to write the new lilo to the MBR:

CODE

# /sbin/lilo

And you will see:

QUOTE (Text @ Screen)

Added Mandrake *
Added Slackware
Added linux-nonfb
Added failsafe
Added floppy

If you get an error message it means that you made a typo somewhere . . .go back in with vi and correct the file . . . .
The * means that Mandrake is the default to boot if no action is taken at the lilo screen.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Now, Slack will NOT be automatically mounted if you boot Mandrake . . we mounted it only once . . . if you want it mounted every time we need to adapt /etc/fstab . . . . . but I would leave it like it is and do ¨mount /dev/hda5 /mnt/slack¨ whenever you need to address Slack from Mandrake ( wich will not be very often )

Bruno

PS: I know there are may other ways to do this ( even a GUI tool in Mandrake can do the trick ) but was is my favorite way to adapt Lilo.

PS2: For aditional info about adding RedHat 9.0 and if CDRW does not get recognized in Slackware see Here

-- Jul 31 2003 ( Revised Dec 12 2005 ) --