29.4. Configuring the Boot Loader with YaST

SUSE LINUX Documentation Chapter 29. The Boot Loader / 29.4. Configuring the Boot Loader with YaST
	29.3. Booting with GRUB		29.5. Uninstalling the Linux Boot Loader

The easiest way to configure the boot loader in your SUSE Linux system is to use the YaST module. In the YaST Control Center, select ‘System’+‘Boot Loader Configuration’. As in Figure 29.1, “Configuring the Boot Loader with YaST”, this shows the current boot loader configuration of your system and allows you to make changes.

Figure 29.1. Configuring the Boot Loader with YaST

Use the ‘Section Management’ tab to edit, change, and delete boot loader sections for the individual operating systems. To add an option, click ‘Add’. To change the value of an existing option, select it with the mouse and click ‘Edit’. If you do not want to use an existing option at all, select it and click ‘Delete’. If you are not familiar with boot loader options, read Section 29.3, “Booting with GRUB” first.

Use the ‘Boot Loader Installation’ tab to view and change settings related to type, location, and advanced loader settings.

29.4.1. Boot Loader Type

Set the boot loader type in ‘Boot Loader Installation’. The default boot loader in SUSE Linux is GRUB. To use LILO, proceed as follows:

Procedure 29.2. Changing the Boot Loader Type

Select the ‘Boot Loader Installation’ tab.
For ‘Boot Loader’, select ‘LILO’.
In the dialog box that opens, select one of the following actions:
Propose New Configuration
Have YaST propose a new configuration.
Convert Current Configuration
Have YaST convert the current configuration. When converting the configuration, some settings may be lost.
Start New Configuration from Scratch
Write a custom configuration. This action is not available during the installation of SUSE Linux.
Read Configuration Saved on Disk
Load your own /etc/lilo.conf. This action is not available during the installation of SUSE Linux.
Click ‘OK’ to save the changes
Click ‘Finish’ in the main dialog to apply the changes.

During the conversion, the old GRUB configuration is saved to disk. To use it, simply change the boot loader type back to GRUB and choose ‘Restore Configuration Saved before Conversion’. This action is available only on an installed system.

	Custom Boot Loader
If you want use a boot loader other than GRUB or LILO, select ‘Do Not Install Any Boot Loader’. Read the documentation of your boot loader carefully before choosing this option.

29.4.2. Boot Loader Location

To change the location of the boot loader, follow these steps:

Procedure 29.3. Changing the Boot Loader Location

Select the ‘Boot Loader Installation’ tab then select one of the following options for ‘Boot Loader Location’:
Master Boot Record of /dev/hdX
This installs the boot loader in the MBR of a disk. This is recommended whenever YaST determines the system can be booted this way. X identifies the hard disk, for example, a, b, c, or d:
```
	hda => ide0 master 
	hdb => ide0 slave
	hdc => ide1 master 
	hdd => ide1 slave 
       
```
Boot Sector of Boot Partition /dev/hdXY
The boot sector of the /boot partition. This option is the default if you have several operating systems installed on your hard drive. The Y stands for the partition (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) as in:
```
	/dev/hda1
       
```
Boot Sector of Root Partition /dev/hdXY
The boot sector of the / (root) partition. Also use this option if you have several operating systems installed on your hard drive and want to continue using your old boot manager.
Other
Use this option to specify the location of the boot loader manually.
Click ‘Finish’ to apply your changes.

29.4.3. Default System

To change the system that is booted by default, proceed as follows:

Procedure 29.4. Setting the Default System

Open the ‘Section Management’ tab.
Select the desired system from the list.
Click ‘Set as Default’.
Click ‘Finish’ to activate these changes.

29.4.4. Boot Loader Time-Out

The boot loader does not boot the default system immediately. During the time-out, you can select the system to boot or write some kernel parameters. To set the boot loader time-out, proceed as follows:

Procedure 29.5. Changing the Boot Loader Time-Out

Open the ‘Boot Loader Installation’ tab.
Click ‘Boot Loader Options’.
Check ‘Show Boot Menu’.
In ‘Boot Menu’, change the value of ‘Boot Menu Time-Out’ by typing in a new value, clicking the appropriate arrow key with your mouse, or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard.
Click ‘OK’.
Click ‘Finish’ to save the changes.

Set for the boot menu should be displayed permanently without timing out by disabling ‘Continue Booting after a Time-Out’.

29.4.5. Security Settings

Using this YaST module, you can also set a password to protect booting. This gives you an additional level of security.

Procedure 29.6. Setting a Boot Loader Password

Open the ‘Boot Loader Installation’ tab.
Click ‘Boot Loader Options’.
In ‘Password Protection’, check ‘Protect Boot Loader with Password’ and set your password.
Click ‘OK’.
Click ‘Finish’ to save the changes.

29.4.6. Disk Order

If your computer has more than one hard disk, you can specify the boot sequence of the disks to match the BIOS setup of the machine (see Section 29.3.2, “The File device.map”). To do so, proceed as follows:

Procedure 29.7. Setting the Disk Order

Open the ‘Boot Loader Installation’ tab.
Click ‘Boot Loader Installation Details’.
If more than one disk is listed, select a disk and click ‘Up’ or ‘Down’ to reorder the displayed disks.
Click ‘OK’ to save the changes.
Click ‘Finish’ to save the changes.

Using this module, you can also replace the master boot record with generic code, which boots the active partition. Click ‘Replace MBR with Gerneric Code’ in ‘Disk System Area Update’. Enable ‘Activate Boot Loader Partition’ to activate the partition that contains the boot loader. Click ‘Finish’ to save the changes.