editing lilo.conf for multi distro machine

Hello all,
just formatted my h/d.
installed slackware 10.0 first
and then fedora core 2.

lilo of slackware is in mbr and grub of fedora core is in its /boot.

I have experience of editing grub.conf for multi distro machine, but its for the first time that i've installed lilo in mbr.

somehow i've managed to get fedora too on the boot option......but i don't think that my way of doing it is perfect

/etc/lilo.conf

# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 600
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
  reset
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
vga = 773
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
  root = /dev/hda8
  label = Slackware
  read-only
  
image = /mnt/fedora/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 
  root = /dev/hda7
  label = FedoraCore_2
  read-only
 # 	root = /dev/hda7
#	image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=/dev/hda7
#	initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img
  

# Linux bootable partition config ends

you can notice here that first i've permanently mounted my fedora core in /mnt/fedora and then i'm specifying the path of vmlinuz.

is it right way of doing ??? ( i don't think so )


entries of /etc/grub.conf of fedora

# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You do not have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg.
#          root (hd0,6)
#          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda7
#          initrd /boot/initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda7
default=0
timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,6)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Fedora Core (2.6.5-1.358)
	root (hd0,6)
	kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 ro root=LABEL=/ rhgb quiet
	initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img

root@darkstar:~# cat /etc/fstab
/dev/hda1        swap             swap        defaults         0   0
/dev/hda8        /                reiserfs    defaults         1   1
/dev/hda5        /home            reiserfs    defaults         1   2
/dev/cdrom       /mnt/cdrom       iso9660     noauto,owner,ro  0   0
/dev/fd0         /mnt/floppy      auto        noauto,owner     0   0
devpts           /dev/pts         devpts      gid=5,mode=620   0   0
proc             /proc            proc        defaults         0   0
/dev/hda7       /mnt/fedora       ext3        auto             0   0
root@darkstar:~#

could anyone plz. guide me the proper way of doing it

regards

Ruudra, this is always the way I have done it. If there's something improper about it, let me know!

Things to note: If you want the same splash functionality, I believe you have to install a hacked version of Lilo. Alternatively, you can install grub to the MBR instead of lilo.

Also, you can add a second 'append' option to the entry specific to the Fedora kernel to add the options you see there. Like so:

-------snip-----------------
image = /mnt/fedora/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 
  initrd = /mnt/fedora/boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img  <==== you'll want to add this
  root = /dev/hda7
  label = FedoraCore_2
  append = "rhgb quiet"
  read-only

That ought to get you as close to the original configuration as possible, sans boot-splash.

Note, you'll probably need that initrd defined as well, which you don't have in your lilo.conf listing presently.

--Shade

you can notice here that first i've permanently mounted my fedora core in /mnt/fedora and then i'm specifying the path of vmlinuz. is it right way of doing ??? ( i don't think so )

Yes, it is the right way.

You need to have the following entry in you /etc/lilo.conf

# Linux Fedora config begins
image = /mnt/fedora/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 
  initrd= /mnt/fedora/boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img
  root = /dev/hda7
  label = FedoraCore_2
  read-only
# Linux Fedora config ends

Do not forget to run lilo as root after editing /etc/lilo.conf

EDIT: I guess Shade was faster than me. I took a long time just to write the reply

Originally posted by Shade -------snip----------------- image = /mnt/fedora/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5-1.358 initrd = /mnt/fedora/boot/initrd-2.6.5-1.358.img <==== you'll want to add this root = /dev/hda7 label = FedoraCore_2 append = "rhgb quiet" read-only That ought to get you as close to the original configuration as possible, sans boot-splash. Note, you'll probably need that initrd defined as well, which you don't have in your lilo.conf listing presently. --Shade

thanx buddies,
one more thing i would like to ask is........what that line "append = "".........does ???? ( actually i never saw that before )
is it necessary to write there.???

thanks once again.

regards

When lilo or grub boot your kernel, they pass options (arguments) to it. Append adds options to the command passed.

--Shade