Re: GRUB2 chainloading GPT NetBSD partition

[beaker%sdf.org@localhost (beaker)]

mlelstv%serpens.de@localhost (Michael van Elst) wrote:

> beaker%sdf.org@localhost (beaker) writes:
>
> >I think Elst's comment is right, that there isn't actually a primary
> >NetBSD bootloader present on the referenced partition so one needs
> >to be installed, though I'm unsure how to do this with non-UEFI gpt
> >partitioning; do I use gpt(8) or installboot(8) and where to install
> >it?  If I install it to gpt6 (bios) partition is wipes out GRUB (know
> >this from experience...), but if I install it on gpt3 (FFS) is it
> >going to mess up the existing file system?
>
> You install it with installboot to the FFS partition. Chainloading
> means that the first partition block is loaded and executed.
>
> The FFS layout leaves space for an 8kb bootloader (including a hole
> for a BSD disklabel, but which isn't used here). Installboot knows
> how to handle this.

Ah okay, that's reassuring.  I'll do a full backup and try this then.

By the way, shouldn't I be using

 gpt biosboot [-A] [-c bootcode] [-b startsec] [-i index] [-L label]

for a gpt partitioned disk or is this relatively recent addition
just an alternative of convenience?  I'm finding the description
in the manpage rather confusing; does it simply "configure" a
partition already containing a primary bootloader, ie. swap out
existing bootloader with an alternative, or will it actually install
the bootloader if none already present?

-B