Arch Linux

AlexanderHolmgaard

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 57

Switch bootloader, from GRUB to EFISTUB

I am not entirely sure where to post my question, so I am posting it here, because that seems to me like the right category. But please let me know if it should be posted elsewhere.

I recently installed Arch Linux in UEFI Mode and I installed GRUB as my boot loader. However, I discovered since that it is possible to boot directly from EFI instead of using an actual bootloader (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/EF … bootmgr.29)

I have been looking for more information on the subject, but I can't really find anything. Does anyone know where I can find some instructions on how to go about switching boot "method"? And do you know how much faster it is booting from EFI (would like to know if the result is actually worth the effort, haha)?

Thanks in advance!

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: Switch bootloader, from GRUB to EFISTUB

All you have to do is run the `efibootmgr` command to write the NVRAM entry;
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/EF … bootmgr.29

AFAICT there is absolutely no difference in booting time at all and it does make it trickier to change the kernel parameters.

Also, depending on the quality of your firmware, you may have trouble making the changes "stick".

I have given up on my system completely because of this and have switched to gummiboot (it is still just a boot manager rather than a boot loader) because this copies itself to /boot/EFI/Boot/BOOTX64.efi and this then becomes the "default" NVRAM entry -- this is the only entry my firmware will boot consistently and the .conf files make kernel parameter modifications very simple.

EDIT: It may be necessary to change the ordering of your NVRAM entries to get your EFISTUB entry to boot first:

# efibootmgr -o xxxx,yyyy,zzzz

Where "xxxx" is the bootnumber of your entry -- run `efibootmgr` with no arguments to see the current order.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2015-02-04 20:33:23)

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

AlexanderHolmgaard

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 57

Re: Switch bootloader, from GRUB to EFISTUB

Thanks a lot for your answer!!
I think if my boot time will not really change, I am just going to stay with GRUB for now.
But thanks a lot anyway!