Arch Linux

jones

Member

Registered: 2013-03-14

Posts: 272

[S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

The wiki page for systemd-boot says that the basic configuration for loader.conf has to look like this:

default  arch
timeout  4
editor   0

I've been to hell and back on google and so far, I haven't been able to find an answer to this:
How can I add an additional entry for another installation so I can choose between 2 or more linux installations with the bootloader? Is it simply just adding another line below "default arch" with the name of another entry (e.g. LTSarch for .../entries/LTSarch.conf)?

(Also, whether it is just another kernel or an installation on an entirely different partition should be irrelevant for configuring the loader.conf file itself, right?)

Last edited by jones (2017-06-08 18:23:21)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,460

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

Read on to the next paragraph... The loader.conf doesn't define anything, it is completely optional even. Every .conf file you add to the entries directory will lead to a new entry being generated. As for the question in the brackets. If all your installations have their kernels in the same ESP parition that is indeed irrelevant, however if you intend to boot something that isn't present there, you won't be able to. Systemd-boot can only boot EFI binaries from the ESP (you could however load e.g. a GRUB entry that is then capable of finding kernel images on other partitions.)

Something that might help:

default arch

in the loader.conf by itself won't do anything. There has to be a ./entries/arch.conf with the actual definition of what the entry "arch" is supposed to do.  the default directive in loader.conf then defines which entry in systemd-boot should be selected by default when it is starting.

trytipARCH

Banned

Registered: 2017-06-05

Posts: 38

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

...

Last edited by trytipARCH (2017-06-11 03:54:20)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,460

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

@trytipARCH I'd assume that in a topic asking about systemd-boot the intention would be to use systemd-boot and not GRUB?

jones

Member

Registered: 2013-03-14

Posts: 272

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

Read on to the next paragraph... The loader.conf doesn't define anything, it is completely optional even. Every .conf file you add to the entries directory will lead to a new entry being generated. As for the question in the brackets. If all your installations have their kernels in the same ESP parition that is indeed irrelevant, however if you intend to boot something that isn't present there, you won't be able to. Systemd-boot can only boot EFI binaries from the ESP (you could however load e.g. a GRUB entry that is then capable of finding kernel images on other partitions.)

Something that might help:

default arch

in the loader.conf by itself won't do anything. There has to be a ./entries/arch.conf with the actual definition of what the entry "arch" is supposed to do.  the default directive in loader.conf then defines which entry in systemd-boot should be selected by default when it is starting.

I see. Huh. Good to know and actually just rebooted to make sure and yes, you were right or rather, I saw and I believed.

wouldn't it be easier to let it be populated by grub2? update and regenerate should add entries to your grub, or are you not using grub2?

sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S filesystem
sudo mkinitcpio -p linux
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

.... what? Are you trolling? Or were you drunk / tired / something else?

Trilby

Inspector Parrot

Registered: 2011-11-29

Posts: 30,368

Website

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

Easy now.  I see why you don't think trytip's input was particularly useful.  Telling him this in a manner like V1del did is called for - but it seems clear to me his intent was certainly not to troll.  The intent was to be helpful - he likely misunderstood, or perhaps didn't read the original post thoroughly enough, or wasn't as well equipped to chime in as he hopped.  But there's no need to lash out about it: he's been on the forum for 3 days and is trying to help - that's a good thing.

---

"UNIX is simple and coherent" - Dennis Ritchie; "GNU's Not Unix" - Richard Stallman

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,460

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

Maybe they were refering to my small side anecdote to GRUB in which case it would make sense to simply use GRUB for everything. Calling them a troll feels a bit uncalled for and I'm gonna mod-hat for a second and remind you of https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … ther_users before this potentially escalates.

Edit: + what Trilby said

Last edited by V1del (2017-06-08 18:46:20)

jones

Member

Registered: 2013-03-14

Posts: 272

Re: [S] How to configure systemd-boot's loader.conf for multiple entries?

I understand my manner was uncalled for.

Sorry.