[SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

nTia89 · 2016-04-02 16:09:42

Hi folks,
I installed systemd-boot but I came from grub2 and now that Arch boots fine, I'd like to have two useful entries which are great for me:
- memtest, in order to check RAM
- system-rescue-cd, in order to get a confortable live from which perform emergency commands
as I have abovementioned, in past, with grub2 all was easy.
Now I can't find information about this issue (in reality, there is a thread in our forum which talks about memtest...here) and I don't know if it is at least possible to achieve my goals.
In order to get a clarification about this delicate part of installation that could break my pc, I've posted here, so, let me know!

Thanks you.

EDIT: added link

Last edited by nTia89 (2016-04-09 19:31:52)

ewaller · 2016-04-02 17:07:59

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … r_EFI_apps
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/memtest86-efi/

nTia89 · 2016-04-02 17:39:25

yes, those are for memtest and using `memtest86-efi` from AUR I should install the EFI application in my ESP, then adding a new entry, systemd-boot should be able to boot it; Am I wrong? I've written mainly to have got a check who already has done it...

for the system-rescue-cd (or better any ISO) side, I'm totally in the dark...

ewaller · 2016-04-02 17:52:56

I thought I had it installed, but I guess I don't I use efistub to boot my system, but I have systemd-boot installed as well as a backup. It is easier to use if I want to pass in kernel command line parameters.
You are right, you run it as you would any other efi application. Not sure about the rescue iso. I used to have a Gentoo install alongside Arch. Now days, I just boot a USB with Linux installed on it when things go "Tango Uniform"

ewaller@turing/home/ewaller % efibootmgr
BootCurrent: 0000
Timeout: 0 seconds
BootOrder: 0000,3000,0001,0004,0002,2001,2002,2003
Boot0000* Arch Linux
Boot0001* Linux Boot Manager
Boot0002* Windows Boot Manager
Boot0004* EFI Shell
Boot2001* USB Drive (UEFI)
Boot2002* Internal CD/DVD ROM Drive (UEFI)
Boot3000* Internal Hard Disk or Solid State Disk
Boot3001* Internal Hard Disk or Solid State Disk
Boot3002* Internal Hard Disk or Solid State Disk
Boot3003* Internal Hard Disk or Solid State Disk
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller % pacman -Qs memtest
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/
BCD.LOG1                      BOOTSECT.BAK                  initramfs-linux-fallback.img  intel-ucode.img               shellx64.efi                  vmlinuz-linux                 
BCD.LOG2                      EFI/                          initramfs-linux.img           loader/                       System Volume Information/    
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/EFI/
Boot/      HP/        Microsoft/ systemd/   
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/loader/
entries/     loader.bak   loader.conf  
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/loader/lo
loader.bak   loader.conf  
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/loader/loader.conf 
timeout 5
default arch
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller % cat /boot/loader/entries/
cat: /boot/loader/entries/: Is a directory
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/loader/entries/
arch.conf  hp.conf    
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller[1] % cat /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf 
title Arch Linux
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /intel-ucode.img
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=/dev/sda6 rw acpi_backlight=native


ewaller@turing/home/ewaller % cat /boot/loader/entries/hp.conf 
title HP System Tools
efi /EFI/HP/bootmgr.efi
ewaller@turing/home/ewaller %

The above shows how I use efi applications for the efi shell. Not a bad recovery environment.

Last edited by ewaller (2016-04-02 17:54:05)

nTia89 · 2016-04-02 17:58:42

OK, I'll give it a try

in my situation, a laptop that's I don't know if when I will get a problem, I have an USB key with something useful inside..., I need a rescue system just into the laptop...

nTia89 · 2016-04-03 08:18:16

continuing on the ISO side, I have to solve two issues:
1- systemd-boot is able to boot something residents outside the ESP?
2- how can I make systemd-boot boots an ISO?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-03 11:30:31

nTia89 wrote:

1- systemd-boot is able to boot something residents outside the ESP?

No.

2- how can I make systemd-boot boots an ISO?

I don't think you can.

You could install GRUB in non-EFI mode and use that to boot an ISO image; just toggle "CSM" or "Legacy" mode from your firmware options to switch to the non-EFI loader.

Rickrock · 2016-04-03 12:14:28

I also have systemd boot installed and regretting it.
I would like to have a LTS kernel, next to the newest one to be able to boot from, but I couldn't find a method to get it into the systemd menu.

Is this possible?

nTia89 · 2016-04-03 12:20:01

Rickrock wrote:

I also have systemd boot installed and regretting it.
I would like to have a LTS kernel, next to the newest one to be able to boot from, but I couldn't find a method to get it into the systemd menu.
Is this possible?

@Rickrock this is not the right place to post a question of that kind...
anyway, after installing the LTS kernel you must add a new entry file and all should go fine.
read our wiki if something is not clear

@Head_on_a_Stick why do you suggest to install a non-EFI bootloader?

Rickrock · 2016-04-03 12:34:57

It's all about adding entries, isn't it?
But I'm sorry if I'm at the wrong place to ask this question.

I've searched the wiki but couldn't find the right answer...

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-03 14:42:27

nTia89 wrote:

@Head_on_a_Stick why do you suggest to install a non-EFI bootloader?

Because it would allow you to boot an ISO image from the hard drive.

I suppose if you were going to use GRUB for that then you might as well switch to GRUB-EFI but I like to be able to boot in both modes.

Rickrock wrote:

It's all about adding entries, isn't it?
[...]
I've searched the wiki but couldn't find the right answer...

Yes, see https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Sy … ot_entries

nTia89 · 2016-04-03 15:22:22

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

nTia89 wrote:
@Head_on_a_Stick why do you suggest to install a non-EFI bootloader?
Because it would allow you to boot an ISO image from the hard drive.
...
...

Are you saying that only non-EFI bootloaders are able to boot an ISO?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-03 20:31:14

nTia89 wrote:

Are you saying that only non-EFI bootloaders are able to boot an ISO?

No, I just mean that systemd-boot can't do that (as far as I know).

If you wanted to use systemd-boot then the only way I know of to enable a bootable ISO image from the hard drive would be to also install something like GRUB for that purpose; the use of non-EFI GRUB would allow a simple toggle via Legacy mode in the firmware options.

nTia89 · 2016-04-04 07:54:52

OK, further two questions:
- installing a non-EFI bootloader, will it be automatically used when and only when I set the `Legacy` mode in my firmware?
- can I install grub as choice in the systemd-boot?
i.e.:

POWER ON -> systemd-boot -> arch
                         -> arch fallback
                         -> GRUB  -------------------------> the ISO that I want...
                         -> default EFI application
                         -> firmware

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-04-04 08:00:17

nTia89 wrote:

- installing a non-EFI bootloader, will it be automatically used when and only when I set the `Legacy` mode in my firmware?

Correct.

As long as "CSM" or "Legacy" mode is disabled then the UEFI bootmanager will be used.

nTia89 wrote:

- can I install grub as choice in the systemd-boot?
i.e.:

POWER ON -> systemd-boot -> arch
                         -> arch fallback
                         -> GRUB  -------------------------> the ISO that I want...
                         -> default EFI application
                         -> firmware

I don't think so, systemd-boot can only start UEFI applications.

You could make a menu entry to start he GRUB .efi loader but if you were to use that then you might as well boot with GRUB directly and do without system-boot.

FWIW, I use my smart phone and drivedroid for rescue purposes -- this works even when the hard drive doesn't.

nTia89 · 2016-04-04 08:06:55

really useful!
thanks

anyway I hope systemd-boot will be a day able to boot an ISO...

Scimmia · 2016-04-04 14:55:29

nTia89 wrote:

really useful!
thanks
anyway I hope systemd-boot will be a day able to boot an ISO...

systemd-boot isn't much more than a menu. It's an EFI executable that lets you run other EFI executables. You'd need to find an EFI program that can load an ISO.

nTia89 · 2016-04-04 15:21:00

Scimmia wrote:

nTia89 wrote:
really useful!
thanks
anyway I hope systemd-boot will be a day able to boot an ISO...
systemd-boot isn't much more than a menu. It's an EFI executable that lets you run other EFI executables. You'd need to find an EFI program that can load an ISO.

thank you for the tip

nTia89 · 2016-04-04 15:41:28

creating an application that launch GRUB (from which I can then load ISO...) could be an idea
(my second choice after GRUB non-EFI...)
reading our wiki I found: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … standalone

Am I on the right road?

Scimmia · 2016-04-04 17:58:41

GRUB is just an EFI program, you can launch it from systemd-boot if you wanted.

nTia89 · 2016-04-09 19:31:37

[SOLVED]

now, I can finally close this thread!

what I've done:
1- installed `memtest86-efi` from AUR then I copied EFI application and its needed file into my /boot/EFI/memtest and finally I've added a new entry for systemd-boot;
I've then suggested to the `memtest86-efi` mainteiner to add a new option, an easy way to install it for systemd-boot users... in a few words, systemd-boot users are able to install memtest86 with one command !!!
2- I've chosen to use grub for booting systemrescuecd; so, I created a grub standalone EFI application following our wiki and then I've created a systemd-boot entry

EDIT: unfortunately I get some strange problem, so I've opened a new thread (https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=211107)

Last edited by nTia89 (2016-04-09 19:49:45)

Arch Linux

#1 2016-04-02 16:09:42

[SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#2 2016-04-02 17:07:59

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#3 2016-04-02 17:39:25

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#4 2016-04-02 17:52:56

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#5 2016-04-02 17:58:42

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#6 2016-04-03 08:18:16

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#7 2016-04-03 11:30:31

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#8 2016-04-03 12:14:28

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#9 2016-04-03 12:20:01

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#10 2016-04-03 12:34:57

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#11 2016-04-03 14:42:27

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#12 2016-04-03 15:22:22

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#13 2016-04-03 20:31:14

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#14 2016-04-04 07:54:52

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#15 2016-04-04 08:00:17

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#16 2016-04-04 08:06:55

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#17 2016-04-04 14:55:29

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#18 2016-04-04 15:21:00

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#19 2016-04-04 15:41:28

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#20 2016-04-04 17:58:41

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

#21 2016-04-09 19:31:37

Re: [SOLVED] two question about systemd-boot

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