[Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

KeeNuM23 · 2017-03-09 04:52:30

Are there any advantages of replacing the GRUB bootloader with the systemd-boot manager? Systemd-boot is 100% new to me, as GRUB has always been the 'goto' as long as I can remember.

This is my first post, I ditched Windows two weeks ago full time, and I found Arch to be my favorite distro. Glad to be part of the community.

Here's an overview of the steps I took for anyone else who has GRUB and wants to use systemd-boot:

Installed systemd-boot as root using:
```
bootctl install
```
Install vim so we can edit conf files.
```
pacman -S vim
```
Configure loader.conf file:
```
vim /boot/loader/loader.conf
```
The default contents of loader.conf:
```
#timeout 3
default 43l34jkl32j4lk32
```
just blank that out and type:
```
default arch 
timeout 3
```

Create arch.conf:

vim /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf

This will create arch.conf. Add the following contents:

title Archlinux
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=PARTUUID=YOUR-PARTUUID-HERE

You can get your PARTUUID by reading in blkid via vim.

:r !blkid

Uninstall GRUB with:
```
pacman -Rcnsu grub
```
Reboot and enjoy

Last edited by KeeNuM23 (2017-03-09 14:15:46)

jasonwryan · 2017-03-09 04:56:40

Other than eliminating unnecessary complexity and bloat? Not really.

KeeNuM23 · 2017-03-09 05:00:15

jasonwryan wrote:

Other than eliminating unnecessary complexity and bloat? Not really.

Thanks!

bulletmark · 2017-03-09 05:34:14

KeeNuM23 wrote:

Are there any advantages of replacing the GRUB bootloader with the bootctl boot manager?

Note it's called systemd-boot, not bootctl.

I thought boot-loaders had to be ugly as sin like grub until I started using systemd-boot.

KeeNuM23 · 2017-03-09 05:49:14

bulletmark wrote:

KeeNuM23 wrote:
Are there any advantages of replacing the GRUB bootloader with the bootctl boot manager?
Note it's called systemd-boot, not bootctl.
I thought boot-loaders had to be ugly as sin like grub until I started using systemd-boot.

Edited. Thank you for the input. Since I already have GRUB, how hard would it be to uninstall it and install systemd-boot? Has anyone tried that?

jasonwryan · 2017-03-09 05:55:07

It is straightforward. Just follow the wiki page for systemd-boot and, when you have it all working, uninstall Grub.

KeeNuM23 · 2017-03-09 07:14:54

jasonwryan wrote:

It is straightforward. Just follow the wiki page for systemd-boot and, when you have it all working, uninstall Grub.

I'm now booting using systemd-boot!!

Here's an overview of the steps I took for anyone else who has GRUB and wants to use systemd-boot:

Installed systemd-boot as root using:
```
bootctl install
```
Install vim so we can edit conf files.
```
pacman -S vim
```
Configure loader.conf file:
```
vim /boot/loader/loader.conf
```
The default contents of loader.conf:
```
#timeout 3
default 43l34jkl32j4lk32
```
just blank that out and type:
```
default arch 
timeout 3
```

Create arch.conf:

vim /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf

This will create arch.conf. Add the following contents:

title Archlinux
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=PARTUUID=YOUR-PARTUUID-HERE

You can get your PARTUUID by reading in blkid via vim.

:r !blkid

Uninstall GRUB with:
```
pacman -Rcnsu grub
```
Reboot and enjoy

Last edited by KeeNuM23 (2017-03-09 07:17:52)

jasonwryan · 2017-03-09 07:57:32

Please remember to mark your thread as [Solved] by editing your first post and prepending it to the title.

Also, there is no need to add documentation here: the wiki is actively maintained and is the canonical reference for Arch.

jesc516 · 2017-03-11 03:51:12

systemd-boot is very easy to remove as well.

bootctl remove

done.

ever since i switched to systemd-boot i havent looked back

nasatsli · 2018-12-07 23:35:49

pacman -Rcnsu grub

won't uninstall grub as the bootloader. grub bootloader is installed in `/boot/grub`. I guess you'd have to delete those file to remove grub.

Last edited by nasatsli (2018-12-07 23:36:42)

circleface · 2018-12-08 00:01:41

Please do not bump old threads, especially solved ones. If you are having a problem, please open a new thread and link back to this one if needed.

jasonwryan · 2018-12-08 00:56:35

Indeed: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … bumping.22

Closing

Arch Linux

#1 2017-03-09 04:52:30

[Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#2 2017-03-09 04:56:40

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#3 2017-03-09 05:00:15

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#4 2017-03-09 05:34:14

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#5 2017-03-09 05:49:14

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#6 2017-03-09 05:55:07

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#7 2017-03-09 07:14:54

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#8 2017-03-09 07:57:32

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#9 2017-03-11 03:51:12

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#10 2018-12-07 23:35:49

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#11 2018-12-08 00:01:41

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

#12 2018-12-08 00:56:35

Re: [Solved] How-To replace GRUB boot loader with systemd-boot manager

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