Research Notes
A well-commented yaboot.conf file.What exactly is an initrd file? From the mkinitrd man page:
mkinitrd creates filesystem images which are suitable for use as Linux initial ramdisk (initrd) images. Such images are often used for preloading the block device modules (such as IDE, SCSI or RAID) which are needed to access the root filesystem. mkinitrd automatically loads IDE modules, all scsi_hostadapter entries in /etc/modules.conf, and raid modules if the system's root partition is on raid, which makes it simple to build and use kernels using modular device
drivers.
Any module options specified in /etc/modules.conf are passed to the modules as they are loaded by the initial ramdisk.
Useful notes from the yaboot.conf man page (which you probably won't have on your Mac OSX system!):
boot=boot-device
Specifies the bootstrap(8) partition ybin(8) will
install the boot loader on. This partition needs
to have an HFS or MSDOS filesystem created on it
(except on IBM hardware). ybin(8) will not create
a filesystem. If a filesystem is not present run
mkofboot(8) instead of ybin(8) for the first time.
The bootstrap(8) partition must have a partition
type of Apple_Bootstrap to prevent MacOS[X] from
mounting it. If MacOS is able to mount the boot
strap(8) partition it will make it unbootable by
removing the attributes ybin(8) set to make the
partition bootable by OpenFirmware. The bootstrap
partition must not be mounted anywhere on your
filesystem, ybin(8) and mkofboot(8) will refuse to
operate on it if it is mounted. On IBM hardware
the bootstrap(8) should be a type 0x41 PReP Boot
partition.
ofboot=of-path
This option defines the OpenFirmware device path to
the bootstrap(8) partition. This is needed so the
first stage ofboot.b loader can be configured prop
erly. It should include the OpenFirmware path
including the partition number (but not a file
name). Example: if your bootstrap partition is
/dev/hda2 the OF path will likely be hd:2. As of
ybin(8) 0.18 you no longer are required to (and
should not) specify this option. If left undefined
ybin(8) will attempt to figure out the OpenFirmware
path automatically using the ofpath(8) utility.
You should only need to define this option if
ofpath(8) fails.
magicboot=magicboot-script
Specifies the path to an OpenFirmware CHRP script
that ybin(8) will copy to the bootstrap(8) parti
tion. Such a script contains Forth commands that
can allow you to do interesting things such as cre
ating a boot menu to choose between MacOS or
GNU/Linux. Currently you must use a magicboot
script do to a bug in OpenFirmware. Eventually a
CHRP header could be added to the yaboot(8) exe
cutable so this can be optional. When this option
is defined the magicboot script will be executed by
OF automatically at boot (instead of the install
file.) See man bootstrap(8) for more information
on this. As of ybin 0.22 you should set this to
/usr/local/lib/yaboot/ofboot which is a autoconfig
uring first stage loader for yaboot. It is capable
of presenting a dual boot menu for GNU/Linux, MacOS
and MacOSX. If dual booting is not required or
configured it will simply load yaboot directly.
You must specify this for most PowerMacs or they
will fail to boot. You cannot use magicboot
scripts with IBM hardware.
posted by Steve Shapero @ 12:58 PM
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