x86: Disk Management in the GRUB Boot Environment

Solaris 10 1/06: The GRUB boot menu has replaced the previous method for booting an x86 system. In the area of disk management, you use the GRUB interface when booting from an alternative device to replace a system disk or when installing the bootblocks.

The GRUB boot environment provides the following features:

• Solaris failsafe boot – A Solaris failsafe boot option that boots into the miniroot so you can recover from a problem that is preventing the system from booting without having to boot from an alternative device. Use the arrow keys to select the following option from the GRUB boot menu and then press return:

  Solaris failsafe

  You'll need to reboot the system after using the Solaris failsafe boot option.

• Network boot – Boot from the network by pressing the F12 key during the BIOS configuration phase.

• Single-user boot – Boot to single-user mode by selecting this option from the Solaris failsafe boot menu:

  kernel /platform/i86pc/multiboot

  Then, use the e (edit) option to add the -s single-user option. For example:

  kernel /platform/i86pc/multiboot -s

  Press return and then press the b key to boot the system. Press control-D to boot the system back to multiuser mode.

In the GRUB environment, you cannot use the fmthard command to install the boot blocks automatically when run on an x86 system. You must install the boot blocks separately.

For detailed feature information and instructions on using the new GRUB based booting on x86 systems, see Booting an x86 Based System by Using GRUB (Task Map) in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

For instructions for managing disks in the GRUB boot environment, see the following references:

• x86: How to Install a Boot Block on a System Disk

• x86: How to Connect a System Disk

This feature is not available on SPARC systems.