x86: Booting From a Specified ZFS Root File System

The $ZFS-BOOTFS keyword enables you to boot from an Oracle Solaris ZFS root file system on the x86 platform. If a root device contains a ZFS pool, this keyword is assigned a value, which is then passed to the kernel with the -B option. This option identifies which dataset to boot. If you install an Oracle Solaris release that supports a ZFS boot loader, the GRUB menu.lst file, as well as the GRUB boot menu, contain this information by default.

x86: How to Display a List of the Available ZFS Boot Environments

Become an administrator.
For more information, see How to Obtain Administrative Rights in System Administration Guide: Security Services.
To display a list of available BEs on the system, type the following command:
```
# bootadm list-menu
```

Example 7-7 x86: Displaying a List of Available ZFS Bootable Datasets by Using the bootadm Command

In this example, the output of the bootadm list-menu command lists all of the available bootable datasets (or boot entries) that are on an x86 based system. The default boot environment is listed first.

# bootadm list-menu
the location for the active GRUB menu is: /rpool/boot/grub/menu.lst
default 0
timeout 30
0 Oracle Solaris 10 9/10
1 Oracle Solaris 11 Express
2 zfsbe2
3 BE3

x86: How to Boot From a Specified ZFS Root File System

This procedure describes how to boot from a ZFS root file system on an x86 system that supports a ZFS boot loader.

Note that if you install or upgrade your system to an Oracle Solaris release that supports a ZFS boot loader, the GRUB menu entry contains the -B $ZFS-BOOTFS boot argument by default, so the system boots from ZFS without requiring any additional boot arguments.

Reboot the system.
```
# reboot
```
If the system displays the Press any key to reboot prompt, press any key to reboot the system.
You can also use the Reset button at this prompt. If the system is shut down, turn the system on with the power switch.
When the boot sequence begins, the GRUB main menu is displayed. If the default boot entry is a ZFS file system menu is similar to the following:
```
findroot (pool_rpool,0,a)
bootfs rpool/ROOT/nwambe-1
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B $ZFS-BOOTFS,console=graphics
module$ /platform/i86pc/$ISADIR/boot_archive
```
When the GRUB menu is displayed, press Enter to boot the default OS instance.
If you do not choose an entry within 10 seconds, the system automatically boots to run level 3.
To boot another BE, use the arrow keys to highlight the specified boot entry.
Type b to boot this entry or e to edit the entry.
If you type e to edit the entry, the default menu for booting a system with a ZFS root would look similar to the following output:
```
findroot (BE_be10,0,a)
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B $ZFS-BOOTFS
module$ /platform/i86pc/$ISADIR/boot-archive
```
For more information about GRUB menu entries at boot time, seex86: How to Modify Boot Behavior by Editing the GRUB Menu at Boot Time.

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	System Administration Guide: Basic Administration Oracle Solaris 11 Express 11/10