Verifying the Boot Loader

The kernel RPM package configures the boot loader to boot the newly installed kernel (except for IBM eServer iSeries systems). However, it does not configure the boot loader to boot the new kernel by default.

It is always a good idea to confirm that the boot loader has been configured correctly. This is a crucial step. If the boot loader is configured incorrectly, the system will not boot into Community Enterprise Linux properly. If this happens, boot the system with the boot media created earlier and try configuring the boot loader again.

x86 Systems

All x86 systems (including all AMD64 systems) use GRUB as the boot loader.

GRUB

Confirm that the file /boot/grub/grub.conf contains a title section with the same version as the kernel package just installed

# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE:  You have a /boot partition.  This means that
#          all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
#          root (hd0,0)
#          kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda2
#          initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/hda
default=1 timeout=10
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
title Community Enterprise Linux (2.6.9-5.EL)
         root (hd0,0)
  kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-5.EL ro root=LABEL=/
  initrd /initrd-2.6.9-5.EL.img
title Community Enterprise Linux (2.6.9-1.906_EL)
         root (hd0,0)
  kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-1.906_EL ro root=LABEL=/
  initrd /initrd-2.6.9-1.906_EL.img

If a separate /boot/ partition was created, the paths to the kernel and initrd image are relative to /boot/.

Notice that the default is not set to the new kernel. To configure GRUB to boot the new kernel by default, change the value of the default variable to the title section number for the title section that contains the new kernel. The count starts with 0. For example, if the new kernel is the first title section, set default to 0.

Begin testing the new kernel by rebooting the computer and watching the messages to ensure that the hardware is detected properly.

Itanium Systems

Itanium systems use ELILO as the boot loader, which uses /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/elilo.conf as the configuration file. Confirm that this file contains an image section with the same version as the kernel package just installed:

prompt timeout=50 default=old  image=vmlinuz-2.6.9-5.EL
         label=linux
  initrd=initrd-2.6.9-5.EL.img         read-only
  append="root=LABEL=/" image=vmlinuz-2.6.9-1.906_EL
  label=old
  initrd=initrd-2.6.9-1.906.img         read-only
  append="root=LABEL=/"

Notice that the default is not set to the new kernel. To configure ELILO to boot the new kernel, change the value of the default variable to the value of the label for the image section that contains the new kernel.

Begin testing the new kernel by rebooting the computer and watching the messages to ensure that the hardware is detected properly.

IBM S/390 and IBM System z Systems

The IBM S/390 and IBM System z systems use z/IPL as the boot loader, which uses /etc/zipl.conf as the configuration file. Confirm that the file contains a section with the same version as the kernel package just installed:

[defaultboot] default=old target=/boot/
[linux]
         image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.9-5.EL
  ramdisk=/boot/initrd-2.6.9-5.EL.img
  parameters="root=LABEL=/"
[old]
         image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.9-1.906_EL
  ramdisk=/boot/initrd-2.6.9-1.906_EL.img
  parameters="root=LABEL=/"

Notice that the default is not set to the new kernel. To configure z/IPL to boot the new kernel by default, change the value of the default variable to the name of the section that contains the new kernel. The first line of each section contains the name in brackets.

After modifying the configuration file, run /sbin/zipl as root to enable the changes.

Begin testing the new kernel by rebooting the computer and watching the messages to ensure that the hardware is detected properly.

IBM eServer iSeries Systems

The /boot/vmlinitrd-<kernel-version> file is installed when you upgrade the kernel. However, you must use the dd command to configure the system to boot the new kernel:

As root, issue the command cat /proc/iSeries/mf/side to determine the default side (either A, B, or C).

As root, issue the following command, where <kernel-version> is the version of the new kernel and <side> is the side from the previous command:
dd if=/boot/vmlinitrd-<kernel-version> of=/proc/iSeries/mf/<side>/vmlinux bs=8k
Begin testing the new kernel by rebooting the computer and watching the messages to ensure that the hardware is detected properly.

IBM eServer pSeries Systems

IBM eServer pSeries systems use YABOOT as the boot loader, which uses /etc/aboot.conf as the configuration file. Confirm that the file contains an image section with the same version as the kernel package just installed:

boot=/dev/sda1 init-message=Welcome to Community Enterprise Linux! Hit <TAB> for boot options
partition=2 timeout=30 install=/usr/lib/yaboot/yaboot delay=10 nonvram
image=/vmlinux--2.6.9-5.EL
         label=old
  read-only
  initrd=/initrd--2.6.9-5.EL.img
  append="root=LABEL=/"
image=/vmlinux-2.6.9-5.EL
  label=linux
  read-only
  initrd=/initrd-2.6.9-5.EL.img
  append="root=LABEL=/"

Notice that the default is not set to the new kernel. The kernel in the first image is booted by default. To change the default kernel to boot either move its image stanza so that it is the first one listed or add the directive default and set it to the label of the image stanza that contains the new kernel.

Begin testing the new kernel by rebooting the computer and watching the messages to ensure that the hardware is detected properly.