Bug 455092 – Kernel Stub Loader

• Product: [OLD] Docs on www.gentoo.org
• Status: RESOLVED NEEDINFO

[Description Tomas Krejci 2013-02-02 07:55:06 UTC]

In section Configuring the Bootloader of Handbook should be section about Kernel Stub Loader. At least say that somethink like this exists.

[Comment 1 nm (RETIRED) 2013-02-04 05:07:53 UTC]

what purpose does it serve? what is it, what's it used for, and why would users want it?

[Comment 2 Tomas Krejci 2013-02-04 07:23:37 UTC]

(In reply to comment #1)
> what purpose does it serve? what is it, what's it used for, and why would
> users want it?

You can find useful this site : http://www.rodsbooks.com/efi-bootloaders/efistub.html

Kernel stub loader is small loader built in kernel. You can tell computer to load kernel directly. Without need for bootloader such as GRUB or LILO.

It simplify and speed up proces of booting. It is useful especially when you have only one OS in computer.

On EFI based computer you can tell computer form which drive you want to boot, then computer looks for so called ESP (EFI System Partition) located on this drive and then it looks for file it should load (EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI is default). This file can be bootloader (GRUB2 or so) or it can be yours kernel with Stub Loader. Computer will load directly kernel not bootloader.

Users would want it because it is simple, elegant in some ways, faster and comfortable. They don't need to solve issues connected with bootloader. They say directly "load this"