LILO

Summary
An overview of the installation and use of the LILO multi-boot loader.
Overview
In order to boot Arch Linux, a Linux-capable boot loader such as GRUB(2), Syslinux, LILO or GRUB Legacy must be installed to the Master Boot Record or the GUID Partition Table. The boot loader is responsible for loading the kernel and initial ramdisk before initiating the boot process.

The LInux LOader, or LILO for short, is a legacy multi-boot loader for Linux systems. In spite of being the standard choice over the course of several years, it has been slowly phased out thanks to the advent of GRUB, an alternative boot loader offering easier configuration and less chance of rendering systems unbootable. However, many users still prefer the simplicity of traditional LILO, and it is still actively developed.

Installation

LILO is available as lilo and lilo-git from the AUR.

Configuration

LILO is configured by editing the /etc/lilo.conf file and running lilo afterwards to apply the new configuration. If choosing LILO during the Arch Linux installation process, the configuration file should have been already performed.

As a reminder, consider that LILO needs to be run after every kernel upgrade, otherwise the system is likely to be left in an unbootable state.

More help on setting up LILO can be found in the LILO-mini-HOWTO.

Sample setup

A typical LILO setup:

Tip: If LILO is really slow while loading the bzImage, try adding compact to /etc/lilo.conf's global section, as shown below.

/etc/lilo.conf

#
# /etc/lilo.conf
#

boot=/dev/hda
# This line often fixes L40 errors on bootup
# disk=/dev/hda bios=0x80

default=Arch
timeout=100
lba32
prompt
compact

image=/boot/vmlinuz-linux
        label=Arch
	append="devfs=nomount"
	vga=788
        root=/dev/hda2
        read-only

image=/boot/vmlinuz-linux
        label=ArchRescue
        root=/dev/hda8
        read-only

other=/dev/hda1
        label=Windows

# End of file

You can use hwinfo --framebuffer to determine what vga modes you can use.

See also

• List of kernel parameters that can be used at boot time
• List of kernel paramaters with further explanation and grouped by like options ('Kernel Boot Command-Line Parameter Reference', Linux Kernel In A Nutshell)