Q. What is GRUB?

Posted by : Dr. Root | 18 October, 2006 | Published in

GRUB is the new bootloader for the Solaris OS on x86 platforms. It's based on the popular open source GNU GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) project.

A bootloader is a software program that runs when a machine is first powered up. Its function is to load the operating system kernel into memory and then transfer control to that kernel.

Solaris users can benefit from using GRUB:
  • With GRUB, it's very easy to specify kernel and boot options in the boot menu.
  • For end users, booting and installing from USB DVD drives is now supported.
  • It's also easier for the Solaris OS to coexist with other operating systems on the same machine -- for example, Solaris can share the same GRUB bootloader with Linux.
  • Deploying Solaris via the network is simplified, particularly in the area of DHCP server setup. Vendor-specific options are no longer required in the DHCP server setup.
  • If you're a developer, you no longer need to deal with realmode drivers, which were part of the bootloader required for previous Solaris releases.
  • Lastly, Independent Hardware Vendors can now deliver drivers at install time via CD/DVD in addition to floppies.

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