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Does Linux still need to have a loader in the first 1024 cylinders?

post #1 of 3
6/18/03 at 12:45am
Thread Starter 
I haven't installed Linux in a while, but I remember the requirement to have a Linux partition in the first gigabyte or so of my harddrive. Is that still a requirement? Or can I just set aside 5 gigs of harddrive space for Linux at the end of my drive?
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post #2 of 3
6/18/03 at 1:22am
it depends on the bootloader you use.

i think lilo still has the problem, but i haven't used it in forever so i could be wrong.

grub can avoid the problem and install the stage2 image into a partition greater than 1024 cylinders (or not in the first 1024 cylinders at all) if your hard drive can be accessed in LBA (Logical Block Addressing) mode. I don't even think you have to explicitly set it, most current drives support it by default. you'd probably have to install grub into the MBR, though - but that's the best way to do it anyway.

it's worth noting, though, that scsi controllers don't support LBA and cause grub to default to CHS (which does have the problem). if you're installing this on a sager then the point is moot, but it's a good tip to remember if you happen to be installing on a desktop.
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post #3 of 3
6/18/03 at 6:58pm
Newer version of Lilo do not have this problem, but you may be hard pressed to find a mainstream distro that uses a current version. You are better off using Grub.
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