bug#50592: Can't guix system init with grub-efi-bootloader from system that boots using grub-bootloader

bug#50592: Can't guix system init with grub-efi-bootloader from system that boots using grub-bootloader

[Zacchaeus Scheffer]

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Hi Guix!

I'm trying to install guix to a new drive using my main machine which boots
using grub-bootloader (legacy bios).  I want to put grub-efi-bootloader
(EFI) on the new drive install (for use on another computer).  However, the
install fails when running grub-install.  The full output at the end is:

copying to '/mnt/jake'...
populating '/mnt/jake'...
guix system: error:
'/gnu/store/w8v5d1i6xfqlpj78w89jg1x7f8dchh4k-grub-efi-2.06/sbin/grub-install
--boot-directory /mnt/jake/boot --bootloader-id=Guix --efi-directory
/boot/efi' exited with status 1; output follows:


/gnu/store/w8v5d1i6xfqlpj78w89jg1x7f8dchh4k-grub-efi-2.06/sbin/grub-install:
error:
/gnu/store/w8v5d1i6xfqlpj78w89jg1x7f8dchh4k-grub-efi-2.06/lib/grub/i386-pc/modinfo.sh
doesn't exist. Please specify --target or --directory.

I'm not sure if the fact that I'm currently booted in legacy bios mode is
important, but the problem persists after a guix pull && guix
system reconfigure, and I doubt grub-efi is broken for everyone.

Thanks,
zacchae

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bug#50592: Acknowledgement (Can't guix system init with grub-efi-bootloader from system that boots using grub-bootloader)

[Zacchaeus Scheffer]

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I should probably give some more details.  Here is the bootloader config
I'm using

 (bootloader
  (bootloader-configuration
   (bootloader grub-efi-bootloader)
   (targets (list "/boot/efi"))
   (keyboard-layout keyboard-layout)))

My mounts look like:
/dev/mapper/jake /mnt/jake # with -o subvol=guix
/dev/mapper/jake /mnt/jake/swap # with -o subvol=swap
/dev/sdb2 /mnt/jake/boot/efi

I've been using the same system config without problem, and just changed
the bootloader config to the above

-zacchaeus

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bug#50592: Can't guix system init with grub-efi-bootloader from system that boots using grub-bootloader

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

Hello Zacchaeus.

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 06:33:17PM -0400, Zacchaeus Scheffer wrote:
> I want to put grub-efi-bootloader
> (EFI) on the new drive install (for use on another computer).

With ordinary configuration, I believe installing GRUB EFI for use on
another computer is impossible, because grub install for EFI wants to
store boot information on the main board’s NVRAM, not on the disk.
Except when installing on a USB flash drive using the --removable
option, that is.

You could try manually executing the command

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 06:33:17PM -0400, Zacchaeus Scheffer wrote:
> '/gnu/store/w8v5d1i6xfqlpj78w89jg1x7f8dchh4k-grub-efi-2.06/sbin/grub-install
> --boot-directory /mnt/jake/boot --bootloader-id=Guix --efi-directory
> /boot/efi'

as if you were installing to a USB flash drive, by adding --removable
and otherwise using exactly the same command.  It might work, since
you already have installed the system successfully except for the
bootloader.

This is in imitation of what the GRUB manual says:
> For removable installs you have to use --removable and specify both --boot-directory and --efi-directory: 
>
> # grub-install --efi-directory=/mnt/usb --boot-directory=/mnt/usb/boot --removable

I’m not sure enough of what can be done, but I believe this bug is a
WONTFIX.  What do others think?

Regards,
Florian

bug#50592: Can't guix system init with grub-efi-bootloader from system that boots using grub-bootloader

[Stefan]

Hi!

The solution for this is already available in the patch series in <http://issues.guix.gnu.org/48314>. The new grub-efi-netboot-removable-bootloader can be used for this.

Technically there is no big difference between an installation to boot from network or from local storage. For booting from network two symlinks are needed, which can’t be created on an EFI System Partition with its FAT file system. In the later case a small intermediate grub.cfg is created, which allows booting from local storage.


Bye

Stefan

bug#50592: Can't guix system init with grub-efi-bootloader from system that boots using grub-bootloader

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

The original wish to install to EFI NVRAM without EFI
NVRAM is impossible; workarounds have been described.  Closing.

Regards,
Florian