[parted-devel] [PATCH] GPT & BIOS Boot partition

[Robert Millan]

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 02:00:41PM -0800, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> Robert Millan wrote:
> >
> >A dedicated partition is, in fact, the only way to get back the static
> >63-sector area we used to have with DOS labels.
> >
> >Of course, you have other options;  you can put your code in a filesystem
> >and hardcode its offset (expect some fun with xfs), or you can assume your
> >filesystem of choice reserves space at the beginning of its partition.  
> >GRUB
> >can do both but neither of them is as good as embedding the bootstrap code
> >in sectors 1 to 63 like it used to (AFAICT).
> >
> 
> Sectors 1-62 were never a good idea to use, simply because there was no 
> management of it.  Plus, you couldn't assume they were there.

Please could you ellaborate on that?  GRUB 2 currently uses them (I think GRUB
Legacy as well) as long as its bootstrap code fits, and I don't recall someone
reporting trouble.

> >>especially with Redmond OSes seemingly going a different way.
> >
> >What do you mean?  Last I heard, their way was not supporting GPT on BIOS 
> >at
> >all :-)
> 
> They do; you have to have MBR entries for your boot partitions, but then 
> they pick up other partitions from the GPT.
> 
> Boot partition is obviously limited to 2 TB.

Ah, the hybrid MBR-GPT.  An horrible hack, if you ask me...

-- 
Robert Millan

<GPLv2> I know my rights; I want my phone call!
<DRM> What use is a phone call… if you are unable to speak?
(as seen on /.)