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

[Robert Millan]

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 02:47:08PM -0800, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> >Ah, the hybrid MBR-GPT.  An horrible hack, if you ask me...
> 
> Perhaps, it's the closest thing there is to a standard; certainly the 
> only multi-OS standard in existence.  Your thing is so far apart from a 
> multi-anything standard that can be; I would recommend relabelling the 
> proposed UUID  "Grub 2" (since that's what it is, no more, no less), and 
> use the standard methods for setting the partition type UUID.
> 
> At least that way the space is managed (reserved for Grub 2) and nothing 
> else.

There's nothing GRUB-specific in it.  Sure, it's not the "multi-OS" solution
you want, but:

  - We *already* have a multi-OS solution on it;  that is, that the bootloader
    lets user chainload into an arbitrary partition.  I know you don't like it,
    but it in fact the same solution the majority of GNU/Linux installs
    implement today on DOS labels.

  - It is generic enough that any bootloader implementor can choose to use it
    as a storage area.

-- 
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 /.)