[SOLVED] Qemu + OVMF, uefi with grub2 issues

r1w1s1 · 04-30-2024, 04:05 PM

Hi all, I´m trying to run qemu+OVMF, to install slackware-current (AlienBOB iso), works fine with elilo, when I run the commands to install grub2 everythings seems fine but the boot still elilo.

Quote:

/usr/sbin/grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=uefi
/usr/sbin/grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Command to start

Quote:

sudo qemu-system-x86_64 \
-machine q35,accel=kvm \
-boot menu=on \
-m 2048 \
-cpu max \
-smp 2 \
-drive file=/home/r1w1s1/VMs/slackware.raw,format=raw \
-bios /usr/share/edk2-ovmf-x64/OVMF_CODE.fd \
-nic user,hostfwd=tcp::8888-:22 \
-device AC97 \
-fsdev local,id=fsdev0,path=/home/r1w1s1,security_model=none -device virtio-9p-pci,id=fs0,fsdev=fsdev0,mount_tag=host_share

Did someone try this setup ? Or have any hints for debug better grub2.

Daedra · 04-30-2024, 04:22 PM

During the install at the setup system phase do not install elilo. After the install is finished don't reboot but drop into a shell and run these commands

Code:

chroot /mnt /bin/bash
source /etc/profile
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=grub
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

then exit and reboot and then grub should work fine. On your current install I would think uninstalling elilo and deleting it from /boot/efi then installing grub should do the trick, but I can't confirm since I haven't tried it.

r1w1s1 · 04-30-2024, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedra

During the install at the setup system phase do not install elilo. After the install is finished don't reboot but drop into a shell and run these commands

Code:

chroot /mnt /bin/bash
source /etc/profile
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=grub
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

then exit and reboot and then grub should work fine. On your current install I would think uninstalling elilo and deleting it from /boot/efi then installing grub should do the trick, but I can't confirm since I haven't tried it.

yes I did that, cannot boot.

rizitis · 04-30-2024, 06:07 PM

try this might help...

Code:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=grub --removable

Daedra · 04-30-2024, 07:42 PM

Just out of curiosity, why are you using UEFI with your VM? Nothing wrong with that, but slackware-current will run just fine in qemu with legacy bios. Also when you run grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=grub does grub-install give you any errors?

zeebra · 05-01-2024, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daedra

Just out of curiosity, why are you using UEFI with your VM? Nothing wrong with that, but slackware-current will run just fine in qemu with legacy bios. Also when you run grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=grub does grub-install give you any errors?

OVMF is UEFI specific and among other things allows particular methods of GPU passthrough ("OVMF method").

ponce · 05-01-2024, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1w1s1

/usr/sbin/grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=uefi

I think you are missing the device argument of grub-install, like /dev/sda, to install grub2 in the boot sector and, in doing so, overwriting elilo.

I never tried in an emulated machine but on real hardware I also needed to mount the efivars filesystem (if not already mounted, you can check with "grep efivars /proc/mounts") for grub 2 to install correctly

Code:

mount -t efivarfs none /sys/firmware/efi/efivars

Thom1b · 05-01-2024, 03:57 AM

Hi,

Here is my qemu options about ovmf :

Code:

-drive if=pflash,format=raw,readonly=on,file=/usr/share/edk2-ovmf-x64/OVMF_CODE.fd -drive if=pflash,format=raw,file=OVMF_VARS.fd

where OVMF_VARS.fd is read/write by qemu user and is used only by this virtual host.

henca · 05-01-2024, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom1b

where OVMF_VARS.fd is read/write by qemu user and is used only by this virtual host.

Yes, with qemu you will not only need the "BIOS" ovmf file but also a "parameter" ovmf file where you can store your ovmf boot settings.

regards Henrik

r1w1s1 · 05-01-2024, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizitis

try this might help...

Code:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi/ --bootloader-id=grub --removable

works! I will do more tests and write some notes about it.

I will also try to add OVMF parameter file to test it.

Thank you guys!!!

rizitis · 05-01-2024, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1w1s1

works! I will do more tests and write some notes about it.

I will also try to add OVMF parameter file to test it.

Thank you guys!!!

Nice!
Jfyi this was a very fast written script for schoolkids. the idea was to easy download and run Slackware in a school for one day

it might work until now idont know, but you can take a better idea about ovmf...

https://github.com/rizitis/Qemu-slac...slackware64-15

Daedra · 05-01-2024, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1w1s1

works! I will do more tests and write some notes about it.

I will also try to add OVMF parameter file to test it.

Thank you guys!!!

I have had to us the --removable flag on some Slackware installs lately. I didn't think to suggest it since you didn't say you were getting any errors during grub-install. Good thing rizitis thought of it

.

Didier Spaier · 05-01-2024, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizitis

Nice!
Jfyi this was a very fast written script for schoolkids. the idea was to easy download and run Slackware in a school for one day

it might work until now idont know, but you can take a better idea about ovmf...

https://github.com/rizitis/Qemu-slac...slackware64-15

Nice but be careful my friend. Your command:

Code:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=slint-15.0 --removable

writes the OS loader boot/efi/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI as expected but not /boot/efi/EFI/slint-15.0/grubx64.efi as does:

Code:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=slint-15.0

So if you really want to write an OS loader in both locations you have to issue two commands. In my case:

Code:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=slint-15.0

What is a little weird is that in case of your command grub-install does not warn that it discards the option --bootloader-id. I had to type "find /boot/efi to realize that.

rizitis · 05-01-2024, 02:47 PM

@Didier Spaier thanks