Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Modern days Linux kernel requires a bootloader, as seen in the video. In the old days, you could dd the kernel to the floppy disk and use rdev to point to the root partition to start after loading the kernel.



A couple of days ago, I went looking for when this code was removed. It was removed in 2003: https://lwn.net/Articles/21512/


Nice link!

The code is so tiny they could have kept it... But, oh well, progress.

I like the message:

  -  .ascii "Loading"
  +bugger_off_msg:
  + .ascii "Direct booting from floppy is no longer supported.\r\n"
  + .ascii "Please use a boot loader program instead.\r\n"
  + .ascii "\n"
  + .ascii "Remove disk and press any key to reboot . . .\r\n"
  + .byte 0


> The code is so tiny they could have kept it...

Not for long; the EFI headers later used the same space, which even required severely shortening that "no longer supported" message (the first two lines of the message were replaced by just "Use a boot loader.\r\n")


There’s actually an EFI boot stub for the kernel so you don’t technically need a bootloader beyond the EFI on those systems.


What about EFI?


there was no EFI. it was BIOS as far as your eyes could see.


Yes but in modern day Linux, EFI can load the kernel without an external bootloader. So it is not the case that modern day Linux requires a bootloader.




Consider applying for YC's W25 batch! Applications are open till Nov 12.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: