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# Category:Boot loaders

In order to boot Arch Linux, a Linux-capable boot loader must be installed to the Master Boot Record or the GUID Partition Table. It is the first piece of software started by the BIOS or UEFI. It is responsible for loading the kernel with the wanted kernel parameters, and initial RAM disk before initiating the boot process.

Note: Loading Microcode updates requires adjustments in boot loader configuration. [1]

## Feature comparison

Note:

- Boot loaders only need to support the file system on which kernel and initramfs reside (the file system of the partition on which `/boot` is located).
- As GPT is part of the UEFI specification, all UEFI boot loaders support GPT disks. GPT on BIOS systems is possible, using either "hybrid booting", or the new GPT-only protocol. This protocol may however cause issues with certain BIOS implementations; see rodbooks for details.
- Encryption mentioned in file system support is filesystem-level encryption, it has no bearing on block-level encryption.

This article or section needs expansion.

Reason: Fill in the unknowns. (Discuss in Category talk:Boot loaders#)

Name | Firmware | Multi-boot | File systems | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
BIOS | UEFI | Btrfs | ext4 | ReiserFS v3 | VFAT | XFS
GRUB | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | On BIOS/GPT configuration requires GRUB BIOS boot partition.
systemd-boot | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | Cannot launch binaries from partitions other than ESP.
Syslinux | Yes | Partial | Partial | without: multi-device volumes, compression, encryption | without: `64bit` feature, encryption | No | Yes | v4 on MBR only | No support for certain file system features [2]
EFISTUB | No | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
rEFInd | No | Yes | Yes | without encryption | without: `64bit` feature, encryption | without tail-packing feature | Yes | No |
Clover | emulates UEFI | Yes | Yes | No | Unknown | No | Yes | No | Main target audience is Hackintosh users.
LILO | Yes | No | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | MBR only [3] | Deprecated. Does not support GUID Partition Table.
GRUB Legacy | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | v4 only | Deprecated. Does not support GUID Partition Table.
NeoGRUB | Yes | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |

## See also

- Rod Smith - Managing EFI Boot Loaders for Linux
- Rod Smith - rEFInd, a fork or rEFIt
- Linux Kernel Documentation on EFISTUB
- Linux Kernel EFISTUB Git Commit
- Rod Smith's page on EFISTUB
- rEFInd Documentation for booting EFISTUB Kernels

## Pages in category "Boot loaders"

The following 11 pages are in this category, out of 11 total.

### C

- Clover

### E

- EFISTUB

### G

- GRUB
- GRUB Legacy
- GRUB/EFI examples
- GRUB/Tips and tricks

### L

- LILO

### N

- NeoGRUB

### R

- REFInd

### S

- Syslinux
- Systemd-boot

Category:

- Boot process

Hidden category:

- Pages or sections flagged with Template:Expansion