Why is the Linux kernel is tied to LILO for make install? | Hacker News Reader

Why is the Linux kernel is tied to LILO for make install?

github.com

Because LILO is the Linux Loader. You're free to use grub if you enjoy bloated sucky software; that's the beauty of free software. It doesn't mean the kernel contributors have to support you, though.

They do support you; they gave you a hook to run whatever installer and loader you want. And they worked a second hook into that hook --- two, in fact. If your distro people already use that hook by occupying /sbin/installkernel, you you can make ~/bin/installkernel, or change the INSTALL_KERNEL variable to get your way.

Something something EXTLINUX

Note that earlier in the script, it tests whether you have scripts for installing the kernel, either in the user's directory or /sbin:

  # User may have a custom install script
  if [ -x ~/bin/${INSTALLKERNEL} ]; then exec ~/bin/${INSTALLKERNEL} "$@"; fi

  if [ -x /sbin/${INSTALLKERNEL} ]; then exec /sbin/${INSTALLKERNEL} "$@"; fi

Trying the Lilo steps is a fallback strategy for users that don't have an installkernel script.

When you "exec" a command, control will not return to the script, because the process image is replaced with the specified program.

Have you actually run the command you're querying? Grub works too.

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