Red Hat Bugzilla – Bug 695951
RHEL6.1 BOOTX64.efi cannot handle being called "bootx64"
Last modified: 2013-08-30 00:38:24 EDT
Description of problem: Typing "bootx64" (lowercase) ends up in an empty grub menu rather than booting the installer. This is one EFI which is case insensitive. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): RHEL6.1-SNAP2 How reproducible: 100% Steps to Reproduce: 1. At the EFI shell prompt "cd efi", "cd redhat", "bootx64". Actual results: Drops to an empty grub menu. Expected results: Boot the installer the same as if "BOOTX64" was typed. Additional info: When "BOOTX64" is used, BOOTX64.efi looks for BOOTX64.conf to find the grub menu settings. When "bootx64" is used, it behaves as if BOOTX64.efi (which EFI calls) looks for bootx64.conf (lowercase) which does not exits and so it goes into an empty grub menu. The reason this is a problem is since EFI is case insensitive, the assumption is that "bootx64" should work the same as "BOOTX64". After installing RHEL6.1, if grub.efi is copied to BOOT.efi and grub.conf is copied to BOOT.conf (in /boot/efi/EFI/redhat/) typing "boot" (lowercase) does work (even though BOOT.conf is uppercase). So BOOTX64.efi is handling case differently than grub.efi.
If grub.conf exists and no other config file is found it will use that.
Since RHEL 6.1 External Beta has begun, and this bug remains unresolved, it has been rejected as it is not proposed as exception or blocker. Red Hat invites you to ask your support representative to propose this request, if appropriate and relevant, in the next release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
There is no grub.conf on the install DVD. The only config file is BOOTX64.conf. Unfortunately BOOTX64.conf does not get used if "bootx64" (lowercase) is specified. fs2:\EFI\BOOT> ls Directory of: fs2:\EFI\BOOT 04/11/11 04:01a <DIR> 2,048 . 04/11/11 04:01a <DIR> 2,048 .. 04/11/11 04:01a 1,341 splash.xpm.gz 04/11/11 04:01a 247,570 BOOTX64.efi 04/11/11 04:01a 429 BOOTX64.conf 3 File(s) 249,340 bytes 2 Dir(s) fs2:\EFI\BOOT> fs2:\EFI\BOOT> type bootx64.conf type: fs2:\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.conf, Size 429 #debug --graphics default=0 splashimage=/EFI/BOOT/splash.xpm.gz timeout 5 hiddenmenu title Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1 kernel /images/pxeboot/vmlinuz initrd /images/pxeboot/initrd.img title Install system with basic video driver kernel /images/pxeboot/vmlinuz xdriver=vesa nomodeset askmethod initrd /images/pxeboot/initrd.img title rescue kernel /images/pxeboot/vmlinuz rescue askmethod initrd /images/pxeboot/initrd.img fs2:\EFI\BOOT> fs2:\EFI\BOOT> bootx64 GNU GRUB version 0.97 (572K lower / 1928060K upper memory) [ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible completions of a device/filename.] grub>
I should add that once at the empty grub menu if the user quits out of grub to get back to the EFI shell prompt, they cannot because apparently the mapping is gone (unmounted?). Reset is the only way to get back to try to boot again. -------------------------------------------------- grub> quit fs2:\EFI\BOOT> ls ls/dir: Cannot open current directory - No Mapping Exit status code: No Mapping Invalid file system mapping on fs2 fs2:\EFI\BOOT>
Technical note added. If any revisions are required, please edit the "Technical Notes" field accordingly. All revisions will be proofread by the Engineering Content Services team. New Contents: On certain UEFI-based systems, you may need to type BOOTX64 rather than bootx64 due to case sensitivity issues.
Development Management has reviewed and declined this request. You may appeal this decision by reopening this request.
Why can't BOOTX64.efi be changed to work like grub.efi?
Technical note updated. If any revisions are required, please edit the "Technical Notes" field accordingly. All revisions will be proofread by the Engineering Content Services team. Diffed Contents: @@ -1 +1 @@ -On certain UEFI-based systems, you may need to type BOOTX64 rather than bootx64 due to case sensitivity issues.+On certain UEFI-based systems, you may need to type BOOTX64 rather than bootx64 to boot the installer due to case sensitivity issues.