Confused, Grub install command.

[DavidF]

I messed this up yesterday and had to restore from a back-up to boot. I have grub 2.12-r2 installed. My current grub directories are /boot/EFI/BOOT and /boot/EFI/gentoo. I have read the upgrade info and the handbook and I am not confident in the exact command I should use. The Handbook sounds like I should have /boot/efi/EFI. What should my exact command be to configure grub? I think I understand the --removable but the path is my concern.

Long time user with a newbie question.
David

[kimchi_sg]

[DavidF]

I hate to say it, but I am not sure. There is no directory in /boot, /boot/grub has a x86_64-efi directory.

[grknight]

The ESP is usually a vfat partition of its own. Use the command lsblk -f and it will likely show this.

[pietinger]

DavidF,

Now ... it really doesn't matter which mountpoint you have used so far, because you can mount your ESP (efi system partition) wherever you want; of course I recommend the "new" standard mountpoint /efi right away (if you don't have /efi, just create it).

Maybe read this first to understand some changes: https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-1165115-highlight-.html

Can you boot into your old system ? If not boot with our GentooMinimalCD and chroot into your system:
( https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/New_at_Gentoo#Pause_during_Installation )

If you have other settings in your /etc/fstab you can change them later and mount immediately - manual - with: "mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /efi" or "mount /dev/sda1 /efi" (Check if the first partition is really your ESP with "parted -l" OR "fdisk -l").

Now look into your ESP with "ls -lR /efi" ... Do you see (1) "only" some xxx.efi files ... or (2) also the grub ?

If (1) then you had the new mountpoint already active and grub is in /boot OF THE ROOT partition.
If (2) then you had an old installation where the ESP was mointed to /boot -> Now you can decide if you want switch to the new /mountpoint or leave it the way it was ...

This is an - very actual - (short) descritption for a modern installation:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Draft/Quick_Installation_OpenRC_for_an_UEFI_System

Here you see a checklist for an UEFI boot (dont use ist for dist-kernel; only informational):
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Tutorials/Boot_kernel_via_UEFI
_________________
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger

[DavidF]

Ok, Here is what I know ...

1.) Yesterday I updated the kernel and the new grub version caused the system to boot to bios.

2.) I restored the system from back-up and it boots and runs now.

3.) My vfat partition is nvme1n1p1 and contains /boot/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI and /boot/gentoo/grubx64.efi and /boot/grub/x86_64-efi

4.) I have configured new grub versions in the past and do not remember the command I used.

I assume that I have a working esp but honestly I am not sure I understand what it does. I have read most of the material but am not sure how to proceed. It sounds like I do not have a standard install.

[DavidF]

Based on my directory structure would my install be ... grub-install --efi-directory=/boot/EFI

[grknight]

[pietinger]

DavidF,

please give us the output of the command efibootmgr (this is most important) and fdisk -l (or "parted -l") and blkid and lsblk

[DavidF]

Here is the output ..

[pietinger]

[DavidF]

Thank you for helping me think this through. You guys have always shown a caring attitude. It is appreciated!

[pietinger]