New Linux User

Explanation: What is a Bootloader and an MBR?

by Jon on January 30th, 2006

If you’ve installed a distro or two at this point, you’ve likely run across a couple of terms like MBR, bootloader, GRUB, and Lilo.

All of these terms refer to providing your computer with a way to boot into GNU/Linux and potentially other operating systems.

The MBR is the Master Boot Record. It is a (typically) little partition of your harddrive that holds a boot loader. The MBR is the partition your computer boots into when it starts up.

A boot loader is an application that passes control from the MBR to an operating system located on another partition. GRUB and Lilo are two of the more common boot loaders.

So, in short, your computer boots like so:

1. Boot
2. Master Boot Record partition loads the boot loader
3. User selects an OS (or boot loader times out and default OS is selected
4. OS loads

It is possible to set the timeout of GRUB and Lilo to a number so low that they are nothing more than a flash on the screen during boot, but I don’t think it’s possible to run a GNU/Linux box without a boot loader at all. (Corrections, anyone?).

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