Boot into 32-bit kernel on 64-bit platform

Sometimes you need to boot into the 32-bit kernel on a 64-bit platform. Perhaps you have an application that is 32-bit only. Or perhaps you have developed a device driver for the Solaris OS. In general, Solaris device drivers must work both in 32-bit mode and in 64-bit mode.

To boot into the 32-bit kernel on a 64-bit platform, edit the GRUB menu. Either edit the file /boot/grub/menu.lst and reboot, or reboot and enter e at the grub menu.

For Solaris 10, the lines in the menu.lst file look something like this:

title Solaris 10 11/06 s10x_u3wos_10 X86
root (hd0,2,a)
kernel /platform/i86pc/multiboot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

Change the kernel line to this:

kernel /platform/i86pc/kernel/unix

For Solaris Express (nevada, SXDE, SXCE, OpenSolaris), the lines in the menu.lst file look something like this:

title Solaris Express Community Edition snv_79 X86
kernel$ /platform/i86pc/kernel/$ISADIR/unix
module$ /platform/i86pc/$ISADIR/boot_archive

Change the kernel and module lines to this:

kernel$ /platform/i86pc/kernel/unix
module$ /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

Save and reboot

To make this change persistent across reboots, become the root user and make this change using

eeprom boot-file="kernel/unix"

See also Forcing Solaris to load 32 bit kernel.

For more information on the GRUB menu, see GRUB's user interface on the GNU web site.

Posted at 08:14PM Jan 30, 2008 by alta in Device Support  |  Comments[3]