What is the Difference Between GRUB and LILO?

GRUB and LILO are both boot loaders used to manage the booting process of an operating system. They have some key differences:

1. Supported Operating Systems: GRUB supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, UNIX, macOS, BSD, and Solaris, while LILO only supports the Linux operating system.
2. Complexity: GRUB is more complex than LILO, offering more flexibility and support for a wider range of hardware. LILO is simpler and easier to use.
3. Graphical User Interface (GUI): GRUB includes a GUI menu choice, while LILO does not have a GUI menu choice.
4. Interactive Command Interface: GRUB has an interactive command interface, whereas LILO does not.
5. Network Boot Support: GRUB supports booting from a network, while LILO does not.
6. Configuration Changes: When changes are made to the GRUB configuration file, it will simply default to the previous settings if the new configuration is incorrect. In contrast, if the LILO configuration file is configured incorrectly, it would require rewriting the LILO stage one boot loader to the MBR, which is a more risky option as a misconfigured MBR could leave the system unbootable.

In summary, GRUB is a more versatile and flexible boot loader that supports multiple operating systems and offers a GUI menu choice, while LILO is simpler and supports only the Linux operating system. The choice between GRUB and LILO depends on your specific requirements and preferences.

Comparative Table: GRUB vs LILO

Here is a table comparing the differences between GRUB and LILO:

In summary, GRUB is a more versatile and feature-rich boot loader that supports multiple operating systems and offers an interactive command line interface. On the other hand, LILO is simpler and more focused on Linux, with a limited command line interface and no support for network booting.