[Bug 1650023] Re: grub2 should install in mixed-mode for multi-arch x86_64/i386 support to allow EFI-32 boots

[Paul White]

** Package changed: unity (Ubuntu) => grub-installer (Ubuntu)

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Title:
  grub2 should install in mixed-mode for multi-arch x86_64/i386 support
  to allow EFI-32 boots

Status in grub-installer package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Description of problem: Currently the existing Ubuntu Live installers can't boot from a USB key on legacy Apple hardware like a MacBook Pro 2,1 which lacks EFI-64 firmware with only EFI-32 firmware. The next Ubuntu release should adopt the same mixed-mode multi-arch installer approach as taken by Debian in their Jessie 
  https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/multi-arch/iso-cd/debian-8.6.0-amd64-i386-netinst.iso installer.

  Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):

  
  How reproducible:
  Always

  Steps to Reproduce:
  1. Attempt to boot a USB drive or memory key with the Ubuntu 16.10 x86_64 or i386 Live installer on any of the following Apple hardware which lacks EFI-64 firmware and only has EFI-32 firmware...

  MacBook2,x
  MacBook3,x
  MacBook4,x
  MacBookPro2,x
  MacBookAir1,1
  MacMini1,x with C2D
  MacMini2,x
  iMac4,x with C2D
  iMac5,x

  MacPro1,x
  MacPro2,x

  2.You will find that the option key EFI boot selector shows no icon
  for the attached USB drive or key.

  3.Prepare a USB drive or key with the
  debian-8.6.0-amd64-i386-netinst.iso installed on it.

  Actual results:
  The boot selector will show the boot EFI for the Debian Jessie multi-arch installer on a USB device mounted on an EFI-32 firmware Mac, but not for any of the available Fedora releases.

  Expected results:
  I expected the Ubuntu releases to be able to boot the x86_64 linux from a USB device.

  
  Additional info:
  The Debian Mixed-Mode support is described on https://wiki.debian.org/UEFI as follows...

  Support for mixed-mode systems: 64-bit system with 32-bit UEFI
  Some systems have been released containing 64-bit Intel Atom CPUs (such as the Bay Trail), but unfortunately use 32-bit UEFI firmware with no BIOS compatibility mode. Using the 32-bit UEFI x86 support, an i386 installation should be possible on these machines but it won't make the most of the 64-bit hardware.

  Debian Jessie (8.0) was the first Linux distribution to include full
  support for mixed-mode UEFI installation on these machines. The multi-
  arch installation media (available in netinst and DVD form) include
  the UEFI boot loaders necessary for both i386 and amd64 boot. By
  selecting "64-bit install" from the initial boot menu, debian-
  installer will install a 64-bit (amd64) version of Debian. The system
  will automatically detect that the underlying UEFI firmware is 32-bit
  and will install the appropriate version of grub-efi to work with it.

  Note that a 64-bit Graphical install of x86_64 Debian Jessie Linux
  using the multi-arch iso installs...

  /boot/efi/EFI/debian/boot.efi
  /boot/efi/EFI/debian/bootia32.efi

  to allow the x86_64 Linux kernel to boot on the EFI-32 motherboard.

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