This is a elementary guide on how to alter GRUB background inwards Kali Linux (i.e. it’s truly Kali Linux GRUB splash image). Kali dev squad did few things that seems almost also much work, thence inwards this article I volition explicate i of ii things nigh GRUB together with somewhat brand this post service niggling unnecessarily long together with tiresome displace I similar to write! So hither goes …
Finding GRUB settings
This is unremarkably the get-go effect everyone faces, where create I look? There’s a many ways to uncovering GRUB settings. Users mightiness receive got their ain sentiment but I ever flora that update-grub is the easiest way. If yous run update-grub inwards a VMWare/VirtualBox, yous volition consider something similar this:
root@kali: # update-grub
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.0.0-kali1-amd64
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.0.0-kali1-amd64
No book groups found
done
root@kali: #
If you’re using a Dual Boot, Triple Boot together with thence yous volition consider GRUB goes inwards together with finds other OS’es equally well. However, the business office we’re interested is the background icon part, inwards my illustration this is what I consider (you volition consider just the same thing):
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
GRUB splash icon search order
In grub-2.02, it volition search for the splash image in the next companionship for a Debian based system:
- GRUB_BACKGROUND business inwards
/etc/default/grub - First icon flora inwards
/boot/grub/( to a greater extent than images found, it volition live taken alphanumerically ) - The icon specified inwards
/usr/share/desktop-base/grub_background.sh - The file listed inwards the WALLPAPER business inwards
/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme
Now hang onto this information together with nosotros volition presently revisit it.
Kali Linux GRUB splash image
As I operate Kali Linux (cause I similar create stuff), nosotros flora that Kali is using a background image from here: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
Just to live sure, let’s banking corporation gibe that .png file together with it’s properties.
root@kali: #
root@kali: # ls -l /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root thirty October 8 00:31 /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png -> /etc/alternatives/desktop-grub
root@kali: #
What? It’s just a symbolic link to /etc/alternatives/desktop-grub file? But /etc/alternatives/desktop-grub is non an icon file. Looks similar I need to banking corporation gibe that file together with it’s properties equally well.
root@kali: #
root@kali: # ls -l /etc/alternatives/desktop-grub
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 44 October 8 00:27 /etc/alternatives/desktop-grub -> /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png
root@kali: #
Alright, that’s confusing as! So /etc/alternatives/desktop-grub is some other symbolic link which points dorsum to/usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png
which is inwards the same folder nosotros started from. doh! That’s all I tin say. But at to the lowest degree straightaway nosotros tin just supersede that file together with larn it over with.
Before nosotros create that nosotros need to banking corporation gibe the properties of this file /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png together with ensure that nosotros volition download same type together with dimension file.
root@kali: #
root@kali: # file /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png
/usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png: PNG icon data, 640 x 480, 8-bit/color RGB, non-interlaced
root@kali: #
So this file is DEFINITELY a PNG icon data, 640 x 480 dimension.
GRUB background icon properties
GRUB 2 tin operate PNG, JPG/JPEG together with TGA images for the background. The icon must run into the next specifications:
JPG/JPEGimages must live8-bit(256 color)- Images should live non-indexed,
RGB
By default, if desktop-base bundle is installed, images conforming to the higher upwards specification volition live located inwards /usr/share/images/desktop-base/ directory. A quick Google search flora similar files. Out of those, I picked one.
root@kali: #
root@kali: # file Downloads/wallpaper-1.png
Downloads/wallpaper-1.png: PNG icon data, 640 x 480, 8-bit/color RGB, non-interlaced
root@kali: #
Option 1: supersede the image
Now nosotros only need to supersede this /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png file amongst our novel file. Note that this is the easiest fashion without mucking around grub-config files. If yous are familiar amongst GRUB, together with thence larn ahead together with simpy modify GRUB default config together with run update-grub.
As usual, I volition brand a backup of the master file past times renaming it to kali-grub.png.bkp
root@kali: #
root@kali: # mv /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png.bkp
root@kali: #
Now let’s re-create our downloaded file together with rename that to kali-grub.png.bkp.
root@kali: #
root@kali: # cp Downloads/wallpaper-1.png /usr/share/images/desktop-base/kali-grub.png
root@kali: #
And finally run update-grub
root@kali: # update-grub
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.0.0-kali1-amd64
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.0.0-kali1-amd64
No book groups found
done
root@kali: #
Next fourth dimension yous restart your Kali Linux, yous volition consider your ain icon equally the GRUB background. (GRUB splash image).
Following is what my novel GRUB splash icon looks similar inwards Kali Linux now. What nigh you? Tried this method yet?
This was the easiest together with safest way, if yous muck it upwards the worst, yous volition consider a Blue background inwards GRUB but volition all the same live able to login together with cook things later. Now if you’re confident, lets displace to ameliorate ways (bit complex) of changing GRUB settings. Next steps are to a greater extent than fun together with plant amongst whatever Linux using GRUB bootloader.
Now recollect those four places GRUB looks for a background splash image? Here are those again:
- GRUB_BACKGROUND business inwards
/etc/default/grub - First icon flora inwards
/boot/grub/( to a greater extent than images found, it volition live taken alphanumerically ) - The icon specified inwards
/usr/share/desktop-base/grub_background.sh - The file listed inwards the
WALLPAPERbusiness inwards/etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme
So lets in i lawsuit to a greater extent than endeavor few of these options inwards Kali Linux (or whatever Linux using GRUB2).
Option 2: Define an icon path in GRUB_BACKGROUND
So yous tin operate whatever of the higher upwards inwards the companionship of priority to brand GRUB display your ain images. The next is the content of /etc/default/grub file on my system.
root@kali: # vi /etc/default/grub
Add a business similar to this: GRUB_BACKGROUND=”/root/World-Map.jpg” where World-Map.jpg is the icon file yous desire to operate equally GRUB background.
# If yous alter this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
# For total documentation of the options inwards this file, see:
# information -f grub -n 'Simple configuration'
GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=15
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="initrd=/install/gtk/initrd.gz"GRUB_BACKGROUND="/root/World-Map.jpg"
Once changes has been done using whatever of the higher upwards methods, brand certain yous execute update-grub ascendency equally shown below.
root@kali: # update-grub
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found background: /root/World-Map.jpgFound background image: /root/World-Map.jpg
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.0.0-kali1-amd64
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.0.0-kali1-amd64
No book groups found
done
root@kali: #
Now, when yous kicking your machine, yous volition consider the customized icon inwards GRUB.
Option 3: Put an icon on /boot/grub/ folder
If cypher is specified inwards GRUB_BACKGROUND inwards /etc/default/grub file, GRUB ideally should pick get-go icon flora inwards /boot/grub/ folder together with operate that a its background. If GRUB finds to a greater extent than than i icon inwards /boot/grub/ folder, it volition operate the get-go alphanumerically icon name.
Option 4: Specify an icon path inwards grub_background.sh
If cypher is specified inwards GRUB_BACKGROUND inwards /etc/default/grub file or at that spot is no icon inwards /boot/grub/ folder, GRUB volition start looking into /usr/share/desktop-base/grub_background.sh file together with search for the icon path specified. For Kali Linux, it was defined inwards here. Every Linux distro has it’s ain receive got on it.
Option 5: Define an icon inwards WALLPAPER business inwards /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme file
This would live that lastly business office GRUB looking for a Background image. It volition search hither if everything else failed.
Conclusion
This post service was long, but I wanted to encompass a few of import basic things. If you’ve followed it carefully, yous volition empathize how to follow symbolic links dorsum together with forth inwards Kali Linux. You volition larn a VERY expert thought on just which places yous need to search to uncovering GRUB Background icon inwards whatever Linux. Just read a chip to a greater extent than to empathize how the colors inwards GRUB plant together with you’re all set.
