Final answer:
The stages of the GRUB boot loader for Linux include: BIOS phase, MBR phase, Stage 1 phase, Stage 1.5 phase, Stage 2 phase, and Kernel phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
GRUB Boot Loader Stages for Linux:
The BIOS phase: The system BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) runs tests on the hardware and identifies the boot device.
The MBR phase: The Master Boot Record (MBR) is read from the boot device. The MBR contains information on the location and size of the boot loader.
The Stage 1 phase: The Stage 1 boot loader, often called the GRUB core, is loaded into memory and initial hardware setup is performed.
The Stage 1.5 phase: This stage is specific to the GRUB Legacy bootloader. It loads additional modules necessary for accessing the file system from which the kernel will be loaded.
The Stage 2 phase: The Stage 2 boot loader, known as the GRUB menu, is displayed. It allows the user to select the operating system to boot or enter advanced options.
The Kernel phase: Once an operating system is selected, the kernel is loaded into memory and takes control of the boot process.