linux-boot-prober

Probe a partition

$ sudo linux-boot-prober [/dev/sdXY]

linux-boot-prober

linux-boot-prober is a utility designed to detect partitions containing operating systems that can be booted by a boot loader.
It scans available storage devices and partitions, searching for specific files or directory structures that indicate the presence of a bootable system.
The primary use case for this tool is within other applications, like boot loader configuration tools, that need to automatically determine which operating systems are available for booting. It's often incorporated into scripts or programs to simplify the process of adding or modifying boot entries. linux-boot-prober aids in automating the detection process for dual-boot and multi-boot setups. This tool helps reduce the likelihood of human error during the creation or modification of the configuration files. The utility simplifies configuration by automatically detecting other operating systems without demanding complex manual configuration.

linux-boot-prober does not directly modify boot configurations.
It only detects bootable partitions; any changes to the bootloader configuration must be done separately using other tools. Root privileges might be needed for accessing all partitions and device information.

linux-boot-prober is not typically used directly by end-users. It's called programmatically by bootloader configuration tools like grub-mkconfig or update-grub.
Therefore, there's no standard command-line usage to demonstrate. The output of the program is utilized by other programs.

The exact history of linux-boot-prober is hard to pinpoint as it is not a standalone command, but part of a larger boot system toolchain. Generally, the functionality it provides has existed within bootloader configuration scripts and tools for a long time.
Its development and usage evolved alongside bootloader technology, with improvements in detection methods and support for various filesystem types.
The tool helps in finding bootable partitions, which makes it part of the basic boot process for most Linux distros.

grub-mkconfig(8), update-grub(8), os-prober(8)