**What is an EFI stub?**
An EFI stub is *a kernel in the form of an EFI executable which can be directly booted from UEFI firmware.*
> **Is a bootloader required for EFI stubs?**
> *No*, a bootloader isn't required for EFI stubs.
# Kernel configuration
**What kernel configuration options must be enabled for EFI stub support?**
The kernel configuration options that must be enabled for EFI stub support are:
* EFI runtime service support (`CONFIG_EFI`).
* EFI stub support (`CONFIG_EFI_STUB`).
* EFI mixed-mode support (`CONFIG_EFI_MIXED`) - This setting is only required if you're booting a 64-bit kernel from 32-bit firmware, the CPU supports 64-bit mode, and EFI handover is enabled.
# Installation
**What partition do you have to create in order to use an EFI stub?**
The partition you have to create in order to use an EFI stub is *an EFI System Partition (ESP).*
# Automated
**What should you keep in mind with EFI stub booting and different UEFI vendors?**
With EFI stub booting and different UEFI vendors, you should keep in mind that *it's not guaranteed to work for all UEFI systems.*
**What package provides automated EFI stub booting?**
The package that provides automated EFI stub booting is *`sys-kernel/installkernel-38`.*
> **What USE flag needs to be enabled in order for `installkernel-38` to set up EFI stub booting?**
> In order for `installkernel-38` to set up EFI stub booting, the USE flag that needs to be enable is *the `efistub` USE flag.*
>
> **What does `installkernel-38` do when the `efistub` USE flag is enabled?**
> When the `efistub` USE flag is enabled, `installkernel-38` *relocates the regular boot layout from `/boot` to the `EFI/Gentoo` directory on the ESP.*
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