Which files exist in a standard GRUB 2 installation?

In a standard GRUB 2 installation, the file located at /boot/grub/grub.cfg is crucial because it is the primary configuration file used by GRUB 2 to define the boot menu and control the boot process. This file contains the entries for the operating systems and kernels that GRUB can boot, along with any associated parameters.

During the boot process, GRUB reads this configuration file to present the user with a selection of operating systems or kernels to boot and to determine the necessary instructions to load them. Unlike earlier versions of GRUB, GRUB 2 does not use stage files in the same way; instead, it consolidates necessary information and instructions into grub.cfg, making the boot configuration straightforward and powerful.

This makes grub.cfg an essential component of GRUB 2, which emphasizes dynamic configuration and ease of management compared to its predecessors. Other files pertinent to GRUB's functionality may exist, but grub.cfg is uniquely vital as it directly dictates the boot process itself.