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65 .TH LILO 8 "2014-10-15" "24.1" "lilo documentation"
66 .\" For nroff, turn off justification. Always turn off hyphenation; it makes
67 .\" way too many mistakes in technical documents.
71 lilo \- install boot loader of LiLO
84 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-A\fR # activate/show active partition
86 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-E\fR # edit header or update a bitmap file
88 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-I\fR # inquire path name of current kernel
90 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-M\fR # write a Master Boot Loader on a device
92 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-q\fR # query map and show its content
94 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-R\fR # set default command line for next reboot
96 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB\-T\fR # tell more about specified topic
98 \&\fBlilo\fR \fB{\-u|\-U}\fR # uninstall LiLO boot loader
100 .IX Header "DESCRIPTION"
101 lilo installs a boot loader that will be activated the next time you boot
102 your system. The default configuration file \fI/etc/lilo.conf\fR (see manpage
103 \&\fIlilo.conf\fR\|(5)) will contain most options, but many, including those which
104 override the configuration file, may be specified on the command line.
107 .IP "\fB\-A\fR \fImaster-device [N]\fR" 4
108 .IX Item "-A master-device [N]"
109 Used with a single argument, inquire of active partition on device \fImaster-device\fR;
110 e.g. \fI/dev/sda\fR. With N==0: deactivate all partitions on the device. With N in
111 the range [1..n]: activate the specified partition and deactivate all others.
112 Normally, only primary partitions [1..4] may be activated, but if the 'Extended
113 Master Boot Loader' is present on the Master Boot Record (\s-1MBR\s0) of the device
114 (see the \-M option), any partition may be made active. Whether the actual \s-1OS\s0
115 in the partition will boot from a logical partition depends on the characteristics
116 of the \s-1OS\s0. \s-1LILO\s0 boot records for Linux may be booted from a logical partition.
117 .IP "\fB\-b\fR \fIbootdev\fR" 4
118 .IX Item "-b bootdev"
119 Set the boot device where the boot loader will be installed. For example
120 \&\fI\*(L"\-b /dev/sda\*(R"\fR set the Master Boot Record (\s-1MBR\s0) on the first disk as boot
121 device. \fI\*(L"\-b /dev/sdb5\*(R"\fR set the first logical partition on the second disk
123 .IP "\fB\-B\fR \fIbitmap-file\fR" 4
124 .IX Item "-B bitmap-file"
125 Define a bitmap file for the boot-time graphics screen, preferably one already
126 pre-processed with the \fI\-E\fR option.
129 Enable map compaction. This will merge read requests from adjacent sectors.
130 Speeds up the booting especially from floppy.
131 .IP "\fB\-C\fR \fIconfig-file\fR" 4
132 .IX Item "-C config-file"
133 Set another pathname and filename for the configuration file. The default
134 configuration file is \fI/etc/lilo.conf\fR.
135 .IP "\fB\-d\fR \fIdelay-time\fR" 4
136 .IX Item "-d delay-time"
137 Set the delay time in tenths of a second ('20' = 2 sec) before automatically
138 booting the first image. This give you time to interrupt the automatic boot
139 process with: Shift, Alt, Ctrl, ScrollLock, or CapsLock. If interrupted, the
140 \&\fIboot:\fR prompt will be displayed.
142 This switch will be overridden by the appearance of \fIprompt\fR in the
144 .IP "\fB\-D\fR \fIlabel\fR" 4
146 Use the kernel with the given label as the default kernel to boot, instead of
147 the first one in the list of the configuration file.
148 .IP "\fB\-E\fR \fIfilename.xxx\fR" 4
149 .IX Item "-E filename.xxx"
150 If the extension \fB.xxx\fR is \fB.bmp\fR, then take the file to be a bitmap graphic file
151 for use in the \fIbitmap=\fR configuration file directive. Enter an interactive
152 editor to create or update the color/placement information in the \s-1LILO\s0 header
153 of this bitmap file. (see \fIbmp-colors\fR, \fIbmp-table\fR, and \fIbmp-timer\fR on the
154 manual page for \fIlilo.conf (5)\fR.)
156 If \fB.xxx\fR is \fB.dat\fR then take this file to be a configuration file to set bitmap
157 graphic parameters, which are transferred into the \s-1LILO\s0 header in the bitmap file
160 When a \fB.bmp\fR file is modified using a graphics editor (e.g. \s-1GIMP\s0), the \s-1LILO\s0
161 header will be lost. It can be restored using the \fBdat\fR file, which is used as
162 a text-based backup for the \s-1LILO\s0 header information.
163 .IP "\fB\-f\fR \fIdisk-tab\fR" 4
164 .IX Item "-f disk-tab"
165 Set another disk geometry parameter file. The default is \fI/etc/disktab\fR.
168 Override boot sector check for filesystems (e.g., swap, ext4, xfs ...) which
169 might be destroyed by the installation of the \s-1LILO\s0 boot sector on the first
170 sector of the partition if these filesystems use the first sector as a superblock.
172 Compare with \fI\-P ignore\fR, which bypasses certain partition table checks.
175 Generate 'cylinder/head/sector' (\s-1CHS\s0 geometric) disk addresses. Limited to cylinders
176 up to 1023. Forces compatibility with very old versions of \s-1LILO\s0 \fI(obsolete switch)\fR.
179 Override fatal halt if a \s-1RAID\s0 array does not have all disks active.
180 .IP "\fB\-I\fR \fIlabel [D|a|i|k|r|R]\fR" 4
181 .IX Item "-I label [D|a|i|k|r|R]"
182 \&\fBlabel\fR is taken to be the name of an image specified in the configuration file.
183 This command will print the path name of the corresponding kernel file, keytable
184 file, initial ramdisk file, root specification, or \*(L"append=\*(R" string (\*(L"i\*(R", \*(L"k\*(R",
185 \&\*(L"r\*(R", \*(L"R\*(R", or \*(L"a\*(R" option). The \*(L"D\*(R" option ignores the \fBlabel\fR parameter and
186 prints the default \*(L"image=\*(R" label, or the first \*(L"image=\*(R" label is selected if
187 no default \fBimage\fR is set.
190 Generate 24\-bit linear sector addresses instead of cylinder/head/sector addresses.
193 Generate 32\-bit Logical Block Addresses (\s-1LBA\s0) instead of cylinder/head/sector (\s-1CHS\s0)
194 addresses, allowing access to all partitions on disks with more than 1024 cylinders.
195 (This is the default geometry).
196 .IP "\fB\-m\fR \fImap-file\fR" 4
197 .IX Item "-m map-file"
198 Use another map file instead of the default file /boot/map.
199 .IP "\fB\-M\fR \fImaster-device\fR \fB{mbr|ext}\fR" 4
200 .IX Item "-M master-device {mbr|ext}"
201 Install a Master Boot Record on the device specified as master-device, selecting
202 the Standard or Extended Master Boot Loader per option. The primary partition
203 table on master-device is undisturbed. If no valid Volume-ID (serial number) is
204 present, then generate one and write it to the \s-1MBR\s0. If \fImbr\fR is set, the
205 Standard Master Boot Loader will search partitions 1\-4 for an active flag, and
206 boot the flagged partition. Only one active flag is allowed. If \fIext\fR is set,
207 the search for an active partition will include logical partitions as well.
208 The presence of the Extended Master Boot Loader on the Master Boot Record
209 (\s-1MBR\s0 = sector 0) of a disk affects the operation of the \fI\-A\fR option.
212 Require interactive entry of all passwords set as "" in the configuration file.
213 .IP "\fB\-P\fR \fI{fix|ignore|<global\-option\fR}>" 4
214 .IX Item "-P {fix|ignore|<global-option}>"
215 Fix or ignore 'corrupt' partition tables, e.g. partition tables with linear and
216 cylinder/head/sector addresses that do not correspond. Always try \fBignore\fR
217 first, as \fBfix\fR will re-write the partition table, possibly destroying all
218 partitions on the disk.
220 \&\fBignore\fR is also used to bypass the partition table check for partition types
221 within the partition table which might not allow the installation of a \s-1LILO\s0 boot
222 sector. Compare with the '\-F' flag, which overrides the check of the actual
225 \&\fB<global\-option>\fR allows the passing of any global option which may
226 appear in the global section (top) of the configuration file (\fI/etc/lilo.conf\fR).
227 For instance \fI'\-P nowarn'\fR will pass the 'nowarn' option, just as though 'nowarn'
228 appeared in the configuration file (same as the '\-w' switch). Similarly
229 \&\fI'\-P timeout=50'\fR will add or override the 'timeout=' line in the configuration
230 file. Note that the general \fB\-P\fR switch actually duplicates a number of command
231 line option switches. However, it is not strictly the same as some switches which
232 cause an override of other options; e.g. '\-g' (\-P geometric), '\-L' (\-P lba32).
235 List the currently mapped files. \fBlilo\fR maintains a file, by default \fI/boot/map\fR,
236 containing each name and location of the kernel(s) to boot. This option will list
237 the names therein. Use with \fB\-v\fR for more detailed information about the
238 installed boot loader.
239 .IP "\fB\-r\fR \fIroot-directory\fR" 4
240 .IX Item "-r root-directory"
241 Before doing anything else, do a \fI'chroot'\fR to the indicated directory. The new
242 root directory must contain a \fI/dev\fR directory and may need a /boot directory.
243 It may also need an \fI/etc/lilo.conf\fR file.
244 .IP "\fB\-R\fR \fIcommand-line\fR" 4
245 .IX Item "-R command-line"
246 This option sets the default command for the boot loader for the next time it
247 executes. After execution the boot loader will erase this line because it is a
248 once-only command. It is typically used in reboot scripts, just before calling
249 \&'shutdown \-r'. Used without any arguments, it will cancel a \fIlock\fR\-ed or
250 \&\fIfallback\fR command line.
252 This Command line starts with image identifier (as shown during map file update),
253 then space, then kernel parameters. The kernel parameters are appended to kernel
254 command line constructed routinely. In either case, it there were parameters
255 or not, such one-time command will be treated by loaders code, as if it is set
256 at 'boot:' prompt. This could lead to 'password:' prompt at boot time. Be warned!
257 Refer to \fI\fIlilo.conf\fI\|(5)\fR for details.
258 .IP "\fB\-s\fR \fIsave-file\fR" 4
259 .IX Item "-s save-file"
260 When lilo writes a new boot sector, it preserves the former contents of the boot
261 sector in a file, named by default /boot/boot.NNNN, where \s-1NNNN\s0 is the hexadecimal
262 representation of the major and minor device numbers of the drive/partition.
264 This option defines the backup save file in one of three ways: a save directory
265 (default is '/boot') using the default filename 'boot.NNNN' in the defined
266 directory; a pathname template to which '.NNNN' is appended (default would be
267 \&'/boot/boot'); or the full pathname of the file, which must include the correct
268 \&'.NNNN' suffix. When used with the \-u option, the full file pathname must be set.
269 .IP "\fB\-S\fR \fIsave-file\fR" 4
270 .IX Item "-S save-file"
271 Normally lilo will not overwrite an existing boot sector save file. This options
272 says that overwriting is to be forced. As with \-s, the setting may be of a save
273 directory, pathname template, or full pathname (which includes the '.NNNN' suffix).
276 Test only. Do not really write a new boot sector or map file. Use together with
277 \&\fB\-v\fR to find out what lilo is about to do.
278 .IP "\fB\-T\fR \fIoption\fR" 4
280 Print out system information, some of it extracted from system bios. This is more
281 convenient than booting the \s-1LILO\s0 diagnostic floppy on problem systems. \fBoption\fR
282 may be any one of the following:
285 \& help print a list of available diagnostics
286 \& ChRul list the partition types subject to
288 \& EBDA list Extended BIOS Data Area information
289 \& geom=<drive> list drive geometry for bios drive;
291 \& geom list drive geometry for all drives
292 \& table=<drive> list the primary partition table;
293 \& e.g. table=/dev/sda
294 \& video list graphic modes available to boot
297 .IP "\fB\-u\fR \fI[device\-name]\fR" 4
298 .IX Item "-u [device-name]"
299 Uninstall lilo by copying the saved boot sector back. The \fB\-s\fR and \fB\-C\fR switches
300 may be used with this option. The device-name is optional. A time-stamp is
302 .IP "\fB\-U\fR \fI[device\-name]\fR" 4
303 .IX Item "-U [device-name]"
304 The same as '\-u', but do not check the time-stamp.
305 .IP "\fB\-v\fR \fI[number]\fR" 4
306 .IX Item "-v [number]"
307 Increase verbosity. Giving one to five \fB\-v\fR options will make lilo more verbose.
308 The \fBnumber\fR (range 1..5) set verbosity level.
311 Print version number.
312 .IP "\fB\-w\fR\fI[+|\-]\fR" 4
314 Used as \fB\-w\fR or \fB\-w\-\fR to suppress warning messages. Used as '\-w+' to override
315 \&\fI'nowarn'\fR in the configuration file and show warning messages.
316 .IP "\fB\-x\fR \fIoption\fR" 4
318 For \s-1RAID\s0 installations only. The option may be any of the keywords: \fInone\fR,
319 \&\fIauto\fR, \fImbr\fR, \fImbr-only\fR, or a comma separated list of additional boot
320 devices (no spaces allowed in the list).
322 \&\s-1RAID\s0 installations write the boot record to the \s-1RAID\s0 partition. Conditional
323 writing of MBRs may occur to aid in making the \s-1RAID\s0 set bootable in a recovery
324 situation, but all default actions may be overridden. Action similar to previous
325 versions is achieved using the \fI'\-x mbr\-only'\fR switch.
328 Reserved for \s-1LILO\s0 internal use. May produce different output for different \s-1LILO\s0
329 versions. The line beginning \*(L"CFLAGS=\*(R" will contain the compiler options used to
330 generate this version of \s-1LILO\s0.
333 When used with the '\-M' switch, clears the Volume-ID. Usually used in the
334 following sequence to generate a new Volume-ID:
337 \& lilo \-z \-M /dev/sda
340 .IP "\fB\-Z\fR \fIoption\fR" 4
342 Tells the boot installer whether special precautions need to be taken because
343 the \s-1BIOS\s0 fails to pass the correct device code in \s-1DL\s0 (\-Z0). Or may specify
344 that the \s-1BIOS\s0 always gets \s-1DL\s0 right (\-Z1). Corresponds to, and overrides, the
345 configuration file option 'bios\-passes\-dl='.
347 .IX Header "CONFIG OPTIONS"
348 The above command line options correspond to the key words in the config file
352 \& \-b bootdev boot=bootdev
354 \& \-B file.bmp bitmap=file.bmp
356 \& \-d dsec delay=dsec
357 \& \-D label default=label
358 \& \-f file disktab=file
362 \& \-m mapfile map=mapfile
363 \& \-P fix fix\-table
364 \& \-P ignore ignore\-table
365 \& \-s file backup=file
366 \& \-S file force\-backup=file
369 \& \-x option raid\-extra\-boot=option
370 \& \-Z option bios\-passes\-dl=option
373 .IX Header "BOOT OPTIONS"
374 The options described here may be specified at boot time on the command line
375 when a kernel image is booted. These options are processed by \s-1LILO\s0, and are
376 removed from the command line before it is passed to the kernel, unless otherwise
380 Locks the command line, as though 'lock' had been defined in \fI/etc/lilo.conf\fR.
381 .IP "\fBmem=###[,K,M,G]\fR" 4
382 .IX Item "mem=###[,K,M,G]"
383 Set the maximum memory in the system in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes.
384 This option is not removed from the command line, and is always passed to the
388 Suppresses the \s-1BIOS\s0 data check. This option is reserved for use with
389 non-IBM-compliant \s-1BIOS\s0's which hang with the lines:
392 \& Loading...............
395 .IP "\fBvga=[\s-1ASK\s0,EXT,EXTENDED,NORMAL,###,0x###]\fR" 4
396 .IX Item "vga=[ASK,EXT,EXTENDED,NORMAL,###,0x###]"
397 Allows overriding the default video mode upon kernel startup.
399 .IX Header "BOOT ERRORS"
400 The boot process takes place in two stages. The first stage loader is a single
401 sector, and is loaded by the \s-1BIOS\s0 or by the loader in the \s-1MBR\s0. It loads the
402 multi-sector second stage loader, but is very space limited. When the first
403 stage loader gets control, it types the letter 'L'; when it is ready to
404 transfer control to the second stage loader it types the letter 'I'. If any
405 error occurs, like a disk read error, it will put out a hexadecimal error code
406 and then re-try the operation. All hex error codes are \s-1BIOS\s0 return values,
407 except for the lilo-generated codes: 40, 99 and 9A. A partial list of error
412 \& 01 invalid disk command
413 \& 02 address mark not found
414 \& 03 disk write\-protected
415 \& 04 sector not found
416 \& 06 floppy disk removed
418 \& 0A bad sector flag
420 \& 20 controller failure
421 \& 40 seek failure (BIOS)
422 \& 40 cylinder>1023 (LILO)
423 \& 99 invalid second stage index sector (LILO)
424 \& 9A no second stage loader signature (LILO)
425 \& AA drive not ready
426 \& FF sense operation failed
429 Error code 40 is generated by the \s-1BIOS\s0, or by \s-1LILO\s0 during the conversion of a
430 linear (24\-bit) disk address to a geometric (C:H:S) address. On older systems
431 which do not support lba32 (32\-bit) addressing, this error may also be generated.
432 Errors 99 and 9A usually mean the map file ('\-m' or 'map=') is not readable,
433 likely because \s-1LILO\s0 was not re-run after some system change, or there is a
434 geometry mismatch between what \s-1LILO\s0 used (lilo \-v3 to display) and what is
435 actually being used by the \s-1BIOS\s0 (one of the lilo diagnostic disks, available
436 in the source distribution, may be needed to diagnose this problem).
438 When the second stage loader has received control from the first stage, it
439 prints the letter 'L', and when it has initialized itself, including verifying
440 the \*(L"Descriptor Table\*(R" \- the list of kernels/others to boot \- it will print
441 the letter \*(L"O\*(R", to form the full word \*(L"\s-1LILO\s0\*(R", in uppercase.
443 All second stage loader error messages are English text and try to pinpoint,
444 more or less successfully, the point of failure.
447 Configuration file options 'backup' and 'force\-backup' should specify a backup
448 directory or backup file pathname template on all \s-1RAID\s0 installations. Use of an
449 explicit filename may not allow multiple backup files to be created correctly.
450 It is best to use the default mechanism, as it works correctly in all cases.
451 .SH "COPYRIGHT and LICENSE"
452 .IX Header "COPYRIGHT and LICENSE"
454 \& Copyright (C) 1992\-1998 Werner Almesberger
455 \& Copyright (C) 1999\-2007 John Coffman
456 \& Copyright (C) 2009\-2014 Joachim Wiedorn
459 Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
460 modification, are permitted under the terms of the \s-1BSD\s0 license found in
461 the \s-1COPYING\s0 file.
464 \&\fBlilo\fR was written by:
467 \& Werner Almesberger (version 0 to 21),
468 \& John Coffman (version 21.2 to 22.8),
469 \& Joachim Wiedorn (since version 23.0).
472 This manual page was written by Werner Almesberger and Joachim Wiedorn
473 <joodevel at joonet.de>.
475 .IX Header "SEE ALSO"
476 \&\fBlilo.conf\fR(5),
477 \&\fBliloconfig\fR(8),
478 \&\fBlilo-uuid-diskid\fR(8),
projects / rrq / maintain_lilo.git / blob