Notes for use of LILO on systems with NO keyboard
		(Version 22.7.2 and later)


INTRODUCTION
============

It is possible on some systems to run without a keyboard.   This may be
desirable on certain servers, if permitted by the BIOS.  Not all systems
will permit this mode of operation.

Without a keyboard, it may be desirable to alter the default descriptor
booted, rather than boot the default descriptor all the time.  That is
to say, if no keyboard is present on the system, then a different default
descriptor may be selected for booting.


LIMITATIONS
===========

The keyboard detection code accesses the ports used by the original IBM
PC/AT or PC/XT keyboard.  No attempt is made to check for the presence of
one of the newer USB keyboards.  The phase "no keyboard", therefore, means
"no IBM PC keyboard" throughout this document.

If anyone has any idea how to detect the presence/absence of a USB keyboard,
please contact the LILO maintainer at the e-mail address below.


USAGE
=====

After LILO has been reconfigured, two new keywords are available for use
in the configuration file (e.g., /etc/lilo.conf).  The global option:

nokbdefault = <descriptor>

specifies the label or alias of the descriptor which is to be booted instead
of the "default=<descr>" default, or the first descriptor (no usage of 
"default=").

Additionally, individual descriptors may be marked unavailable for booting
if no keyboard is present.  Note that with a serial console present (see
"serial=" in the "lilo.conf" man page or user manual) it is possible to 
select other boot descriptors.  If this is not desirable, then certain 
descriptors may be marked unbootable on an individual basis; viz.,

	...
	boot = /dev/hda
	default = linux
	nokbdefault = linux-nokbd
	read-only
	...
	image=/boot/vmlinuz
		label=linux		# default descriptor
		root=/dev/hda1
		initrd=/boot/initrd
		append=" ... standard options ..."
	image=/boot/vmlinuz2
		label=linux-nokbd
		root=/dev/hda1
		initrd=/boot/initrd2
		append=" ... no keyboard options, e.g, console=ttS0..."
	other=/dev/hda2
		label=DOS
		nokbdisable
		table=/dev/hda

In the example above, "linux", the first descriptor, is the default boot
selection (which may be overridden at the system console at boot time).
However, if no keyboard is plugged into the system, "linux-nokbd" will
be the default descriptor booted.  And further, with no keyboard, "DOS"
will not be a boot option.

Note that if the "nokbdefault=" line is omitted from the above configur-
ation file, then when no keyboard is present, the default boot will be
"linux", and "DOS" will still not be a boot option.

With no keyboard and no serial interface in use (see "serial=" in the
"lilo.conf" man pages), the "prompt" and "timeout=" options will be
ignored, and booting of the "nokbdefault=" (or "default=") image will
occur after the appropriate "delay=".  If either the keyboard or serial
interface is present, then "prompt" and "timeout=" will be honored
as documented.


RECONFIGURING
=============

The "NOKEYBOARD" compilation option and associated keywords "nokbdefault"
and "nokbdisable" are new with LILO version 22.7.2 of 25-Nov-2005.

Since the keyboard detection code accesses the hardware I/O ports directly,
this code is not included in the standard LILO distribution.  If the added
capability is desired, then LILO must be recompiled with an additional
compile-time option:  NOKEYBOARD.

The options used for compilation are described at the top of the LILO
"Makefile", and specified on the line which begins, "CONFIG=..."  To enable
the NOKEYBOARD option, simply append:  " -DNOKEYBOARD" to the final line
of the "CONFIG=" setting.  Now recompile LILO by executint the shell 
commands:

	> make clean		# set up for a clean compile
	> make all		# recompile all source codes
	> make install		# install the new boot loader

At this point you have added support for the configuration file 
"nokbdefault=" global option, and the "nokbdisable" local option.  Now
edit "/etc/lilo.conf", the default configuration file, and re-install
the boot loader by running:

	> lilo -t		# test installation
	> lilo			# actual installation


(end)
written 11/25/05 -- John Coffman <johninsd@san.rr.com>
updated 11/26/05 -- John Coffman