Computer Science
LILO(8) LILO(8)
NAME
lilo - install boot loader
SYNOPSIS
Main function:
/sbin/lilo - install boot loader
Auxiliary uses:
/sbin/lilo -q - query map
/sbin/lilo -R - set default command line for next reboot
/sbin/lilo -I - inquire path name of current kernel
/sbin/lilo {-u|-U} - uninstall lilo
DESCRIPTION
lilo installs a boot loader that will be activated next
time you boot. It has lots of options.
-v Increase verbosity. Giving one or more -v options
will make lilo more verbose.
-q List the currently mapped files. lilo maintains a
file, by default /boot/map, containing the name and
location of the kernel(s) to boot. This option
will list the names therein.
-m map-file
Use specified map file instead of the default.
-C config-file
lilo reads its instructions about what files to map
from its config file, by default /etc/lilo.conf.
This option can be used to specify a non-default
config file.
-d delay
If you have specified several kernels, and press
Shift at boot-time, the boot loader will present
you with a choice of which system to boot. After a
timeout period the first kernel in the list is
booted. This option specifies the timeout delay in
deciseconds.
-D label
Use the kernel with the given label, instead of the
first one in the list, as the default kernel to
boot.
-r root-directory
Before doing anything else, do a chroot to the
indicated directory. Used for repairing a setup
from a boot floppy.
-t Test only. Do not really write a new boot sector or
map file. Use together with -v to find out what
lilo is about to do.
-c Enable map compaction. This will merge read
requests from adjacent sectors. Speeds up the boot-
ing (especially from floppy).
-f disk-tab
Specify disk geometry parameter file. (The default
is /etc/disktab.)
-i boot-sector
Specify a file to be used as the new boot sector.
(The default is /boot/boot.b.)
-l Generate linear sector addresses instead of sec-
tor/head/cylinder addresses.
-P {fix|ignore}
Fix (or ignore) `corrupt' partition tables, i.e.,
partition tables with linear and sector/head/cylin-
der addresses that do not correspond.
-s save-file
When lilo overwrites the boot sector, it preserves
the old contents in a file, by default
/boot/boot.NNNN where NNNN depends on the device.
This option specifies an alternate save file for
the boot sector. (Or, together with the -u option,
specifies from where to restore the boot sector.)
-S save-file
Normally, lilo will not overwrite an existing save
file. This options says that overwriting is
allowed.
-u device-name
Uninstall lilo, by copying the saved boot sector
back. A time-stamp is checked.
-U device-name
Idem, but do not check the time-stamp.
-R command line
This option sets the default command for the boot
loader the next time it executes. The boot loader
will then erase this line: this is a once-only com-
mand. It is typically used in reboot scripts, just
before calling `shutdown -r'.
-I label
The label of the running kernel can be found in the
environment variable BOOT_IMAGE after startup. This
command will print the corresponding path name on
stdout.
-V Print version number.
The above command line options correspond to the key words
in the config file indicated below.
-b bootdev boot=bootdev
-c compact
-d dsec delay=dsec
-D label default=label
-i bootsector install=bootsector
-f file disktab=file
-l linear
-m mapfile map=mapfile
-P fix fix-table
-P ignore ignore-table
-s file backup=file
-S file force-backup=file
-v verbose=level
SEE ALSO
lilo.conf(5).
The lilo distribution comes with very extensive documenta-
tion.
AUTHOR
Werner Almesberger (almesber@bernina.ethz.ch).
28 July 1995 1
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