LILO (8)

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 booting (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 sector/head/cylinder addresses.

-\^P {fix|ignore}

Fix (or ignore) `corrupt' partition tables, i.e., partition tables with linear and sector/head/cylinder 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 command. 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.

l l.
-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 documentation

AUTHOR

Werner Almesberger (almesber@bernina.ethz.ch).