lilo
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 ker-
nel(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 direc-
tory. 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 adja-
cent sectors. Speeds up the booting (especially from floppy).
-f disk-tab
Specify disk geometry parameter file. (The default is /etc/disk-
tab.)
-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.
-L Generate 32-bit Logical Block Addresses instead of C:H:S
addresses, allowing access to all partitions on disks greater
than 8.4Gb.
-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 con-
tents 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 con-
fig 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
-L lba32
-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).
John Coffman (johninsd@san.rr.com) (lba32 extensions).
20 March 2000 LILO(8)
