Customize Linux with these 10 boot Version 1.

0
prompt options April 5, 2007

By Melonfire

Takeaway
Ten of the most useful Linux prompt options available to you at boot time are explored. These options can be
activated by typing them in at the LILO or GRUB boot prompt, with appropriate modifiers as necessary.

Linux boot prompts

One of the reasons Linux-based systems are so popular is their configurability -- almost every aspect of the
operating system's behavior can be customized, making it a wonderful platform for new application development
or for deployment into highly-customized networked environments. What most users don't realize, however, is that
this customization can begin even before the system starts, at the boot prompt itself.
Ten of the most useful Linux prompt options available to you at boot time are explored in Table A. These options
can be activated by typing them in at the LILO or GRUB boot prompt, with appropriate modifiers as necessary.
Note: Because kernel versions change quite rapidly, you should always consult your kernel's documentation
before using a particular boot option.

Page 1
Copyright ©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more downloads and a free TechRepublic membership, please visit [Link]
 Customize Linux with these 10 boot prompt options

Table A - Linux boot prompt options

Options Description Usage
root = <filesystem> This option defines the Linux root Use this option when you need to force
device. It tells the kernel which the kernel to mount a different
filesystem should be mounted as filesystem as root, typically when
the root filesystem (/). performing a rescue operation or setting
up a multi-boot system.
ro, rw These options control how the root Use these options to control whether
filesystem is mounted, whether programs can write to the root file
read-only or read-write. system. Typically, the ro option is used
when the file system is damaged and
needs to be examined and repaired.
init = <path> The init process is the system Use this option to alter the binary used
initialization process -- the first as the initialization process, often used
process the system runs. This to boot the system without a password
option controls the path to this or run a custom startup sequence.
initialization process.
initrd = <path to image> The Linux boot loader has the Use this option for dual-phase startup,
capability to load a bare-bones first using a generic kernel configuration
system from a RAM disk image. and then loading a customized
This option tells the boot loader configuration on top of it. This is most
where to find this disk image. useful when working in environments
with wildly different hardware
configurations, or when developing a
modular kernel, perhaps on low-
resource systems.
single This option forces the system to Use this option to activate your Linux
boot in single-user mode. system without multi-user support,
typically for rescue operations or when
performing administrative tasks that
require exclusive access to system
resources.
mem = <size> K|G|M This option tells the kernel to use Use this option to restrict the amount of
only the specified amount of memory available to the kernel, usually
memory. The amount may be for simulating kernel performance on
specified in kilobytes (K), low-resource systems with limited
megabytes (M) or gigabytes (G). memory.
debug This option tells the kernel to Use this option when developing new
activate its built-in debugging kernel-level code, to test your changes
features. Debugging messages are or to view internal status messages sent
sent to the appropriate event log. by the kernel.
vga = <mode> This option controls the VGA mode Use this option to alter the kernel video
the kernel will use. mode, or to present the user with a list
of available video modes to choose
from.

Page 2
Copyright ©2006 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more downloads and a free TechRepublic membership, please visit [Link]
 Customize Linux with these 10 boot prompt options

Options Description Usage

panic = <seconds> Typically, if a critical error occurs, Use this option to automatically reboot
the kernel "panics" and halts the the system in the event of a critical
system completely. A manual error, particularly useful in the case of
reboot is required to restart the unattended server systems.
system. This option alters this
behavior, by specifying the number
of seconds the kernel should wait
before automatically rebooting the
system.
profile = <precision> This option activates kernel Use this option to analyze kernel
profiling, which is a simple way to internals and performance, typically
analyze overhead and understand when developing kernel-level code.
which kernel functions are
consuming the most resources.
Profiling information is stored in
/proc/profile.

Additional resources
• TechRepublic's Downloads RSS Feed
• Sign up for TechRepublic's Downloads Weekly Update newsletter
• Sign up for TechRepublic's Linux NetNote newsletter
• Check out all of TechRepublic's free newsletters

Version history
Version: 1.0
Published: April 5, 2007

Tell us what you think

TechRepublic downloads are designed to help you get your job done as painlessly and effectively as possible.
Because we're continually looking for ways to improve the usefulness of these tools, we need your feedback.
Please take a minute to drop us a line and tell us how well this download worked for you and offer your
suggestions for improvement.

Thanks!

—The TechRepublic Downloads Team

Page 3
Copyright ©2006 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.
For more downloads and a free TechRepublic membership, please visit [Link]