lilo

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).