LILO

lilo − install boot loader

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

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.

SEE ALSO

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