lilo(8) - Linux man page
Name
lilo - install boot loaderSynopsis
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.
- -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 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.
-b bootdevboot=bootdev-ccompact-d dsecdelay=dsec-D labeldefault=label-i bootsectorinstall=bootsector-f filedisktab=file-llinear-Llba32-m mapfilemap=mapfile-P fixfix-table-P ignoreignore-table-s filebackup=file-S fileforce-backup=file-vverbose=levelSee 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).
