1 CHEATCODES AND HINTS FOR GRML
2 ==============================================================================
4 These options work from the (isolinux/grub) bootprompt of Grml based (live) systems.
6 The following kernel options are available (do NOT use them as 'grml $OPTION',
7 use them as '$OPTION'!):
9 grml Use default settings (same as just pressing return)
10 grml2ram Copy Grml's squashfs file to RAM and
11 run from there (compare with 'grml toram')
12 memtest Run Memtest86+ instead of Linux
13 fb1280x1024 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (1)
14 fb1024x768 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (2) [notice: Grml's default]
15 fb800x600 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (3)
16 nofb Disable framebuffer
17 floppy Boot from floppydisk
18 hd / hd1 / hd2 / hd3 Boot from (local) primary / secondary /... harddisk
19 failsafe Boot with (almost) no HW-detection
20 debug Get shells during process of booting for debugging
21 bootchart Create chart of booting sequence in /var/log/bootchart.tgz
22 forensic Do not touch any harddisks during hardware recognition
23 serial Activate ttyS0 and start a getty
24 grub Boot Grub bootloader (special all-in-one-image)
27 hdt Boot Hardware Detection Tool (from syslinux project)
29 Further documentation regarding the boot process can be found at:
30 * http://git.grml.org/?p=live-initramfs-grml.git;a=blob_plain;f=manpages/live-initramfs.en.7.txt;hb=HEAD
31 * http://git.grml.org/?p=live-boot-grml.git;a=blob;f=manpages/en/live-boot.7;hb=HEAD
32 * http://git.debian.org/?p=kernel/initramfs-tools.git;a=blob_plain;f=initramfs-tools.8;hb=HEAD
33 * http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt
35 The following boot options can be combined.
36 Notice: not all of them are available on all the Grml flavours.
37 For example the X window system is not part of grml-small.
41 grml lang=at|de|cn|da|es|fr|it Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
42 grml lang=nl|pl|ru|sk|tr|tw|us Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
43 grml lang=$LANG-iso Activate $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
44 grml gmt Use GMT-based time (UTC=yes)
45 grml utc Use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC=yes)
46 grml localtime Use local time (UTC=no)
47 grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use specified timezone for TZ
48 grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
50 Configuration settings:
51 -----------------------
52 grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Set the DCS dir (debs, config, scripts) to the root of this device
53 DCS dir defaults to the live image or a device labeled GRMLCFG
54 If a file /config.tbz exists, it is extracted from there.
55 /dev/fd0 for floppy disk
56 /dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
57 grml autoconfig=SOMELABEL Set the DCS dir to the root of the device labeled with SOMELABEL.
58 If undefined search for a device labeled with GRMLCFG.
59 grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
60 grml netscript=server/file Download and execute file
61 grml partconf=/dev/sda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/sda2
62 to booting grml system
63 grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
64 instead of the default one (config.tbz)
65 grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
66 use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
67 grml persistent=nofiles Enable persistency feature, more details available at
68 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency
69 Notice that the "=nofiles" argument is optional, though recommended
71 grml hostname=... Set hostname to given argument
72 grml hostname Set a random hostname
73 [Note: only available with releases newer than 2010.04]
74 grml nodhcphostname Do not to set the hostname according to the dns information
75 grml nonetworking Do not create/overwrite /etc/network/interface during startup
76 grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
77 given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
78 (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
79 grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
80 copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
81 grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh
82 For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
83 will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh
84 grml debs Install all Debian packages from the "debs" directory of your DCS
85 directory (see myconfig=, typically the root of your ISO image).
86 grml debs=path-name-wildcard Install Debian packages from DCS directory (see myconfig=,
87 typically the root of your ISO image). If path does not contain a
88 "/" the package(s) will be installed from directory "debs" of the
89 DCS directory instead. The "path-name-wildcard" can contain
90 wildcards (e.g. debs=rat* will install a packages starting with "rat"
91 from directory debs/).
92 grml scripts=path-name Execute script (defaulting to grml.sh) inside DCS dir. Path names
93 allowed. If path-name points to a directory, all scripts found in
94 the directory are executed.
95 grml config=path-name Unpack archive that path-name points to
96 grml noautoconfig Disable searching for device labeled GRMLCFG
98 Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and 'man 1 grml-autoconfig'
99 for more information regarding the configuration framework of Grml.
101 Booting related options:
102 ------------------------
103 grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
104 grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
105 Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
106 Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
107 corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default
108 grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy Grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
109 use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
110 grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device
111 Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
112 running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'
113 grml bootfrom=removable Restrict search for the live media to removable type only.
114 grml bootfrom=removable-usb Restrict search for the live media to usb mass storage only.
115 grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting
116 Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
117 the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
118 "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso"
119 Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
120 to prevent any typing errors
121 grml findiso=/grml_2010.12.iso Look for the specified ISO file on all disks where it usually
122 looks for the .squashfs file (so you don't have to know the device name
124 grml fetch=$IP/filename.squashfs Download a squashfs image from a given url, copying to ram and booting it.
125 Due to current limitations in busyboxs wget and DNS resolution, an URL
126 can not contain a hostname but an IP only.
127 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
128 By default, it is set to /live
129 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
130 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
131 on "/live" directory of the live medium
132 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
133 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
134 grml bootid=mybootid Use specified argument as identifier for the ISO.
135 mybootid is specified in /conf/bootid.txt on the ISO.
136 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
137 grml ignore_bootid Disable bootid verification.
138 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
141 Debugging related settings:
142 ---------------------------
143 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose
144 grml debug=1 Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose and
145 display shell code being executed in initramfs.
146 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
147 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
148 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
150 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
152 Service related settings:
153 -------------------------
154 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
155 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
156 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
157 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
158 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
159 grml noblank Disable console blanking
160 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
161 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
162 grml small Do not start that many consoles
163 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
164 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
165 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
166 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
167 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
168 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
169 and interface, usage example:
170 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
171 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
172 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
173 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
174 grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
175 startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
176 which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
177 automatic startup of X by default.)
179 Accessibility related settings:
180 -------------------------------
181 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
182 grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
183 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
184 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
185 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
186 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
187 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
188 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
189 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
190 grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
191 Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
193 Hardware related settings:
194 --------------------------
195 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
196 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
197 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
198 grml nodmraid Do not enable present dmraid devices.
199 grml dmraid=on Automatically enable any present dmraid devices.
200 grml dmraid=off Actively try to stop any present dmraid devices.
201 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
202 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
203 grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
204 grml ethdevice=... Use specified network device for network boot instead of default (eth0)
205 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
206 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
207 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
208 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
209 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
210 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
211 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
212 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
213 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
214 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
215 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
216 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
217 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
218 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
219 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
220 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
221 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
222 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
223 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
224 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
225 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
226 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
227 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
228 grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
229 Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
230 to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
231 grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
232 grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
233 grml vga=normal No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
234 grml vga=ask Display menu for framebuffer mode
235 grml radeon.modeset=0 nomodeset Disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) for Radeon driver.
236 grml i915.modeset=0 nomodeset Disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) for Intel driver.
237 grml nouveau.modeset=0 nomodeset Disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) for Nouveau driver.
239 Installation related settings:
240 ------------------------------
242 Caution: do *NOT* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
244 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
246 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
248 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/sda1
249 grub= where to install grub to, e.g.: grub=/dev/sda
250 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
251 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=http://cdn.debian.net/debian
252 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
254 Usage example for automatic installation:
256 debian2hd target=/dev/sda1 grub=/dev/sda mirror=http://cdn.debian.net/debian password=foobar
258 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
260 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
262 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
264 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
265 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
266 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
267 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
269 Usage example for booting:
270 grml2hd partition=/dev/sda4 mbr=/dev/sda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
272 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
274 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
279 *) If your Grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
280 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
281 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
282 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
283 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
284 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
285 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
286 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
287 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
288 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
290 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
291 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
292 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
293 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
295 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
296 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
297 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
298 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
299 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
301 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
302 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
303 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
304 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
305 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
306 the configuration framework of grml.
308 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
310 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
311 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
313 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
314 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
315 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
317 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start vlock or any other screensaver
318 that requires a password manually. There are no default passwords on
319 the live system - all accounts are LOCKED by default for security reasons.
320 Instead just invoke the script grml-lock which prompts for setting a
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