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 mgetty
24 grub Boot Grub bootloader (special all-in-one-image)
27 hdt Boot Hardware Detection Tool (from syslinux project)
28 qemu Boot with special options for use in Qemu
29 vmware Boot with special options for use in VMware
31 Further documentation regarding the init process can be found at:
32 * http://git.grml.org/?p=live-initramfs-grml.git;a=blob_plain;f=manpages/live-initramfs.en.7.txt;hb=HEAD
33 * http://git.debian.org/?p=kernel/initramfs-tools.git;a=blob_plain;f=initramfs-tools.8;hb=HEAD
35 The following boot options can be combined.
36 Notice: not all of the 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 $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
44 grml gmt Use GMT-based time (UTC=yes)
45 grml utc Use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC=yes)
46 grml localtime Use local time (UTC=no)
47 grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use specified timezone for TZ
48 grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
49 grml setkeycodes Set some special function keys for MS/HP keyboards
51 Configuration settings:
52 -----------------------
53 grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Set the DCS dir (debs, config, scripts) to the root of this device
54 DCS dir defaults to the live image or a device labeled GRMLCFG
55 If a file /config.tbz exists, it is extracted from there.
56 /dev/fd0 for floppy disk
57 /dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
58 grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
59 grml netscript=server/file Download and execute file
60 grml partconf=/dev/hda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/hda2
61 to booting grml system
62 grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
63 instead of the default one (config.tbz)
64 grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
65 use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
66 grml persistent Enable persistency feature, more details available at
67 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency
68 grml hostname=... Set hostname
69 grml nodhcphostname Do not to set the hostname according to the dns information
70 grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
71 given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
72 (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
73 grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
74 copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
75 grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh
76 For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
77 will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh
78 grml debs=path-name-wildcard install Debian packages matching the path-name-wildcard in the
80 grml scripts=path-name execute script (defaulting to grml.sh) inside DCS dir. Path names
81 allowed. If path-name points to a directory, all scripts found in
82 the directory are executed.
83 grml config=path-name unpack archive that path-name points to
84 grml noautoconfig Disable searching for device labeled GRMLCFG
86 Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and 'man 1 grml-autoconfig'
87 for more information regarding the configuration framework of grml.
89 Booting related options:
90 ------------------------
91 grml2ram Copy Grml's squashfs file to RAM and run from there
92 grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
93 grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
94 Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
95 Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
96 corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default
98 grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy Grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
99 use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
100 grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device
101 Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
102 running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'
103 grml bootfrom=removable Restrict search for the live media to removable type only.
104 grml bootfrom=removable-usb Restrict search for the live media to usb mass storage only.
105 grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting
106 Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
107 the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
108 "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso"
109 Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
110 to prevent any typing errors
111 grml findiso=/grml_2010.04.iso Look for the specified ISO file on all disks where it usually
112 looks for the .squashfs file (so you don't have to know the device name
114 grml fetch=$IP/filename.squashfs Download a squashfs image from a given url, copying to ram and booting it.
115 Due to current limitations in busyboxs wget and DNS resolution, an URL
116 can not contain a hostname but an IP only.
117 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
118 By default, it is set to /live
119 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
120 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
121 on "/live" directory of the live medium
122 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
123 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
124 grml bootid=mybootid Use specified argument as identifier for the ISO.
125 mybootid is specified in /conf/bootid.txt on the ISO.
126 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
127 grml ignore_bootid Disable bootid verification.
128 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
131 Debugging related settings:
132 ---------------------------
133 debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be very verbose
134 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose
135 grml debug=1 Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose and
136 display shell code being executed in initramfs.
137 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
138 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
139 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
141 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
143 Service related settings:
144 -------------------------
145 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
146 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
147 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
148 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
149 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
150 grml noblank Disable console blanking
151 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
152 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
153 grml small Do not start that many consoles
154 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
155 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
156 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
157 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
158 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
159 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
160 and interface, usage example:
161 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
162 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
163 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
164 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
165 grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
166 startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
167 which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
168 automatic startup of X by default.)
170 Accessibility related settings:
171 -------------------------------
172 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
173 grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
174 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
175 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
176 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
177 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
178 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
179 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
180 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
181 grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
182 Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
184 Hardware related settings:
185 --------------------------
186 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
187 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
188 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
189 grml nodmraid Do not enable present dmraid devices.
190 grml dmraid=on Automatically enable any present dmraid devices.
191 grml dmraid=off Actively try to stop any present dmraid devices.
192 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
193 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
194 grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
195 grml ethdevice=... Use specified network device for network boot instead of default (eth0)
196 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
197 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
198 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
199 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
200 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
201 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
202 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
203 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
204 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
205 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
206 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
207 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
208 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
209 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
210 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
211 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
212 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
213 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
214 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
215 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
216 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
217 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
218 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
219 grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
220 Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
221 to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
222 grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
223 grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
224 grml vga=normal [video=ofonly] No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
225 grml vga=ask [video=ofonly] Display menu for framebuffer mode
227 Installation related settings:
228 ------------------------------
230 Caution: do *not* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
232 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
234 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
236 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/hda1
237 grub= where to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying, e.g.: grub=hd0
238 groot= specify root device for usage in grub (use grub syntax), e.g.: groot=hd0,0
239 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
240 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
241 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
243 Usage example for automatic installation:
245 debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
247 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
249 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
251 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
253 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
254 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
255 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
256 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
258 Usage example for booting:
259 grml2hd partition=/dev/hda4 mbr=/dev/hda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
261 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
263 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
268 *) If your Grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
269 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
270 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
271 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
272 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
273 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
274 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
275 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
276 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
277 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
279 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
280 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
281 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
282 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
284 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
285 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
286 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
287 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
288 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
290 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
291 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
292 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
293 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
294 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
295 the configuration framework of grml.
297 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
299 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
300 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
302 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
303 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
304 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
306 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start vlock or any other screensaver
307 that requires a password manually. There are no default passwords on
308 the live system - all accounts are LOCKED by default for security reasons.
309 Instead just invoke the script grml-lock which prompts for setting a
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