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 The following boot options can be combined.
32 Notice: not all of the them are available on all the grml flavours.
33 For example the X window system is not part of grml-small.
37 grml lang=at|de|cn|da|es|fr|it Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
38 grml lang=nl|pl|ru|sk|tr|tw|us Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
39 grml lang=$LANG-iso Activate $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
40 grml gmt Use GMT-based time
41 grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use this timezone for TZ
42 grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
43 grml setkeycodes Set some special function keys for MS/HP keyboards
45 Configuration settings:
46 -----------------------
47 grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Set the DCS dir (debs, config, scripts) to the root of this device
48 DCS dir defaults to the live image or a device labeled GRMLCFG
49 If a file /config.tbz exists, it is extracted from there.
50 /dev/fd0 for floppy disk
51 /dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
52 grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
53 grml partconf=/dev/hda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/hda2
54 to booting grml system
55 grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
56 instead of the default one (config.tbz)
57 grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
58 use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
59 grml persistent Enable persistency feature, more details available at
60 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency
61 grml home=/dev/hda2 Mount specified partition as grml homedir
62 grml home=/dev/sda1/grml.img Mount loopback file as /home/grml
63 grml home=scan Automatic search for grml homedir (using file grml.img)
64 grml hostname=... Set hostname
65 grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
66 given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
67 (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
68 grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
69 copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
70 grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh
71 For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
72 will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh
73 grml debs=path-name-wildcard install Debian packages matching the path-name-wildcard in the
75 grml scripts=path-name execute script (defaulting to grml.sh) inside DCS dir. Path names
76 allowed. If path-name points to a directory, all scripts found in
77 the directory are executed.
78 grml config=path-name unpack archive that path-name points to
79 grml noautoconfig Disable searching for device labeled GRMLCFG
81 Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and 'man 1 grml-autoconfig'
82 for more information regarding the configuration framework of grml.
84 Booting related options:
85 ------------------------
86 grml2ram Copy grml's squashfs file to RAM and run from there
87 grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
88 grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
89 Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
90 Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
91 corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default
93 grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
94 use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
95 grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device
96 Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
97 running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'
98 grml bootfrom=removable Restrict search for the live media to removable type only.
99 grml bootfrom=removable-usb Restrict search for the live media to usb mass storage only.
100 grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting
101 Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
102 the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
103 "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso"
104 Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
105 to prevent any typing errors
106 grml findiso=/grml_2009.05.iso Look for the specified ISO file on all disks where it usually
107 looks for the .squashfs file (so you don't have to know the device name
108 as in isofrom=....). [Available since grml 2009.05]
109 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
110 By default, it is set to /live
111 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
112 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
113 on "/live" directory of the live medium
114 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
115 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
117 Debugging related settings:
118 ---------------------------
119 debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, most verbose
120 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, verbose
121 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
122 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
123 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
125 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
127 Service related settings:
128 -------------------------
129 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
130 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
131 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
132 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
133 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
134 grml noblank Disable console blanking
135 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
136 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
137 grml small Do not start that many consoles
138 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
139 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
140 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
141 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
142 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
143 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
144 and interface, usage example:
145 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
146 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
147 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
148 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
149 grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
150 startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
151 which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
152 automatic startup of X by default.)
154 Accessibility related settings:
155 -------------------------------
156 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
157 grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
158 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
159 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
160 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
161 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
162 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
163 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
164 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
165 grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
166 Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
168 Hardware related settings:
169 --------------------------
170 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
171 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
172 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
173 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
174 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
175 grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
176 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
177 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
178 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
179 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
180 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
181 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
182 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
183 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
184 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
185 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
186 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
187 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
188 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
189 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
190 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
191 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
192 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
193 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
194 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
195 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
196 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
197 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
198 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
199 grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
200 Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
201 to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
202 grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
203 grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
204 grml vga=normal [video=ofonly] No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
205 grml vga=ask [video=ofonly] Display menu for framebuffer mode
207 Installation related settings:
208 ------------------------------
210 Caution: do *not* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
212 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
214 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
216 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/hda1
217 grub= where to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying, e.g.: grub=hd0
218 groot= specify root device for usage in grub (use grub syntax), e.g.: groot=hd0,0
219 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
220 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
221 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
223 Usage example for automatic installation:
225 debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
227 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
229 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
231 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
233 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
234 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
235 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
236 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
238 Usage example for booting:
239 grml2hd partition=/dev/hda4 mbr=/dev/hda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
241 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
243 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
248 *) Try "grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98" if (you have a notebook and) your
249 PS/2 mouse doesn't work. (Possibly caused by a BIOS-flaw on your board,
250 BIOS updates can help.) Sometimes, switching to the text console with
251 Control-Alt-F1 and back to the X-screen with Control-Alt-F7 solves the
252 problem without rebooting, since the X server reinitializes the mouse
253 driver during that procedure.
255 *) If your grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
256 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
257 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
258 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
259 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
260 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
261 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
262 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
263 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
264 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
266 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
267 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
268 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
269 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
271 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
272 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
273 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
274 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
275 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
277 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
278 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
279 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
280 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
281 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
282 the configuration framework of grml.
284 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
286 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
287 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
289 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
290 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
291 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
293 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start xlock/vlock or any other screensaver
294 that requires a password. There are no default passwords on grml,
295 i.e. all accounts are LOCKED unless you explicitly set a password.
296 See also README.txt about this issue.
297 Hint: If you accidentially started a screensaver switch to one of the
298 textconsoles by Control-Alt-F1 and kill the screensaver (or just set a
299 password for the grml user). Take a look at the script grml-lock.
projects / grml-live.git / blob