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
25 grub Boot into the Grub bootloader
26 qemu Boot with special options for use in Qemu
27 vmware Boot with special options for use in VMware
29 The following boot options can be combined.
30 Notice: not all of the them are available on all the grml flavours.
31 For example the X window system is not part of grml-small.
35 grml lang=at|de|cn|da|es|fr|it Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
36 grml lang=nl|pl|ru|sk|tr|tw|us Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
37 grml lang=$LANG-iso Activate $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
38 grml gmt Use GMT-based time
39 grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use this timezone for TZ
40 grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
41 grml setkeycodes Set some special function keys for MS/HP keyboards
43 Configuration settings:
44 -----------------------
45 grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Execute "grml.sh" and extract config.tbz from a partition:
46 /dev/fd0 for floppy disk
47 /dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
48 grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
49 grml partconf=/dev/hda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/hda2
50 to booting grml system
51 grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
52 instead of the default one (config.tbz)
53 grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
54 use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
55 grml home=/dev/hda2 Mount specified partition as grml homedir
56 grml home=/dev/sda1/grml.img Mount loopback file as /home/grml
57 grml home=scan Automatic search for grml homedir (using file grml.img)
58 grml hostname=... Set hostname
59 grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
60 given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
61 (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
62 grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
63 copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
64 grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh.
65 For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
66 will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh.
68 Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and /usr/share/doc/grml-saveconfig/grml-config.html
69 for more information regarding the configuration framework of grml.
71 Booting related options:
72 ------------------------
73 grml2ram Copy grml's squashfs file to RAM and run from there
74 grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
75 grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
76 Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
77 Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
78 corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default.
80 grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
81 use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
82 grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device.
83 Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
84 running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'.
85 grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting.
86 Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
87 the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
88 "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso".
89 Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
90 to prevent any typing errors.
92 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium.
93 By default, it is set to /live.
94 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
95 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
96 on "/live" directory of the live medium.
97 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
98 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
100 Debugging related settings:
101 ---------------------------
102 debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, most verbose
103 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, verbose
104 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
105 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
106 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
108 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
110 Service related settings:
111 -------------------------
112 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
113 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
114 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
115 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
116 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
117 grml noblank Disable console blanking
118 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
119 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
120 grml small Do not start that many consoles
121 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
122 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
123 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
124 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
125 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
126 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
127 and interface, usage example:
128 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
129 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
130 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
131 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
133 Accessibility related settings:
134 -------------------------------
135 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
136 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
137 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
138 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup.
139 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
140 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup.
141 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
142 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
143 grml speakup_synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
145 Hardware related settings:
146 --------------------------
147 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
148 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
149 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
150 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
151 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
152 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
153 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
154 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
155 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
156 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
157 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
158 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
159 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
160 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
161 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
162 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
163 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
164 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
165 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
166 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
167 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
168 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
169 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
170 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
171 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
172 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
173 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
174 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
175 grml dma Enable DMA accelleration for ALL IDE-Drives
176 grml nodma ide=nodma Disable DMA accelleration for ALL IDE-Drives
177 grml vga=normal [video=ofonly] No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
178 grml vga=ask [video=ofonly] Display menu for framebuffer mode
180 Installation related settings:
181 ------------------------------
183 Caution: do *not* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
185 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
187 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
189 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/hda1
190 grub= where to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying, e.g.: grub=hd0
191 groot= specify root device for usage in grub (use grub syntax), e.g.: groot=hd0,0
192 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
193 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
194 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
196 Usage example for automatic installation:
198 debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
200 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
202 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
204 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
206 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
207 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
208 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
209 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
211 Usage example for booting:
212 grml2hd partition=/dev/hda4 mbr=/dev/hda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
214 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
216 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
221 *) Try "grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98" if (you have a notebook and) your
222 PS/2 mouse doesn't work. (Possibly caused by a BIOS-flaw on your board,
223 BIOS updates can help.) Sometimes, switching to the text console with
224 Control-Alt-F1 and back to the X-screen with Control-Alt-F7 solves the
225 problem without rebooting, since the X server reinitializes the mouse
226 driver during that procedure.
228 *) If your grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
229 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
230 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
231 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
232 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
233 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
234 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
235 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
236 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
237 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
239 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
240 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
241 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
242 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
244 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
245 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
246 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
247 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
248 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
250 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
251 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
252 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
253 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
254 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
255 the configuration framework of grml.
257 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
259 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
260 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
262 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
263 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
264 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
266 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start xlock/vlock or any other screensaver
267 that requires a password. There are no default passwords on grml,
268 i.e. all accounts are LOCKED unless you explicitly set a password.
269 See also README.txt about this issue.
270 Hint: If you accidentially started a screensaver switch to one of the
271 textconsoles by Control-Alt-F1 and kill the screensaver (or just set a
272 password for the grml user). Take a look at the script grml-lock.