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 $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
44 grml gmt Use GMT-based time
45 grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use this timezone for TZ
46 grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
47 grml setkeycodes Set some special function keys for MS/HP keyboards
49 Configuration settings:
50 -----------------------
51 grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Set the DCS dir (debs, config, scripts) to the root of this device
52 DCS dir defaults to the live image or a device labeled GRMLCFG
53 If a file /config.tbz exists, it is extracted from there.
54 /dev/fd0 for floppy disk
55 /dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
56 grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
57 grml netscript=server/file Download and execute file
58 grml partconf=/dev/hda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/hda2
59 to booting grml system
60 grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
61 instead of the default one (config.tbz)
62 grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
63 use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
64 grml persistent Enable persistency feature, more details available at
65 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency
66 grml hostname=... Set hostname
67 grml nodhcphostname Do not to set the hostname according to the dns information
68 grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
69 given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
70 (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
71 grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
72 copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
73 grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh
74 For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
75 will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh
76 grml debs=path-name-wildcard install Debian packages matching the path-name-wildcard in the
78 grml scripts=path-name execute script (defaulting to grml.sh) inside DCS dir. Path names
79 allowed. If path-name points to a directory, all scripts found in
80 the directory are executed.
81 grml config=path-name unpack archive that path-name points to
82 grml noautoconfig Disable searching for device labeled GRMLCFG
84 Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and 'man 1 grml-autoconfig'
85 for more information regarding the configuration framework of grml.
87 Booting related options:
88 ------------------------
89 grml2ram Copy Grml's squashfs file to RAM and run from there
90 grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
91 grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
92 Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
93 Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
94 corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default
96 grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy Grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
97 use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
98 grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device
99 Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
100 running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'
101 grml bootfrom=removable Restrict search for the live media to removable type only.
102 grml bootfrom=removable-usb Restrict search for the live media to usb mass storage only.
103 grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting
104 Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
105 the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
106 "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso"
107 Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
108 to prevent any typing errors
109 grml findiso=/grml_2010.04.iso Look for the specified ISO file on all disks where it usually
110 looks for the .squashfs file (so you don't have to know the device name
112 grml fetch=$IP/filename.squashfs Download a squashfs image from a given url, copying to ram and booting it.
113 Due to current limitations in busyboxs wget and DNS resolution, an URL
114 can not contain a hostname but an IP only.
115 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
116 By default, it is set to /live
117 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
118 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
119 on "/live" directory of the live medium
120 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
121 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
122 grml bootid=mybootid Use specified argument as identifier for the ISO.
123 mybootid is specified in /conf/bootid.txt on the ISO.
124 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
125 grml ignore_bootid Disable bootid verification.
126 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
129 Debugging related settings:
130 ---------------------------
131 debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be very verbose
132 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose
133 grml debug=1 Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose and
134 display shell code being executed in initramfs.
135 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
136 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
137 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
139 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
141 Service related settings:
142 -------------------------
143 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
144 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
145 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
146 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
147 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
148 grml noblank Disable console blanking
149 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
150 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
151 grml small Do not start that many consoles
152 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
153 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
154 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
155 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
156 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
157 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
158 and interface, usage example:
159 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
160 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
161 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
162 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
163 grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
164 startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
165 which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
166 automatic startup of X by default.)
168 Accessibility related settings:
169 -------------------------------
170 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
171 grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
172 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
173 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
174 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
175 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
176 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
177 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
178 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
179 grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
180 Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
182 Hardware related settings:
183 --------------------------
184 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
185 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
186 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
187 grml nodmraid Do not enable present dmraid devices.
188 grml dmraid=on Automatically enable any present dmraid devices.
189 grml dmraid=off Actively try to stop any present dmraid devices.
190 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
191 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
192 grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
193 grml ethdevice=... Use specified network device for network boot instead of default (eth0)
194 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
195 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
196 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
197 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
198 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
199 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
200 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
201 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
202 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
203 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
204 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
205 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
206 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
207 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
208 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
209 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
210 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
211 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
212 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
213 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
214 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
215 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
216 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
217 grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
218 Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
219 to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
220 grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
221 grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
222 grml vga=normal [video=ofonly] No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
223 grml vga=ask [video=ofonly] Display menu for framebuffer mode
225 Installation related settings:
226 ------------------------------
228 Caution: do *not* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
230 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
232 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
234 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/hda1
235 grub= where to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying, e.g.: grub=hd0
236 groot= specify root device for usage in grub (use grub syntax), e.g.: groot=hd0,0
237 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
238 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
239 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
241 Usage example for automatic installation:
243 debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
245 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
247 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
249 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
251 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
252 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
253 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
254 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
256 Usage example for booting:
257 grml2hd partition=/dev/hda4 mbr=/dev/hda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
259 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
261 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
266 *) If your Grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
267 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
268 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
269 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
270 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
271 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
272 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
273 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
274 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
275 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
277 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
278 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
279 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
280 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
282 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
283 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
284 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
285 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
286 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
288 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
289 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
290 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
291 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
292 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
293 the configuration framework of grml.
295 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
297 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
298 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
300 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
301 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
302 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
304 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start vlock or any other screensaver
305 that requires a password manually. There are no default passwords on
306 the live system - all accounts are LOCKED by default for security reasons.
307 Instead just invoke the script grml-lock which prompts for setting a
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