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 [Note: releases before 2011.05 didn't support DNS but IP only.]
126 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
127 By default, it is set to /live
128 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
129 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
130 on "/live" directory of the live medium
131 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
132 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
133 grml bootid=mybootid Use specified argument as identifier for the ISO.
134 mybootid is specified in /conf/bootid.txt on the ISO.
135 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
136 grml ignore_bootid Disable bootid verification.
137 [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
140 Debugging related settings:
141 ---------------------------
142 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose
143 grml debug=1 Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose and
144 display shell code being executed in initramfs.
145 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
146 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
147 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
149 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
151 Service related settings:
152 -------------------------
153 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
154 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
155 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
156 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
157 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
158 grml noblank Disable console blanking
159 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
160 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
161 grml small Do not start that many consoles
162 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
163 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
164 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
165 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
166 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
167 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
168 and interface, usage example:
169 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
170 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
171 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
172 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
173 grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
174 startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
175 which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
176 automatic startup of X by default.)
178 Accessibility related settings:
179 -------------------------------
180 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
181 grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
182 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
183 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
184 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
185 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
186 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
187 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
188 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
189 grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
190 Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
192 Hardware related settings:
193 --------------------------
194 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
195 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
196 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
197 grml nodmraid Do not enable present dmraid devices.
198 grml dmraid=on Automatically enable any present dmraid devices.
199 grml dmraid=off Actively try to stop any present dmraid devices.
200 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
201 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
202 grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
203 grml ethdevice=... Use specified network device for network boot instead of default (eth0)
204 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
205 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
206 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
207 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
208 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
209 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
210 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
211 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
212 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
213 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
214 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
215 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
216 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
217 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
218 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
219 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
220 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
221 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
222 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
223 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
224 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
225 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
226 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
227 grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
228 Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
229 to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
230 grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
231 grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
232 grml vga=normal No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
233 grml vga=ask Display menu for framebuffer mode
234 grml radeon.modeset=0 nomodeset Disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) for Radeon driver.
235 grml i915.modeset=0 nomodeset Disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) for Intel driver.
236 grml nouveau.modeset=0 nomodeset Disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS) for Nouveau driver.
238 Installation related settings:
239 ------------------------------
241 Caution: do *NOT* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
243 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
245 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
247 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/sda1
248 grub= where to install grub to, e.g.: grub=/dev/sda
249 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
250 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=http://cdn.debian.net/debian
251 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
253 Usage example for automatic installation:
255 debian2hd target=/dev/sda1 grub=/dev/sda mirror=http://cdn.debian.net/debian password=foobar
257 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
259 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
261 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
263 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
264 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
265 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
266 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
268 Usage example for booting:
269 grml2hd partition=/dev/sda4 mbr=/dev/sda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
271 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
273 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
278 *) If your Grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
279 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
280 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
281 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
282 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
283 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
284 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
285 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
286 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
287 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
289 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
290 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
291 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
292 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
294 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
295 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
296 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
297 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
298 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
300 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
301 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
302 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
303 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
304 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
305 the configuration framework of grml.
307 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
309 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
310 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
312 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
313 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
314 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
316 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start vlock or any other screensaver
317 that requires a password manually. There are no default passwords on
318 the live system - all accounts are LOCKED by default for security reasons.
319 Instead just invoke the script grml-lock which prompts for setting a
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