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 $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
40 grml gmt Use GMT-based time
41 grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use this timezone for TZ
42 grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
43 grml setkeycodes Set some special function keys for MS/HP keyboards
45 Configuration settings:
46 -----------------------
47 grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Set the DCS dir (debs, config, scripts) to the root of this device
48 DCS dir defaults to the live image or a device labeled GRMLCFG
49 If a file /config.tbz exists, it is extracted from there.
50 /dev/fd0 for floppy disk
51 /dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
52 grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
53 grml netscript=server/file Download and execute file [Note: only available in releases >2009.05]
54 grml partconf=/dev/hda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/hda2
55 to booting grml system
56 grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
57 instead of the default one (config.tbz)
58 grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
59 use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
60 grml persistent Enable persistency feature, more details available at
61 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency
62 grml home=/dev/hda2 Mount specified partition as grml homedir
63 grml home=/dev/sda1/grml.img Mount loopback file as /home/grml
64 grml home=scan Automatic search for grml homedir (using file grml.img)
65 grml hostname=... Set hostname
66 grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
67 given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
68 (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
69 grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
70 copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
71 grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh
72 For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
73 will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh
74 grml debs=path-name-wildcard install Debian packages matching the path-name-wildcard in the
76 grml scripts=path-name execute script (defaulting to grml.sh) inside DCS dir. Path names
77 allowed. If path-name points to a directory, all scripts found in
78 the directory are executed.
79 grml config=path-name unpack archive that path-name points to
80 grml noautoconfig Disable searching for device labeled GRMLCFG
82 Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and 'man 1 grml-autoconfig'
83 for more information regarding the configuration framework of grml.
85 Booting related options:
86 ------------------------
87 grml2ram Copy grml's squashfs file to RAM and run from there
88 grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
89 grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
90 Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
91 Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
92 corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default
94 grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
95 use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
96 grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device
97 Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
98 running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'
99 grml bootfrom=removable Restrict search for the live media to removable type only.
100 grml bootfrom=removable-usb Restrict search for the live media to usb mass storage only.
101 grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting
102 Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
103 the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
104 "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso"
105 Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
106 to prevent any typing errors
107 grml findiso=/grml_2009.05.iso Look for the specified ISO file on all disks where it usually
108 looks for the .squashfs file (so you don't have to know the device name
109 as in isofrom=....). [Available since grml 2009.05]
110 grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
111 By default, it is set to /live
112 grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
113 be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
114 on "/live" directory of the live medium
115 Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
116 http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
118 Debugging related settings:
119 ---------------------------
120 debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, most verbose
121 grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, verbose
122 grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
123 grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
124 grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
126 grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
128 Service related settings:
129 -------------------------
130 grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
131 grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
132 grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
133 grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
134 grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
135 grml noblank Disable console blanking
136 grml tsplash Text based bootsplash
137 grml noquick Disable grml-quickconfig startup script
138 grml small Do not start that many consoles
139 grml wondershaper=eth0,1000,500 Set up basic traffic shaping
140 grml services={postfix,mysql,...} Start service(s) which have an init-script (/etc/init.d/)
141 grml welcome Welcome message via soundoutput
142 grml noeject Do NOT eject CD after halt/reboot
143 grml noprompt Do NOT prompt to remove the CD when halting/rebooting the system
144 grml distcc=$NETWORK,$INTERFACE Activate distcc-daemon to listen on specified network
145 and interface, usage example:
146 distcc=192.168.0.1/24,eth0
147 grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
148 grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
149 Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
150 grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
151 startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
152 which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
153 automatic startup of X by default.)
155 Accessibility related settings:
156 -------------------------------
157 grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
158 grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
159 grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
160 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
161 grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
162 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
163 grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
164 Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
165 grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
166 grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
167 Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
169 Hardware related settings:
170 --------------------------
171 grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
172 grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
173 grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
174 grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
175 grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
176 grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
177 grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
178 grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
179 grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
180 grml no{acpi,agp,apm,cpu,dhcp} Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
181 grml no{dma,fstab,modem} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
182 grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
183 grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
184 usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
185 grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
186 blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
187 grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
188 grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
189 grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
190 grml micvol=number Set mixer volume of microphone to level $number (default: 0)
191 grml pnpbios=off No PnP Bios initialization
192 grml acpi=off Disable ACPI Bios completely
193 grml nousb2 Disable initialization of USB 2.x controller(s)
194 grml nousb Disable initialization of USB in booting sequence
195 grml nofirewire Disable initialization of firewire devices in booting sequence
196 grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98 Try this, if PS/2 mouse doesn't work *)
197 grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
198 grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
199 grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
200 grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
201 Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
202 to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
203 grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
204 grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
205 grml vga=normal [video=ofonly] No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
206 grml vga=ask [video=ofonly] Display menu for framebuffer mode
208 Installation related settings:
209 ------------------------------
211 Caution: do *not* use the grml2hd and/or debian2hd bootoption if you do not know what you are doing!
213 Install plain Debian via debian2hd bootoption (which runs grml-debootstrap in non-interactive mode):
215 debian2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for debian2hd are:
217 target= target partition/directory of the new Debian system, e.g.: target=/dev/hda1
218 grub= where to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying, e.g.: grub=hd0
219 groot= specify root device for usage in grub (use grub syntax), e.g.: groot=hd0,0
220 release= specify release of new Debian system (default is stable), e.g.: release=sid
221 mirror= specify mirror for apt-get/aptitude, e,g.: mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
222 password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
224 Usage example for automatic installation:
226 debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
228 See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
230 Install grml via grml2hd bootoption (which runs grml2hd in non-interactive mode):
232 grml2hd <options> ... whereas valid options for grml2hd are:
234 user= user name for user which should be used at hd-install
235 filesystem={ext2|ext3|reiserfs|reiser4|jfs|xfs} filesystem to be used
236 mbr=/dev/... partition where MBR should be installed (default:=partition)
237 partition=/dev/... partition where grml should be installed
239 Usage example for booting:
240 grml2hd partition=/dev/hda4 mbr=/dev/hda filesystem=ext3 user=mika
242 Passwords of user root and user are "grml" - please adjust after hd-install!
244 See http://grml.org/grml2hd/ for more information.
249 *) Try "grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98" if (you have a notebook and) your
250 PS/2 mouse doesn't work. (Possibly caused by a BIOS-flaw on your board,
251 BIOS updates can help.) Sometimes, switching to the text console with
252 Control-Alt-F1 and back to the X-screen with Control-Alt-F7 solves the
253 problem without rebooting, since the X server reinitializes the mouse
254 driver during that procedure.
256 *) If your grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
257 errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
258 then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
259 created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
260 CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
261 boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
262 verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
263 the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
264 dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
265 error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
267 *) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
268 the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
269 grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
270 to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
272 *) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
273 the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
274 "Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
275 mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
276 example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
278 *) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
279 system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
280 "grml.sh" and/or extracting configuration files from a file named
281 config.tbz from the root directory on the given device (or floppy).
282 Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ for more information regarding
283 the configuration framework of grml.
285 *) If you wish to remaster the CD, please don't forget to specify
287 -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table \
288 -b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
290 as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
291 directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
292 must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
294 *) Caution: screensavers: Don't start xlock/vlock or any other screensaver
295 that requires a password. There are no default passwords on grml,
296 i.e. all accounts are LOCKED unless you explicitly set a password.
297 See also README.txt about this issue.
298 Hint: If you accidentially started a screensaver switch to one of the
299 textconsoles by Control-Alt-F1 and kill the screensaver (or just set a
300 password for the grml user). Take a look at the script grml-lock.
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