CHEATCODES AND HINTS FOR GRML
==============================================================================
-*IMPORTANT NOTICE*: Some bootoptions may not work as expected (and documented) yet
- because grml is based on a new framework named grml-live now - see
- http://grml.org/grml-live/ for details. Please report all bootoptions
- that do not work as expected. Thank you! http://grml.org/bugs/
+These options work from the (isolinux/grub) bootprompt of Grml based (live) systems.
-These options (can be combined) work from the (isolinux/grub) bootprompt:
+The following kernel options are available (do NOT use them as 'grml $OPTION',
+use them as '$OPTION'!):
grml Use default settings (same as just pressing return)
-grml2ram Copy grml's squashfs file to RAM and
+grml2ram Copy Grml's squashfs file to RAM and
run from there (compare with 'grml toram')
memtest Run Memtest86+ instead of Linux
fb1280x1024 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (1)
-fb1024x768 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (2) [notice: grml's default]
+fb1024x768 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (2) [notice: Grml's default]
fb800x600 Use fixed framebuffer graphics (3)
nofb Disable framebuffer
floppy Boot from floppydisk
bootchart Create chart of booting sequence in /var/log/bootchart.tgz
forensic Do not touch any harddisks during hardware recognition
serial Activate ttyS0 and start mgetty
+grub Boot Grub bootloader (special all-in-one-image)
dos Boot FreeDOS
-grub Boot into the Grub bootloader
+bsd Boot MirOS BSD
+hdt Boot Hardware Detection Tool (from syslinux project)
qemu Boot with special options for use in Qemu
vmware Boot with special options for use in VMware
-Important: if you notice any problems with one of the
-following options please report it to the grml-team:
-http://grml.org/bugs/
+Further documentation regarding the init process can be found at:
+* http://git.grml.org/?p=live-initramfs-grml.git;a=blob_plain;f=manpages/live-initramfs.en.7.txt;hb=HEAD
+* http://git.debian.org/?p=kernel/initramfs-tools.git;a=blob_plain;f=initramfs-tools.8;hb=HEAD
-Notice: not all of the following cheatcodes are available on all the grml flavours.
+The following boot options can be combined.
+Notice: not all of them are available on all the Grml flavours.
For example the X window system is not part of grml-small.
Regional settings:
grml lang=at|de|cn|da|es|fr|it Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
grml lang=nl|pl|ru|sk|tr|tw|us Specify language ($LANG, $LC_ALL, $LANGUAGE - utf8) + keyboard
grml lang=$LANG-iso Activate $LANG (use like in lines above) with iso-mode instead of utf8
-grml gmt Use GMT-based time
-grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use this timezone for TZ
+grml gmt Use GMT-based time (UTC=yes)
+grml utc Use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC=yes)
+grml localtime Use local time (UTC=no)
+grml tz=Europe/Vienna Use specified timezone for TZ
grml keyboard=us xkeyboard=us Use different keyboard layout (text-console/X)
grml setkeycodes Set some special function keys for MS/HP keyboards
Configuration settings:
-----------------------
-grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Execute "grml.sh" and extract config.tbz from a partition:
+grml myconfig=/dev/fd0 Set the DCS dir (debs, config, scripts) to the root of this device
+ DCS dir defaults to the live image or a device labeled GRMLCFG
+ If a file /config.tbz exists, it is extracted from there.
/dev/fd0 for floppy disk
/dev/sda1 for USB-stick/first SCSI-device
grml netconfig=server/config.tbz Download file and extract configuration archive
+grml netscript=server/file Download and execute file
grml partconf=/dev/hda2 Copy files specified in /etc/grml/partconf from /dev/hda2
to booting grml system
grml file=foobar.tbz Use specified file as name for configuration archive
instead of the default one (config.tbz)
grml extract=/etc Extract only /etc from configuration archive,
use it in combination with myconfig or netconfig
-grml home=/dev/hda2 Mount specified partition as grml homedir
-grml home=/dev/sda1/grml.img Mount loopback file as /home/grml
-grml home=scan Automatic search for grml homedir (using file grml.img)
-grml hostname=... Set hostname
-grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
- copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
+grml persistent Enable persistency feature, more details available at
+ http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency
+grml hostname=... Set hostname to given argument
+grml hostname Set a random hostname
+ [Note: only available with releases newer than 2010.04]
+grml nodhcphostname Do not to set the hostname according to the dns information
grml distri=... Set distribution name to given argument. If a jpg file named like the
given distri name can be found in directory desktop on the ISO
- (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
-grml unionfs Use unionfs instead of aufs as overlay filesystem
-
-Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and
-/usr/share/doc/grml-saveconfig/grml-config.html
-for more information regarding the configuration
-framework of grml.
+ (/cdrom/desktop/"$DISTRI") it will be taken as wallpaper for grml
+grml debnet Search through local partitions for file /etc/network/interfaces,
+ copy /etc/network to local system and restart networking then
+grml mypath=... Add specified option into $PATH of Zsh
+ For example when using "grml mypath=/foobar" then /foobar
+ will be added to the end of $PATH inside Zsh
+grml debs=path-name-wildcard install Debian packages matching the path-name-wildcard in the
+ DCS dir
+grml scripts=path-name execute script (defaulting to grml.sh) inside DCS dir. Path names
+ allowed. If path-name points to a directory, all scripts found in
+ the directory are executed.
+grml config=path-name unpack archive that path-name points to
+grml noautoconfig Disable searching for device labeled GRMLCFG
+
+Notice: Take a look at http://grml.org/config/ and 'man 1 grml-autoconfig'
+for more information regarding the configuration framework of grml.
Booting related options:
------------------------
-grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run
- from there (compare with 'grml2ram')
-grml tohd=/dev/hda1 Copy CD to HD partition and run from there
-grml fromhd Skip checking for grml on CD-ROM
-grml fromhd=/dev/hda1 Boot from previously copied CD-Image
-grml bootfrom=/dev/hda1 Access Image then boot from previously
- copied CD-Image
-grml bootfrom=/dev/hda1/GRML.iso Access image, boot from ISO-Image
-grml grml_dir=GRML Directory to search for on the CD
-grml grml_name=GRML SquashFS-File to search for on the CD
+grml2ram Copy Grml's squashfs file to RAM and run from there
+grml toram Copy the whole CD/medium to RAM and run from there
+grml toram=filename.squashfs Copy the specified file to RAM and run from there
+ Usage example: grml toram=grml-medium.squashfs
+ Notice: grml2ram is an alias for this option which
+ corresponds with the grml flavour settings by default
+
+grml tohd=/dev/sda1 Copy Grml's squashfs file to harddisk partition for later
+ use via "grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1"
+grml bootfrom=/dev/sda1 Use the squashfs file from directory 'live' of the specified device
+ Setup can be done booting 'grml tohd=/dev/sda1' or
+ running 'rsync -a --progress /live/image/live /mnt/sda1/'
+grml bootfrom=removable Restrict search for the live media to removable type only.
+grml bootfrom=removable-usb Restrict search for the live media to usb mass storage only.
+grml isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso Use specified ISO image for booting
+ Useful when booting as a rescue system from harddisk - just boot
+ the according grml kernel and initrd using the bootoptions
+ "boot=live isofrom=/dev/sda1/grml.iso"
+ Notice: "fromiso" does the same as "isofrom", it's just there
+ to prevent any typing errors
+grml findiso=/grml_2010.04.iso Look for the specified ISO file on all disks where it usually
+ looks for the .squashfs file (so you don't have to know the device name
+ as in isofrom=....).
+grml fetch=$IP/filename.squashfs Download a squashfs image from a given url, copying to ram and booting it.
+ Due to current limitations in busyboxs wget and DNS resolution, an URL
+ can not contain a hostname but an IP only.
+grml live-media-path=live Sets the path to the live filesystem on the medium
+ By default, it is set to /live
+grml module=grml Instead of using the default "$name.module" another file can
+ be specified without the extension ".module"; it should be placed
+ on "/live" directory of the live medium
+ Useful for Multiboot USB pen, see
+ http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen
+grml bootid=mybootid Use specified argument as identifier for the ISO.
+ mybootid is specified in /conf/bootid.txt on the ISO.
+ [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
+grml ignore_bootid Disable bootid verification.
+ [Note: only available since release 2010.04]
+
Debugging related settings:
---------------------------
-debug Get shells during process of booting
+debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be very verbose
+grml debug Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose
+grml debug=1 Get shells during process of booting, using GNU screen, be verbose and
+ display shell code being executed in initramfs.
+grml debug=noscreen Get shells during process of booting, verbose, but without using GNU screen
grml nocolor Disable colorized output while booting
-grml log Log error messages while booting and
+grml log Log error messages while booting to /tmp/grml.log.`date +%Y%m%d`"
+ and /var/log/boot
grml testcd Check CD data integrity and md5sums
Service related settings:
-------------------------
grml ssh=password Set password for user grml and start ssh-server
grml startup=script Start $script instead of grml-quickconfig on startup
-grml nosyslog Do not start syslog-ng
+grml nosyslog Do not start syslog daemon
grml nogpm Disable GPM daemon
grml noconsolefont Disable setting of console font (using consolechars)
grml noblank Disable console blanking
grml gcc=3.4 gpp=3.4 Link /usr/bin/gcc, /usr/bin/cpp and /usr/bin/c++ to specified version
grml startx{=windowmanager} Start X window system automatically
Default window manager (if not provided): wm-ng (wrapper around fluxbox)
+grml nostartx If using startx as default bootoption the nostartx *disables* automatic
+ startup of X again. (This bootoption is relevant for grml based derivatives
+ which decide to enable startx by default only, plain grml does not use
+ automatic startup of X by default.)
Accessibility related settings:
-------------------------------
grml blind Start Braille-Terminal (no X)
+grml hwspeak Probe all available speakup hardware modules
grml swspeak Prepare system for use with software synthesizer through speakup
Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
+grml swspeak=espeak Use espeakup (if available) as connector to speakup
+ Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
+grml swspeak=speechd Use speech-dispatcher / speechd-up (if available) as connector to speakup
+ Run 'swspeak' after booting up to activate sound output
grml brltty=type,port,table Parameters for Braille device (e.g.: brltty=al,/dev/ttyS0,text.de.tbl)
-grml speakup_synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
+grml speakup.synth=... Use speakup kernel module with given hardware type
+ Usage example: speakup.synth=apollo
Hardware related settings:
--------------------------
grml swap Activate present/detected swap partitions
grml noswraid Disable scanning for software raid arrays (creates /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf)
grml swraid Enable automatic assembling of software raid arrays
+grml nodmraid Do not enable present dmraid devices.
+grml dmraid=on Automatically enable any present dmraid devices.
+grml dmraid=off Actively try to stop any present dmraid devices.
grml nolvm Disable scanning for Logical Volumes (LVM)
grml lvm Automatically activate Logival Volumes (LVM) during boot
-grml cdrom=/dev/... Use specifed device as CD-ROM device (used for mounting the grml-ISO)
+grml readonly Make sure all harddisk devices (/dev/hd* /dev/sd*) are forced to read-only mode
+grml ethdevice=... Use specified network device for network boot instead of default (eth0)
grml xmodule=ati|fbdev|i810|mga Use specified X.org-Module (1)
grml xmodule=nv|radeon|savage|s3 Use specified X.org-Module (2)
grml xmodule=radeon|svga|i810 Use specified X.org-Module (3)
grml no{pcmcia,scsi,swap,usb} Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
grml 915resolution=... Start resolution modify tool for Intel graphic chipset
usage: $MODE,$XRESO,$YRESO
-grml blacklist=modulename Completely disable loading of specified module via
- blacklisting through /etc/modprobe.d/grml
+grml blacklist=modulename[,module2] Completely disable loading of specified module(s) via
+ blacklisting through udev's /etc/modprobe.d/grml
grml fwtimeout=50 Set firmware timeout via /sys/class/firmware/timeout to specified value
grml nosound Mute sound devices (notice: this does not deactivate loading of sound drivers!)
grml vol=number Set mixer volumes to level $number
grml pci=bios Workaround for bad PCI controllers
grml ide2=0x180 nopcmcia Boot from PCMCIA-CD-ROM (some notebooks)
grml mem=128M Specify Memory size in MByte
-grml dma Enable DMA accelleration for ALL IDE-Drives
-grml nodma ide=nodma Disable DMA accelleration for ALL IDE-Drives
+grml libata.force=[ID:]VAL Force configurations for libata.
+ Usage example: grml libata.force=1:pio4
+ to force pio4 mode on device "ata1:00:"
+grml libata.dma=0 Disable DMA on PATA and SATA devices
+grml libata.ignore_hpa=1 Disable host protected area (which should enable the whole disk)
grml vga=normal [video=ofonly] No-framebuffer mode (does not influence X)
grml vga=ask [video=ofonly] Display menu for framebuffer mode
password= set passwort of user root without prompting for it, e.g.: password=AiTh5ahn
Usage example for automatic installation:
+
debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
See http://grml.org/grml-debootstrap/ for more information.
Additional notes:
-----------------
-*) Try "grml pci=irqmask=0x0e98" if (you have a notebook and) your
-PS/2 mouse doesn't work. (Possibly caused by a BIOS-flaw on your board,
-BIOS updates can help.) Sometimes, switching to the text console with
-Control-Alt-F1 and back to the X-screen with Control-Alt-F7 solves the
-problem without rebooting, since the X server reinitializes the mouse
-driver during that procedure.
-
-*) Bootfrom needs access to a running grml-System with the same Kernel
-as the Bootkernel, before it is able to mount the partition / ISO-Image.
-This should allow a poor mans install from NTFS-Partitions and makes it
-also possible to boot an ISO-Image directly. You can also use wildcards
-in the ISO-Filename, but it must be unique. So: If you have just one
-grml.iso on /dev/hda1 you can access it as: bootfrom=/dev/hda1/G*.iso,
-but if there are several, you need to make clear, which one you want.
-(Feature added by Fabian Franz.)
-
-*) If your grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
+*) If your Grml-CD makes strange noises during boot, or you see frequent
errors like "squashfs: read error", or programs are crashing randomly,
-then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, or your CD-burner
-created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media. This is
-the most common error reported. Please boot with "grml testcd" to check
-if the CD is OK, and/or even better, verify the MD5 checksums that are
-present on the mirrors before writing the CD. Check your CD low-level
-via running 'readcd -c2scan dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective
-IDE controllers cause this error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please
-read the grml-FAQ.
+then your CD image is probably defective or incomplete, your CD-burner
+created a defective CD due to wrong writing speed or bad media or your
+CD-ROM drive is broken. This is the most common error reported. Please
+boot with "grml testcd" to check if the CD is OK, and/or even better,
+verify the MD5 checksums that are present on the mirrors before writing
+the CD. Check your CD low-level via running 'readcd -c2scan
+dev=/dev/cdrom'. In some cases, defective IDE controllers cause this
+error if you have DMA enabled. Also, please read the grml-FAQ.
*) In case of a failing hardware autodetection, try booting with any of
the "no-" options as shown in the table above, like in
grml noagp noapm noapic acpi=off nodma
to skip some critical parts of the autodetection system.
-*) Some boards apparently don't pass the proper memory size to the
-linux-kernel. It may cause the message "Panic: cannot mount root file
-system" and the system hangs. Use "grml mem=128M" to solve that
-problem if your system has 128MByte memory for example (caution:
-you MUST use a capital "M" here).
+*) Some boards (especially those with E-ISA slots) apparently don't pass
+the proper memory size to the linux-kernel. It may cause the message
+"Panic: cannot mount root file system" and the system hangs. Use "grml
+mem=128M" to solve that problem if your system has 128MByte memory for
+example (caution: you MUST use a capital "M" here).
*) The "myconfig=/dev/partition" option allows you to reconfigure the
system after autoconfiguration by running a bourne shell script called
-b boot/isolinux/isolinux.bin -c boot/isolinux/boot.cat
as option to mkisofs. Otherwise your CD won't be bootable. The
-directory GRML, containig the compressed filesystem file "GRML",
+directory live, containing the squashfs compressed filesystem file,
must be located in the top level directory of the CD.
-*) Caution: screensavers: Don't start xlock/vlock or any other screensaver
-that requires a password. There are no default passwords on grml,
-i.e. all accounts are LOCKED unless you explicitly set a password.
-See also README_Security.txt about this issue.
-Hint: If you accidentially started a screensaver switch to one of the
-textconsoles by Control-Alt-F1 and kill the screensaver (or just set a
-password for the grml user). Take a look at the script grml-lock.
+*) Caution: screensavers: Don't start vlock or any other screensaver
+that requires a password manually. There are no default passwords on
+the live system - all accounts are LOCKED by default for security reasons.
+Instead just invoke the script grml-lock which prompts for setting a
+password.
# EOF
projects / grml-live.git / blobdiff