1 .\" Copyright (c) 1999 Daniel C. Sobral
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25 .\" $FreeBSD: src/sys/boot/forth/loader.conf.5,v 1.18 2002/08/27 01:02:56 trhodes Exp $
26 .\" $DragonFly: src/sys/boot/forth/loader.conf.5,v 1.10 2008/09/06 12:14:08 thomas Exp $
32 .Nd system bootstrap configuration information
36 contains descriptive information on bootstrapping the system. Through
37 it you can specify the kernel to be booted, parameters to be passed to
38 it, and additional modules to be loaded; and generally set all variables
44 must contain the following two lines for
46 to be automatically processed:
48 .Dl include loader.4th
53 exists at installworld time, one with the above lines will be installed.
57 format was defined explicitly to resemble
61 some settings are treated in a special fashion. Also, the
62 behavior of some settings is defined by the setting's suffix;
63 the prefix identifies which module the setting controls.
65 The general parsing rules are:
68 Spaces and empty lines are ignored.
70 A # sign will mark the remainder of the line as a comment.
72 Only one setting can be present on each line.
75 All settings have the following format:
79 Unless it belongs to one of the classes of settings that receive special
80 treatment, a setting will set the value of a
82 environment variable. The settings that receive special
83 treatment are listed below. Settings beginning with
85 below define the modules to be loaded and
86 may have any prefix; the prefix identifies a module.
87 All such settings sharing a common
88 prefix refer to the same module.
91 Immediately executes a
93 command. This type of setting cannot be processed by programs other
96 so its use should be avoided. Multiple instances of it will be processed
98 .It Ar loader_conf_files
99 Defines additional configuration files to be processed right after the
102 Name of the kernel to be loaded. If no kernel name is set, no additional
103 modules will be loaded.
104 .It Ar kernel_options
105 Flags to be passed to the kernel (see
108 Provides a password to be required by check-password before execution is
110 .It Ar verbose_loading
113 module names will be displayed as they are loaded.
117 that module will be loaded. If no name is defined (see below), the
118 module's name is taken to be the same as the prefix.
120 Defines the name of the module.
122 Defines the module's type. If none is given, it defaults to a kld module.
124 Flags and parameters to be passed to the module.
126 Commands to be executed before the module is loaded. Use of this setting
129 Commands to be executed after the module is loaded. Use of this setting
132 Commands to be executed if the loading of a module fails. Except for the
135 which aborts the bootstrap process, use of this setting should be avoided.
140 default settings can be ignored. The few of them which are important
142 .Bl -tag -width bootfile -offset indent
147 a bitmap will be loaded to be displayed on screen while booting.
150 Name of the bitmap to be loaded. Any other name can be used.
154 selects serial console,
156 selects the video console, and
158 selects a mute console
159 (useful for systems with neither a video console nor a serial port).
162 Shows a monochrome version of Fred, the official
165 boot menu appears. To make his life a bit more colorful, consider setting
175 you'll meet Fred, the official
177 mascot, in technicolor when the
178 boot menu appears (remember to set
183 .It Va loader_conf_files
184 .Pq Do loader.conf loader.conf.local Dc
185 .It Va splash_bmp_load
189 will load the splash screen module, making it possible to display a bmp image
190 on the screen while booting.
191 .It Va splash_pcx_load
195 will load the splash screen module, making it possible to display a pcx image
196 on the screen while booting.
197 .It Va userconfig_script_load
201 will load the userconfig data.
206 the vesa module will be loaded, enabling bitmaps above VGA resolution to
210 .Bl -tag -width /boot/defaults/loader.conf -compact
211 .It Pa /boot/defaults/loader.conf
212 default settings -- do not change this file.
213 .It Pa /boot/loader.4th
214 defines the commands used by loader to read and process
216 .It Pa /boot/loader.conf
217 user defined settings.
218 .It Pa /boot/loader.conf.local
219 machine-specific settings for sites with a common loader.conf.
220 .It Pa /boot/loader.rc
221 contains the instructions to automatically process
234 This manual page was written by
235 .An Daniel C. Sobral Aq dcs@FreeBSD.org .