Boot parameters in HD install

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: Boot parameters in HD install
started by: bigpilot

Posted by bigpilot on April 27 2006,06:57

The HD install doesn't allow the user to enter boot parameters on startup. How about adding this and even allowing even allowing the user to save these permanently?

So on bootup you would get the boot line for 3 seconds or so:

boot:

Say you altered the boot parameters in some way it would prompt:

boot: noacpi
Save boot parameters? y/n:

On next boot the line would read:

boot: noacpi

After 3 seconds it would boot with the parameter you entered.

Posted by skaos on April 27 2006,09:56

If you're using lilo I think you can add the following towards the top of /etc/lilo.conf:

prompt
timeout = 30

Remember to rerun lilo for the new setting to take effect. You can also add an append line in the config file (this is an example I found by googling, your parameters will be different):

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.18
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-scsi-2.4.18
read-only
append="noacpi"

I guess there are similar options in grub.

Posted by doobit on April 27 2006,12:38

Grub does allow for boot commands on startup. I don't have it installed here, but there are instructions at the bottom of the GRUB boot splash screen to enter a boot command prompt where you can add your boot commands. I think its crtl-c or maybe just "c". I don't remember for sure. If you are happy with the result, then just edit /boot/grub/menu.lst
I think you are asking for more automation or prompting?

Posted by mikshaw on April 27 2006,15:25

In Grub, press "e" to change the selected system, press "e" again to edit the selected line, press "enter" to accept changes, then press "b" to boot with the current options. This changes only the current session, and will revert when you reboot.
If you like the change, do as doobit said.

I think what you're asking for is the modification of Grub itself. While this would not be out of the question, it seems that DSL development attempts to use applications without code modificcations as much as possible. As far as I can tell, this makes it much easier to deal with the GPL licence, since there is little custom code that would need to be made available. I might be way off here, but that's what it seems like to me.