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The Linux BootPrompt-HowTo

by Paul Gortmaker.

v1.3, Sept 4, 2001

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This is the BootPrompt-Howto, which is a compilation of all the possible boot time arguments that can be passed to the Linux kernel at boot time. This includes all kernel and device parameters. A discussion of how the kernel sorts boot time arguments, along with an overview of some of the popular software used to boot Linux kernels is also included.

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1. Introduction

• 1.1 Intended Audience and Applicability
• 1.2 Related Documentation
• 1.3 The Linux Newsgroups
• 1.4 New Versions of this Document

2. Overview of Boot Prompt Arguments

• 2.1 General Notation
• 2.2 LILO (LInux LOader)
• 2.3 LoadLin
• 2.4 The ``rdev'' utility
• 2.5 How the Kernel Sorts the Arguments
• 2.6 Setting Environment Variables.
• 2.7 Passing Arguments to the `init' program

3. General Non-Device Specific Boot Args

• 3.1 Root Filesystem options
• 3.2 Options Relating to RAM Disk Management
• 3.3 Boot Arguments Related to Memory Handling
• 3.4 Boot Arguments for Network Settings with NFS Root Filesystem
• 3.5 Other Misc. Kernel Boot Arguments

4. Boot Arguments to Control PCI Bus Behaviour (`pci=')

• 4.1 The `pci=bios' and `pci=nobios' Arguments
• 4.2 The `pci=conf1' and `pci=conf2' Arguments
• 4.3 The `pci=io=' Argument
• 4.4 The `pci=nopeer' Argument
• 4.5 The `pci=nosort' Argument
• 4.6 The `pci=off' Argument
• 4.7 The `pci=reverse' Argument

5. Boot Arguments for Video Frame Buffer Drivers

• 5.1 The `video=map:...' Argument
• 5.2 The `video=scrollback:...' Argument
• 5.3 The `video=vc:...' Argument

6. Boot Arguments for SCSI Peripherals.

• 6.1 Arguments for Mid-level Drivers
• 6.2 Arguments for SCSI Host Adapter Drivers
• 6.3 SCSI Host Adapters that don't Accept Boot Args

7. Hard Disks

• 7.1 IDE Disk/CD-ROM Driver Parameters
• 7.2 Standard ST-506 Disk Driver Options (`hd=')
• 7.3 XT Disk Driver Options (`xd=')

8. The Sound Drivers

• 8.1 The AD1848 (`ad1848=')
• 8.2 The Adlib (`adlib=')
• 8.3 The MAD16 (`mad16=')
• 8.4 The ProAudioSpectrum PAS16 (`pas2=')
• 8.5 The SoundBlaster (`sb=')
• 8.6 The UART 401 (`uart401=')
• 8.7 The UART 6850 (`uart6850=')
• 8.8 The Yamaha OPL2/OPL3/OPL4 FM Synthesizer (`opl3=')
• 8.9 The Yamaha OPL3-SA FM Synthesizer (`opl3sa=')
• 8.10 The Yamaha OPL3-SA2/SA3 FM Synthesizer (`opl3sa2=')

9. CD-ROMs (Non-SCSI/ATAPI/IDE)

• 9.1 The Aztech Interface (`aztcd=')
• 9.2 The CDU-31A and CDU-33A Sony Interface (`cdu31a=')
• 9.3 The CDU-535 Sony Interface (`sonycd535=')
• 9.4 The GoldStar Interface (`gscd=')
• 9.5 The ISP16 Interface (`isp16=')
• 9.6 The Mitsumi Standard Interface (`mcd=')
• 9.7 The Mitsumi XA/MultiSession Interface (`mcdx=')
• 9.8 The Optics Storage Interface (`optcd=')
• 9.9 The Phillips CM206 Interface (`cm206=')
• 9.10 The Sanyo Interface (`sjcd=')
• 9.11 The SoundBlaster Pro Interface (`sbpcd=')

10. Serial and ISDN Drivers

• 10.1 The ICN ISDN driver (`icn=')
• 10.2 The PCBIT ISDN driver (`pcbit=')
• 10.3 The Teles ISDN driver (`teles=')
• 10.4 The DigiBoard Driver (`digi=')
• 10.5 The RISCom/8 Multiport Serial Driver (`riscom8=')
• 10.6 The Baycom Serial/Parallel Radio Modem (`baycom=')

11. Other Hardware Devices

• 11.1 Ethernet Devices (`ether=', `netdev=')
• 11.2 The Floppy Disk Driver (`floppy=')
• 11.3 The Bus Mouse Driver (`bmouse=')
• 11.4 The MS Bus Mouse Driver (`msmouse=')
• 11.5 The Printer Driver (`lp=')
• 11.6 The Parallel port IP driver (`plip=')

12. Copying, Translations, Closing, etc.

• 12.1 Copyright and Disclaimer
• 12.2 Closing

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