NAME

     lilo - install boot loader

SYNOPSIS

     Main function:

      /sbin/lilo - install boot loader

     Auxiliary uses:

      /sbin/lilo -q - query map
      /sbin/lilo -R - set default command line for next reboot
      /sbin/lilo -I - inquire path name of current kernel
      /sbin/lilo {-u|-U} - uninstall lilo

DESCRIPTION

     lilo installs a boot loader that will be activated next time
     you boot.  It has lots of options.

     -v   Increase verbosity. Giving one or more -v options  will
          make lilo more verbose.

     -q   List the currently  mapped  files.   lilo  maintains  a
          file,  by  default  /boot/map,  containing the name and
          location of the kernel(s) to boot.   This  option  will
          list the names therein.

     -m map-file
          Use specified map file instead of the default.

     -C config-file
          lilo reads its instructions about  what  files  to  map
          from  its config file, by default /etc/lilo.conf.  This
          option can be used  to  specify  a  non-default  config
          file.

     -d delay
          If you have specified several kernels, and press  Shift
          at  boot-time,  the boot loader will present you with a
          choice of which system to boot. After a timeout  period
          the  first  kernel  in  the list is booted. This option
          specifies the timeout delay in deciseconds.

     -D label
          Use the kernel with the given  label,  instead  of  the
          first one in the list, as the default kernel to boot.

     -r root-directory
          Before doing anything else, do a chroot  to  the  indi-
          cated directory. Used for repairing a setup from a boot
          floppy.

     -t   Test only. Do not really write a new boot sector or map
          file.   Use  together  with -v to find out what lilo is
          about to do.

     -c   Enable map compaction. This will  merge  read  requests
          from  adjacent  sectors.  Speeds  up the booting (espe-
          cially from floppy).

     -f disk-tab
          Specify disk geometry parameter file. (The  default  is
          /etc/disktab.)

     -i boot-sector
          Specify a file to be used as the new boot sector.  (The
          default is /boot/boot.b.)

     -l   Generate   linear   sector   addresses    instead    of
          sector/head/cylinder addresses.

     -P {fix|ignore}
          Fix (or ignore) `corrupt' partition tables, i.e.,  par-
          tition  tables  with  linear  and  sector/head/cylinder
          addresses that do not correspond.

     -s save-file
          When lilo overwrites the boot sector, it preserves  the
          old  contents  in  a  file,  by default /boot/boot.NNNN
          where NNNN depends on the device. This option specifies
          an  alternate  save  file  for  the  boot  sector. (Or,
          together with the -u option, specifies  from  where  to
          restore the boot sector.)

     -S save-file
          Normally, lilo will  not  overwrite  an  existing  save
          file. This options says that overwriting is allowed.

     -u device-name
          Uninstall lilo, by copying the saved boot sector  back.
          A time-stamp is checked.

     -U device-name
          Idem, but do not check the time-stamp.

     -R command line
          This option sets  the  default  command  for  the  boot
          loader  the next time it executes. The boot loader will
          then erase this line: this is a once-only  command.  It
          is  typically  used in reboot scripts, just before cal-
          ling `shutdown -r'.

     -I label
          The label of the running kernel can  be  found  in  the
          environment  variable  BOOT_IMAGE  after  startup. This
          command will  print  the  corresponding  path  name  on
          stdout.

     -V   Print version number.


     The above command line options correspond to the  key  words
     in the config file indicated below.

          l  l.   -b  bootdev     boot=bootdev  -c   compact   -d
          dsec   delay=dsec     -D     label  default=label    -i
          bootsector  install=bootsector  -f  file   disktab=file
          -l   linear  -m  mapfile     map=mapfile -P fix    fix-
          table -P ignore ignore-table -s  file   backup=file  -S
          file   force-backup=file -v   verbose=level

SEE ALSO

     lilo.conf(5).
     The lilo distribution comes with very  extensive  documenta-
     tion.

AUTHOR

     Werner Almesberger (almesber@bernina.ethz.ch).