User`s guide

5-9
Tips and Features for Administrators
Using the EFI Shell
The EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) Shell is a simple, interactive user interface that allows
EFI device drivers to be loaded, EFI applications to be launched, and operating systems to
be booted. In addition, the Shell provides a set of basic commands used to manage files and
the system environment variables.
The EFI Shell supports command line interface and batch scripting.
Entering the EFI Shell
To enter the EFI Shell:
1. From the PAM Tree, click Domain Manager → Power ON to power up the required
domain.
2. From the keyboard, press the Control key twice to display the KVM Switch Command
Menu.
3. To display the KVM Switch Command Menu from the keyboard:
a. If you have a KVM switch "Avocent SwitchView 1000" installed, press the "Scroll
Lock" key twice then the Space key.
b. If you have another KVM switch installed, press the Control key twice.
4. Select the required system channel port with the ↑↓ keys, according to configuration. See
KVM port configuration, in the User's Guide.
5. Press Enter to activate the required system channel and exit the Command Mode. After a
few seconds, the Boot Manager menu is displayed.
6. From the Boot Manager Menu, select the EFI Shell option with the ↑↓ keys and press
Enter.
When the EFI Shell is invoked, it first looks for commands in the file startup.nsh
on the
execution path defined by the environment. There is no requirement for a startup file to exist.
Once the startup file commands are completed, the Shell looks for commands from console
input device.
Note:
The system automatically boots on the first option in the list without user intervention after a
timeout. To modify timeout, use Set Auto Boot Timeout in the Boot Option Maintenance Menu.
Note:
It is possible to reset the KVM switch "Avocent SwitchView 1000", while pressing the "Scroll
Lock" key twice then the End key.
EFI Shell Command Syntax
The EFI Shell implements a programming language that provides control over the execution
of individual commands. When the Shell scans its input, it always treats certain characters
specially: (#, >, %, *, ?, [, ^, space, and newline).
When a command contains a defined alias, the Shell replaces the alias with its definition
(see alias command in this chapter). If the argument is prefixed with the ^ character,
however, the argument is treated as a literal argument and alias processing is not performed.
Note:
In interactive execution, the Shell performs variable substitution, then expands wildcards
before the command is executed.
In batch script execution, the Shell performs argument substitution, then variable substitution,
then expands wildcards before the command is executed.