Specifications

The Linux BootPrompt−HowTo
by Paul Gortmaker.
v1.4, Mar 21, 2003
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. 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.
1. Introduction
1.1 Intended Audience and Applicability•
1.2 Related Documentation•
1.3 New Versions of this Document•
2. Overview of Boot Prompt Arguments
2.1 LILO (LInux LOader)•
2.2 LoadLin•
2.3 The ``rdev'' utility•
2.4 How the Kernel Sorts the Arguments•
2.5 Setting Environment Variables.•
2.6 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 Other Misc. Kernel Boot Arguments•
4. Boot Arguments to Control PCI Bus Behaviour (`pci=')
4.1 The `pci=assign−busses' Argument•
4.2 The `pci=bios' and `pci=nobios' Arguments•
4.3 The `pci=conf1' and `pci=conf2' Arguments•
4.4 The `pci=irqmask=' Argument•
4.5 The `pci=lastbus=' Argument•
4.6 The `pci=noacpi' Argument•
4.7 The `pci=nopeer' Argument•
4.8 The `pci=nosort' Argument•
4.9 The `pci=off' Argument•
4.10 The `pci=usepirqmask' Argument•
4.11 The `pci=rom' Argument•
The Linux BootPrompt−HowTo 1