Datasheet

Task 1.5: Edit Files

If you’re not sure what mode Vi is in, press the Esc key. This will return you

to command mode, from which you can re-enter insert mode, if necessary.

Unfortunately, terminology surrounding Vi modes is inconsistent at best. Command mode

is sometimes referred to as normal mode, and insert mode is sometimes called edit mode

or entry mode, for instance. Ex mode is often not described as a mode at all, but as colon

commands.

Basic Text-Editing Procedures

In this task, the lilo.conf entry for your kernel has been accidentally deleted, so you must

re-create this entry. Listing 1.1 shows the original lilo.conf file used in this example. If

you’re using a lilo.conf file from your computer or that you found on the Internet, it isn’t

likely to be identical, so you may need to adapt some of the details in the following procedure

in minor ways. Alternatively, you can type Listing 1.1 using a text editor with which you’re

already familiar and save it to a file on your disk.

Listing 1.1: Sample /etc/lilo.conf File

boot=/dev/sda

map=/boot/map

install=/boot/boot.b

prompt

default=linux

timeout=50

image=/boot/vmlinuz

label=linux

root=/dev/sda6

read-only

Don’t try editing your real /etc/lilo.conf file as a learning exercise; a mis-

take could render your system unbootable the next time you type lilo. You

might put your test lilo.conf file in your home directory for this exercise.

The first step to using Vi is to launch it and have it load the file. In this example, type vi

lilo.conf while in the directory holding the file. The result should resemble Figure 1.2,

which shows Vi running in a Konsole window. The tildes (~) down the left side of the display

indicate the end of the file. The bottom line shows the status of the last command—an implicit

file load command because you specified a filename when launching the program.

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