RME Audio DIGI32/8 Specifications download pdf (Page 9)

It is important to note that spaces should not be used in a boot argument, but only between separate

arguments. A list of values that are for a single argument are to be separated with a comma between the

values, and again without any spaces. See the following examples below.

ether=9,0x300,0xd0000,0xd4000,eth0 root=/dev/hda1 *RIGHT*

ether = 9, 0x300, 0xd0000, 0xd4000, eth0 root = /dev/hda1 *WRONG*

Once the Linux kernel is up and running, one can view the command line arguments that were in place at boot

by simply typing cat /proc/cmdline at a shell prompt.

2.1 LILO (LInux LOader)

The LILO program (LInux LOader) written by Werner Almesberger is the most commonly used. It has the

ability to boot various kernels, and stores the configuration information in a plain text file. Most distributions

ship with LILO as the default boot−loader. LILO can boot DOS, OS/2, Linux, FreeBSD, etc. without any

difficulties, and is quite flexible.

A typical configuration will have LILO stop and print LILO: shortly after you turn on your computer. It will

then wait for a few seconds for any optional input from the user, and failing that it will then boot the default

system. Typical system labels that people use in the LILO configuration files are linux and backup and

msdos. If you want to type in a boot argument, you type it in here, after typing in the system label that you

want LILO to boot from, as shown in the example below.

LILO: linux root=/dev/hda1

LILO comes with excellent documentation, and for the purposes of boot args discussed here, the LILO

append= command is of significant importance when one wants to add a boot time argument as a permanent

addition to the LILO config file. You simply add something like append = "foo=bar" to the

/etc/lilo.conf file. It can either be added at the top of the config file, making it apply to all sections, or

to a single system section by adding it inside an image= section. Please see the LILO documentation for a

more complete description.

2.2 LoadLin

The other commonly used Linux loader is `LoadLin' which is a DOS program that has the capability to launch

a Linux kernel from the DOS prompt (with boot−args) assuming that certain resources are available. This is

good for people that use DOS and want to launch into Linux from DOS.

It is also very useful if you have certain hardware which relies on the supplied DOS driver to put the hardware

into a known state. A common example is `SoundBlaster Compatible' sound cards that require the DOS driver

to set a few proprietary registers to put the card into a SB compatible mode. Booting DOS with the supplied

driver, and then loading Linux from the DOS prompt with LOADLIN.EXE avoids the reset of the card that

happens if one rebooted instead. Thus the card is left in a SB compatible mode and hence is useable under

Linux.

There are also other programs that can be used to boot Linux. For a complete list, please look at the programs

available on your local Linux ftp mirror, under system/Linux−boot/.

The Linux BootPrompt−HowTo

2.1 LILO (LInux LOader) 5

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RME Audio DIGI32/8 Specifications Page 9