xref: /dragonfly/stand/boot/common/help.common (revision 7d3e9a5b)
1################################################################################
2# Thelp DDisplay command help
3
4	help [topic [subtopic]]
5	help index
6	?
7
8	The help command displays help on commands and their usage.
9
10	In command help, a term enclosed with <...> indicates a value as
11	described by the term.  A term enclosed with [...] is optional,
12	and may not be required by all forms of the command.
13
14	Some commands may not be available in `help'.  Use the `?' command
15	to list most available commands.
16
17	To boot another kernel than the default in kernel/, change directory
18	to the kernel directory, and execute `loadall' and `boot' commands.
19	E.g. to do a verbose boot of kernel in kernel.XXX/:
20
21		cd
22		cd kernel.XXX
23		loadall
24		boot -v
25
26	If needed, disable the ACPI driver with:
27
28		lunset acpi_load
29		set hint.acpi.0.disabled=1
30
31	If needed, disable the AHCI driver with:
32
33		lunset ahci_load
34		set hint.ahci.disabled=1
35
36	If needed, disable the EHCI driver with:
37
38		lunset ehci_load
39		set hint.ehci.0.disabled=1
40
41	If needed, disable the XHCI driver with:
42
43		lunset xhci_load
44		set hint.xhci.0.disabled=1
45
46	For more information on ACPI, AHCI, EHCI and XHCI use `help' on these
47	topics.
48
49################################################################################
50# T<variable>=<value> DAssign value to variable
51
52	<variable>=<value>
53
54	Assign value to variable.  The value is always assigned to local
55	variable <variable>.  If <variable> is in the list of known kernel
56	environment (kenv) variables or is a kernel tunable, the value is also
57	assigned to the kernel environment variable of the given name.
58	If the variable name contains a `.' it is considered a kernel tunable.
59	Local variables are unset if <value> is empty.  Kernel environment
60	variables will have empty value.
61
62	Two kinds of variables are maintained by loader(8) (this program):
63	local variables, that is for loader(8) use only, and kernel
64	environment variables, that kernel will have access to when it starts.
65	The assignment described above, will assign to a local variable and,
66	if applicable, also snoop assignment to kernel environment variable.
67
68	<value> can be a string or a string expressions containing literal
69	text and kernel environment variables, like `$VAR' or `${VAR}'.  E.g.:
70
71		VAR="Current device is $currdev"
72
73	Escape sequences like `\n' (newline) and `\OOO' (character with number
74	given in octal) can also be used.  This is actually a general facility
75	of loader(8) which can be used for arguments of all commands.
76
77################################################################################
78# TAHCI DControl AHCI module behaviour
79
80	$ahci_load
81
82	The AHCI driver provides support for SATA controllers conforming to
83	the Advanced Host Controller Interface specification.
84
85	The NATA driver provides support for some AHCI controllers, the AHCI
86	driver is used if both NATA and AHCI drivers provides support for a
87	controller.  If AHCI driver is disabled, NATA driver will be used.
88
89	If the ahci_load variable is set, the AHCI module will be loaded.
90	The AHCI driver can be disabled with:
91
92		lunset ahci_load
93		set hint.ahci.disabled=1
94
95	A link speed of 1.5Gb/s can be enforced with:
96
97		set hint.ahci.force150=1
98
99	To refrain from attempting to send some higher level ATA commands
100	which some devices might not properly implement use:
101
102		set hint.ahci.nofeatures=1
103
104	See ahci.4 man page (on booted system) for full description.
105
106################################################################################
107# Tautoboot DBoot after a delay
108
109	autoboot [<delay> [<prompt>]]
110
111	Displays <prompt> or a default prompt, and counts down <delay> seconds
112	before attempting to boot.  If <delay> is not specified, the default
113	value is $autoboot_delay.
114
115################################################################################
116# Tboot DBoot immediately
117
118	boot [-<flag> ...] [<kernelname>]
119
120	Boot the system.  If flags are specified, they are added to the
121	arguments for the kernel.  If <kernelname> is specified, and a kernel
122	has not already been loaded, it will be booted instead of the default
123	kernel.  <flag> values include:
124
125	-a  Same as `set boot_askname'
126	-C  Same as `set boot_cdrom'
127	-d  Same as `set boot_ddb'
128	-g  Same as `set boot_gdb'
129	-h  Same as `set boot_serial'
130	-m  Mute the system console
131	-p  Pause after each attached device during device probing phase
132	-r  Use statically configured device for root file system
133	-s  Same as `set boot_single'
134	-V  Same as `set boot_vidcons'
135	-v  Same as `set boot_verbose'
136
137	<flag>s can also be set via kernel_options variable.
138	See also boot.8 man page (on booted system) for <flag> values.
139
140################################################################################
141# Techo DEcho arguments
142
143	echo [-n] [<message>]
144
145	Emits <message>, with no trailing newline if -n is specified.
146
147	Kernel environment variables are substituted by prefixing them with
148	`$', like `$VAR'; another variant is `${VAR}'.  E.g.:
149
150		echo Current device is $currdev
151
152	will print the current device.
153
154################################################################################
155# TEHCI DControl EHCI module behaviour
156
157	$ehci_load
158
159	The EHCI driver provides support for the USB Enhanched Host Controller
160	Interface, which is used by USB 2.0 controllers.
161
162	The EHCI kernel module is by default loaded automatically.
163
164	If the ehci_load variable is set, the EHCI module will be loaded.
165	The EHCI driver can be disabled with:
166
167		lunset ehci_load
168		set hint.ehci.0.disabled=1
169
170	See ehci.4 man page (on booted system) for full description.
171
172################################################################################
173# TXHCI DControl XHCI module behaviour
174
175	$xhci_load
176
177	The XHCI driver provides support for the USB eXtensible Host Controller
178	Interface, which is used by USB 3.0 controllers.
179
180	The XHCI kernel module is by default loaded automatically.
181
182	If the xhci_load variable is set, the XHCI module will be loaded.
183	The XHCI driver can be disabled with:
184
185		lunset xhci_load
186		set hint.xhci.0.disabled=1
187
188	See xhci.4 man page (on booted system) for full description.
189
190################################################################################
191# Tload DLoad a kernel or module
192
193	load [-t <type>] <file> [<argument> ...]
194
195	Loads the module contained in <file> into memory.  If no other modules
196	are loaded, <file> must be a kernel or the command will fail.
197
198	If -t is specified, the module is loaded as raw data of <type>, for
199	later use by the kernel or other modules.  <type> may be any string.
200
201	Any arguments passed after the name of the file to be loaded will be
202	passed as arguments to that file.
203
204################################################################################
205# Tls DList files
206
207	ls [-l] [<path>]
208
209	Displays a listing of files in the directory <path>, or the root
210	directory of the current device if <path> is not specified.
211
212	The -l argument displays file sizes as well; the process of obtaining
213	file sizes on some media may be very slow.
214
215################################################################################
216# Tlsdev DList all devices
217
218	lsdev [-v]
219
220	List all devices.  Disk slices and partitions from which it may be
221	possible to load modules are marked with '*'.
222	If -v is specified, print more details, like size and position of
223	disk slices and partitions.
224
225################################################################################
226# Tlsmod DList modules
227
228	lsmod [-v]
229
230	List loaded modules.  If -v is specified, print more details.
231
232################################################################################
233# Tmore DPage files
234
235	more <file> ...
236
237	Show contents of text files.  When displaying the contents of more,
238	than one file, if the user elects to quit displaying a file, the
239	remaining files will not be shown.
240
241################################################################################
242# Tpnpscan DScan for PnP devices
243
244	pnpscan [-v]
245
246	Scan for Plug-and-Play devices.  This command is normally automatically
247	run as part of the boot process, in order to dynamically load modules
248	required for system operation.
249
250	If the -v argument is specified, details on the devices found will
251	be printed.
252
253################################################################################
254# Tset DSet a kernel environment variable
255
256	set <kenv_variable>
257	set <kenv_variable>=<value>
258
259	The set command is used to set kernel environment variables.
260
261	See also `<variable>=<value>' command for distinction on local and
262	kernel environment variables.
263
264################################################################################
265# Tset Sautoboot_delay DSet the default autoboot / menu delay
266
267	set autoboot_delay=<value>
268
269	Sets the default delay in seconds for the `autoboot' and `menu'
270	commands to wait before booting.  The default value is 10 seconds.
271
272################################################################################
273# Tset Sbootfile DSet the default boot file set
274
275	set bootfile=<file>[;<file>...]
276
277	Sets the default set of kernel boot filename(s).  It may be overridden
278	by setting the bootfile variable to a semicolon-separated list of
279	filenames, each of which will be searched for in the $module_path
280	directories.  The default value is "kernel".
281
282################################################################################
283# Tset Sboot_askname DPrompt for root device
284
285	set boot_askname
286
287	Instructs the kernel to prompt the user for the name of the root device
288	when the kernel is booted.
289
290################################################################################
291# Tset Sboot_cdrom DBoot from CDROM
292
293	set boot_cdrom
294
295	Instructs the kernel to boot from CDROM when the kernel is booted.
296
297################################################################################
298# Tset Sboot_ddb DDrop to the kernel debugger (DDB)
299
300	set boot_ddb
301
302	Instructs the kernel to start in the DDB debugger, rather than
303	proceeding to initialise when booted.
304
305################################################################################
306# Tset Sboot_gdb DSelect gdb-remote mode
307
308	set boot_gdb
309
310	Selects gdb-remote mode for the kernel debugger by default.
311
312################################################################################
313# Tset Sboot_single DStart system in single-user mode
314
315	set boot_single
316
317	Prevents the kernel from initiating a multi-user startup, single-user
318	mode will be entered when the kernel has finished device probes.
319
320################################################################################
321# Tset Sboot_serial DUse serial console after boot
322
323	set boot_serial
324
325	Use serial console after boot.  See also `set console' command.
326
327################################################################################
328# Tset Sboot_verbose DVerbose boot messages
329
330	set boot_verbose
331
332	Setting this variable causes extra debugging information to be printed
333	by the kernel especially during the boot phase.
334
335################################################################################
336# Tset Sboot_vidcons DUse video console after boot
337
338	set boot_vidcons
339
340	Use video console after boot.  See also `set console' command.
341
342################################################################################
343# Tset Skernel_options DKernel options
344
345	set kernel_options
346
347	Set kernel boot flags.  E.g.:
348
349		set kernel_options="-v -a"
350
351	See also boot command; kernel_options sets default <flags>.
352
353################################################################################
354# Tset Sconsole DSet the current console
355
356	set console[=<value>]
357
358	Sets the current console.  <value> include `vidconsole', `comconsole'
359	and `nullconsole'.  If <value> is omitted, a list of valid consoles
360	will be displayed.
361
362################################################################################
363# Tset Sdefault_kernel DSet default kernel directory
364
365	set default_kernel=<path>
366
367	Selects the default kernel directory for `menu' command.  Default value
368	is "kernel".
369
370################################################################################
371# Tset Scurrdev DSet the current device
372
373	set currdev=<device>
374
375	Selects the default device.  See `lsdev' for available devices.
376
377################################################################################
378# Tset Sinit_chroot DSet directory that init(8) will chroot() to
379
380	set init_chroot=<path>
381
382	If set, init(8) will chroot() to <path> on startup.  By setting this
383	variable DragonFly can be run from a subdirectory of the root file
384	system.
385
386################################################################################
387# Tset Sinit_path DSet the list of init(8) candidates
388
389	set init_path=<path>[:<path>...]
390
391	Sets the list of binaries which the kernel will try to run as initial
392	process.
393
394################################################################################
395# Tset Smodule_path DSet the module search path
396
397	set module_path=<path>[;<path>...]
398
399	Sets the list of directories which will be searched in for modules
400	named in a load command or implicitly required by a dependency.  An
401	empty <path> specifies the current directory.  The default value is
402	";modules".
403
404################################################################################
405# Tset Sprompt DSet the command prompt
406
407	set prompt=<value>
408
409	The command prompt is displayed when the loader is waiting for input.
410	Variable substitution is performed on the prompt.  The default value
411	is "OK".
412
413################################################################################
414# Tset Srootdev DSet the root filesystem
415
416	set rootdev=<path>
417
418	By default the value of $currdev is used to set the root filesystem
419	when the kernel is booted.  This can be overridden by setting
420	$rootdev explicitly.
421
422	See also vfs.root.mountfrom variable, under `set tunables' help item.
423
424################################################################################
425# Tset Stunables DSet kernel tunable values
426
427	Various kernel tunable parameters can be overridden by specifying new
428	values in the environment.
429
430	set hw.ioapic_enable=<value>
431
432		Set to 0 to disable use of I/O APIC.  Default value is 1.
433
434	set hw.irq.X.dest=<value>
435
436		Set irqX's destination to the given CPUID, which starts from 0.
437		This variable should not be used if I/O APIC use is disabled.
438
439	set hw.pci.allow_unsupported_io_range=<value>
440
441		Allow the PCI Bridge to pass through an unsupported
442		memory range assigned by the BIOS.
443
444		Value is 0 (default) or non-zero to enable.
445
446	set hw.pci.enable_io_modes=<value>
447
448		Enable PCI resources which are left off by some BIOSes
449		or are not enabled correctly by the device driver.
450
451		Value is 1 (default), but this may cause problems with
452		some peripherals.  Set to 0 to disable.
453
454	set hw.physmem=<value>			MAXMEM
455
456		Limits the amount of physical memory space available to
457		the system to <value> bytes.  <value> may have a `k', `M' or
458		`G' suffix to indicate kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes
459		respectively.  Note that the current i386 architecture
460		limits this value to 4GB.
461
462		On systems where memory cannot be accurately probed,
463		this option provides a hint as to the actual size of
464		system memory (which will be tested before use).
465
466	set hw.syscons.sc_no_suspend_vtswitch=<value>
467
468		Disable VT switching on suspend.
469
470		Value is 0 (default) or non-zero to enable.
471
472	set hw.usb.hack_defer_exploration=<value>
473
474		The USB keyboard will sometimes not attach properly unless
475		you set this variable to 0.
476
477	set kern.emergency_intr_enable=<value>
478
479		Setting this to 1 enables emergency interrupt polling.  All
480		interrupt handlers are executed periodically.  This mode is
481		very expensive and should only be used to get a system
482		accessible when interrupt routing is otherwise broken.  It
483		is primarily used by kernel developers to debug new systems.
484
485	set kern.emergency_intr_freq=<value>
486
487		Set the polling rate for the emergency interrupt polling
488		code.  The default is 10 (hz) to dissuade causual use.  If
489		you are doing real work with emergency interrupt polling
490		mode enabled, it is recommended that you use a frequency
491		between 100hz and 300hz.
492
493	set kern.ipc.nmbclusters=<value>	NMBCLUSTERS
494
495		Set the number of mbuf clusters to be allocated.  The value
496		cannot be set below the default determined when the kernel
497		was compiled.
498
499	set kern.user_scheduler=<value>
500
501		Set the default userland scheduler.  <value> can be "bsd4"
502		or "dfly" (default).
503
504	set kern.vm.kmem.size=<value>
505
506		Sets the size of kernel memory (bytes).  This overrides
507		the value determined when the kernel was compiled.
508
509	set machdep.disable_mtrrs=1
510
511		Disable the use of i686 MTRRs (i386 only)
512
513	set net.inet.tcp.tcbhashsize=<value>	TCBHASHSIZE
514
515		Overrides the compile-time set value of TCBHASHSIZE or
516		the preset default of 512.  Must be a power of 2.
517
518	set vfs.root.mountfrom=<value>
519
520		Specify root file system.  <value> is a semicolon separated
521		list of file systems.  File system format is file system type
522		and disk store, separated by colon.
523
524		This variable needs to be set when using boot-only partition,
525		which is typically mounted on root file system as /boot.
526
527		One file system example:
528
529			"hammer:da8s1a"
530
531		One file system HAMMER2 redundant copies examples:
532
533			"hammer2:da8s1a:da9s1a"
534
535		Several file systems, boot list, example:
536
537			"ufs:da0s1a;hammer2:ad1s1d"
538
539		Each file system in the list will be tried in the order
540		specified until the mount succeeds.  If all fail, the
541		`mountroot>' prompt is displayed for manual entry.
542
543		You may not specify devtab labels here but you can specify
544		paths available to devfs such as:
545
546			"hammer:serno/L41JYE0G.s1d"
547
548	set vfs.root.realroot=<value>
549
550		Specify root file system and extra options for initrd.
551
552		Format of <value> is below, TYPE is `local' or `crypt',
553		arg's depend on TYPE:
554
555			"TYPE:arg1:arg2:...:argN"
556
557		Examples of <value>:
558
559		Use UFS file system on lvm(8) volume group `vg00' logical
560		volume `lv0' as real root:
561
562			"local:ufs:/dev/vg00/lv0"
563
564		Use UFS file system on encrypted volume `secvolume', managed by
565		cryptsetup(8), on device `/dev/ad0s0a' as real root:
566
567			"crypt:ufs:/dev/ad0s0a:secvolume"
568
569		See initrd.7 man page (on booted system) for full description.
570
571################################################################################
572# Tshow DShow values of kernel environment variable
573
574	show [<kenv_variable>]
575
576	Displays the value of <kenv_variable>, or all kernel environment
577	variables if not specified.
578
579	See also `<variable>=<value>' command for distinction on local and
580	kernel environment variables.
581
582################################################################################
583# Tinclude DExecute script file
584
585	include <file> ...
586
587	The entire contents of <file> are read into memory before executing
588	commands, so it is safe to source a file from removable media.
589
590################################################################################
591# Toptinclude DExecute script file; ignore exit status
592
593	optinclude <file> ...
594
595	The entire contents of <file> are read into memory before executing
596	commands, so it is safe to source a file from removable media.
597	Return success and execute all commands even if some commands fail.
598
599################################################################################
600# Tcd DChange directory
601
602	cd [<directory>]
603
604	Change working directory to <directory>.  Default is $base.
605
606################################################################################
607# Toptcd DChange directory; ignore exit status
608
609	optcd [<directory>]
610
611	Change working directory to <directory>.  Default is $base.
612	Return success even if changing directory fails.
613
614################################################################################
615# Tpwd DPrint working directory
616
617	pwd
618
619	Show working directory.
620
621################################################################################
622# Tlocal DList local variables
623
624	local [<local_variable> ...]
625
626	Display the value of given local variables, or all variables if not
627	specified.
628
629	See also `<variable>=<value>' command for distinction on local and
630	kernel environment variables.
631
632################################################################################
633# Tlunset DUnset local variable
634
635	lunset <local_variable>
636
637	Unset local variable: discard value and remove variable.
638
639	See also `<variable>=<value>' command for distinction on local and
640	kernel environment variables.
641
642################################################################################
643# Tlunsetif DUnset local variable if kenv variable true
644
645	lunsetif <local_variable> <kenv_variable>
646
647	Unset local variable <local_variable> if kernel environment variable
648	<kenv_variable> is true, i.e. set to 1 or YES.
649
650	See also `<variable>=<value>' command for distinction on local and
651	kernel environment variables.
652
653################################################################################
654# Tloadall DLoad kernel + modules
655
656	loadall
657
658	Load kernel and all modules specified by MODULE_load variables.
659
660################################################################################
661# Tifexists DConditional file/dir present
662
663	ifexists <path>
664
665	Conditional <path> exists, i.e. file/dir present.
666
667################################################################################
668# Tifset DConditional kenv variable present
669
670	ifset <kenv_variable>
671
672	Conditional kernel environment variable <kenv_variable> exists.
673
674################################################################################
675# Telseifexists DConditional file/dir present
676
677	elseifexists <path>
678
679	Conditional <path> exists, i.e. file/dir present.
680
681################################################################################
682# Telse DConditional if/else/endif
683
684	else
685
686	Conditional if/else/endif.
687
688################################################################################
689# Tendif DConditional if/else/endif
690
691	endif
692
693	Conditional if/else/endif.
694
695################################################################################
696# Tmenuclear DClear all menus
697
698	menuclear
699
700	Clear all menu bullets.
701
702################################################################################
703# Tmenuitem DAdd menu bullet
704
705	menuitem <key> <description text>
706
707	Start new menu bullet, when running menu system bullet is chosen by
708	pressing <key>.  E.g.:
709
710		menuitem a "Boot Backup kernel kernel.alt"
711
712################################################################################
713# Tmenuadd DAdd script line for menu bullet
714
715	menuadd <command line>
716
717	Add script line for current menu bullet.  E.g.:
718
719		menuadd lunsetif acpi_load hint.acpi.0.disabled
720
721################################################################################
722# Tmenu DRun menu system
723
724	menu
725
726	Run menu system.
727
728################################################################################
729# Tread DRead input from terminal to kenv variable
730
731	read [-p <prompt>] [-t <value>] [<kenv_variable>]
732
733	The read command reads a line of input from the terminal.
734
735	If -p is specified, <prompt> is printed before reading input.  No
736	newline is emitted after the prompt.
737
738	If -t is specified, it will return nothing if no input has been
739	received after <value> seconds.  Any keypress will cancel the timeout.
740
741	If <kenv_variable> is supplied, the kernel environment variable is set
742	to the value read, less any terminating newline.
743
744################################################################################
745# Tunload DRemove all modules from memory
746
747	unload
748
749	This command removes any kernel and all loaded modules from memory.
750
751################################################################################
752# Tunset DUnset a kernel environment variable
753
754	unset <kenv_variable>
755
756	If allowed, the named kernel environment variable's value is discarded
757	and the variable is removed.
758
759	See also `<variable>=<value>' command for distinction on local and
760	kernel environment variables.
761
762################################################################################
763