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loader.4th(8)

NAME

     loader.4th -- loader.conf processing tools

DESCRIPTION

     The file that goes by the name of loader.4th is a set of commands
     designed to manipulate loader.conf(5) files.  The default /boot/loader.rc
     includes loader.4th and uses one of its commands to automatically read
     and process the standard loader.conf(5) files.  Other commands exists to
     help the user specify alternate configurations.

     The commands of loader.4th by themselves are not enough for most uses.
     Please refer to the examples below for the most common situations, and to
     loader(8) for additional commands.

     Before using any of the commands provided in loader.4th, it must be
     included through the command:

	   include loader.4th

     This line is present in the default /boot/loader.rc file, so it isn't
     needed (and should not be re-issued) in a normal setup.

     The commands provided by it are:
	   boot
	   boot kernelname [...]
	   boot directory [...]
	   boot -flag ...	  Boot as specified by the loader.conf(5)
				  files read.

				  Depending on the arguments passed, it can
				  override boot flags and either the kernel
				  name or the search path for kernel and mod-
				  ules.

	   boot-conf
	   boot-conf kernelname [...]
	   boot-conf directory [...]
	   boot-conf -flag ...	  Works like boot described above, but instead
				  of booting immediately, uses autoboot, so it
				  can be stopped.

	   start		  Reads /boot/defaults/loader.conf, all other
				  loader.conf(5) files specified in it, and
				  then proceeds to boot as specified in them.
				  This is the command used in the default
				  /boot/loader.rc file, and it uses the
				  autoboot command (see loader(8)), so it can
				  be stopped for further interaction with
				  loader(8).

	   initialize		  Initialize the supporting library so com-
				  mands can be used without executing start
				  first.  Like start, reads
				  /boot/defaults/loader.conf and all other
				  loader.conf(5) files specified in it.
				  Returns a flag on the stack to indicate if
				  any configuration file was successfully

	   toggle-module module   Toggles the loading of module on and off.

	   show-module module	  Shows the information gathered in the
				  loader.conf(5) files about the module
				  module.

	   retry		  Used inside loader.conf(5) files to specify
				  the action after a module loading fails.

	   ignore		  Used inside loader.conf(5) files to specify
				  the action after a module loading fails.

FILES

     /boot/loader      The loader(8).
     /boot/loader.4th  loader.4th itself.
     /boot/loader.rc   loader(8) bootstrapping script.
     /boot/defaults/loader.conf
		       File loaded by the start command.

EXAMPLES

     Standard /boot/loader.rc:

	   include /boot/loader.4th
	   start

     Load a different kernel with the standard configuration:

	   set kernel="kernel.old"
	   unload
	   boot-conf

     Read an additional configuration file and then proceed to boot:

	   unload
	   read-conf /boot/special.conf
	   boot-conf

     Disable the loading of the splash screen module and bitmap and then pro-
     ceed to boot:

	   unload
	   disable-module splash_bmp
	   disable-module bitmap
	   boot-conf

SEE ALSO

     loader.conf(5), loader(8)

HISTORY

     The loader.4th set of commands first appeared in FreeBSD 3.2.

AUTHORS

     The loader.4th set of commands was written by Daniel C. Sobral
     <dcs@FreeBSD.org>.

BUGS

     A British espionage series.

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