Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4: Installation Guide for the IBM® POWER Architecture
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# Appendix E. Additional Boot Options

This appendix discusses additional boot and kernel boot options available for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation program.

To use any of the boot options presented here, type the command you wish to invoke at the installation `boot:` prompt.

iSeries system users must remember to add boot options, as are listed in this manual for other operating systems, by first logging into the hosting OS/400 partition as an iSeries user and then setting any IPL Parameters within the NWSD for their partition.

Boot Time Command Arguments

`askmethod`

  This command asks you to select the installation method you would like to use when booting from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux CD-ROM.

`dd`

  This argument causes the installation program to prompt you to use a driver diskette.

`dd=url`

  This argument causes the installation program to prompt you to use a driver image from a specified HTTP, FTP, or NFS network address.

`display=IP:0`

  This command allows remote display forwarding. In this command, IP should be replaced with the IP address of the system on which you want the display to appear.

  On the system you want the display to appear on, you must execute the command `xhost +remotehostname`, where remotehostname is the name of the host from which you are running the original display. Using the command `xhost +remotehostname` limits access to the remote display terminal and does not allow access from anyone or any system not specifically authorized for remote access.

`driverdisk`

  This command performs the same function as the `dd` command and also prompts you to use a driver diskette during the installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

`ide=nodma`

  This command disables DMA on all IDE devices and may be useful when having IDE-related problems.

`mediacheck`

  This command gives you the option of testing the integrity of the install source (if an ISO-based method). This command works with the CD, DVD, hard drive ISO, and NFS ISO installation methods. Verifying that the ISO images are intact before you attempt an installation helps to avoid problems that are often encountered during an installation.

`mem=xxxM`

  This command allows you to override the amount of memory the kernel detects for the machine. This may be needed for some older systems where only 16 MB is detected and for some new machines where the video card shares the video memory with the main memory. When executing this command, xxx should be replaced with the amount of memory in megabytes.

`nopass`

  This command disables the passing of keyboard and mouse information to stage 2 of the installation program. It can be used to test keyboard and mouse configuration screens during stage 2 of the installation program when performing a network installation.

`nopcmcia`

  This command ignores any PCMCIA controllers in system.

`noprobe`

  This command disables hardware detection and instead prompts the user for hardware information.

`noshell`

  This command disables shell access on virtual console 2 during an installation.

`nousb`

  This command disables the loading of USB support during the installation. If the installation program tends to hang early in the process, this command may be helpful.

`nousbstorage`

  This command disables the loading of the usbstorage module in the installation program's loader. It may help with device ordering on SCSI systems.

`rescue`

  This command runs rescue mode. Refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux System Administration Guide for more information about rescue mode.

`resolution=`

  Tells the installation program which video mode to run. It accepts any standard resolution, such as `640x480`, `800x600`, `1024x768`, and so on.

`serial`

  This command turns on serial console support.

`text`

  This command disables the graphical installation program and forces the installation program to run in text mode.

`updates`

  This command prompts you to insert a floppy diskette containing updates (bug fixes). It is not needed if you are performing a network installation and have already placed the updates image contents in `RHupdates/` on the server.

`vnc`

  This command allows you to install from a VNC server.

`vncpassword=`

  This command sets the password used to connect to the VNC server.

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