Essential System Administration Pocket Reference

Startup and Shutdown

Booting the system manually

AIX

Little intervention is allowed. Boot from an alternate device by using the AIX bootlist command to set the device order.

FreeBSD

Select a disk and/or partition from the menu. Strike a key when prompted; then use the boot command (add -s for single-user mode). To boot an alternate kernel, use commands like:

unloadload filenameboot

HP-UX (> prompt)

List devices with the search command. Use bo xx to boot the device labeled xx in the search output (e.g., CD-ROM).

HP-UX (ISL> prompt)

Use the hpux command. Add -is (for single-user mode) and/ or a pathname to boot an alternate kernel.

Linux (lilo boot loader)

The Tab key lists the boot choices; enter one choice to boot (e.g., linux). Add single to boot to single-user mode.

Linux (grub boot loader)

Use the following commands to specify all boot parameters:

grub> root (hd0,0)	Partition to boot from
grub> kernel path ro root=/dev/xdyn	Kernel /root devs
grub> initrd path	If needed
grub> boot	Initiate the boot

When specifying the root device, x is either h or s, y is the disk letter, and n is the partition number.

Solaris

Enter L1-a or Stop-a to get the ok prompt. From there, the boot command starts a boot (-s selects single-user mode). The boot cdrom command boots from CD-ROM.

System V-style run levels

0	Halted state: conditions when it is safe to turn off the power.
1	System administration/maintenance state.
S and s	Single-user mode.
2	Multiuser mode (AIX default).