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KERNEL-IMG.CONF
!!!KERNEL-IMG.CONF
NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
FILES
SEE ALSO
BUGS
AUTHOR
----
!!NAME


kernel-img.conf - site wide configuration file for kernel image packages
!!SYNOPSIS


''/etc/kernel-img.conf''
!!DESCRIPTION


The file ''/etc/kernel-img.conf'' is a simple file looked
at by the kernel image post installation process to allow
local options for handling some aspects of the installation,
overriding the defaults built into the image
itself.


The format of the file is a simple __VAR = VALUE__ pair.
Boolean values may be specified as ''Yes, True, 1,'' and
''No, False, 0,'' and are case insensitive. This file is
automatically created by the installation script if it does
not exist, and neither does the symbolic link
''/vmlinuz.'' The script asks the user whether the
symbolic link should be created, and stashes the answer into
''/etc/kernel-img.conf''


At the moment, the user modifiable variables supported
are:


__image_in_boot__


Set to Yes if you want the kernel image ''vmlinuz'' in
''/boot'' rather than the default ''/.'' Defaults to
No.


__do_symlinks__


By default, the kernel image post installation script shall
create or update the ''/vmlinuz'' and ''/vmlinuz.old''
symbolic links. This is true if a ''/vmlinuz'' link
already exists, however, in absence of ''/vmlinuz,'' the
script looks to see if this configuration file exists. If it
does not, the configuration script asks the user whether to
create the symbolic link, and stashes the answer in a newly
created ''/etc/kernel-img.conf.'' If the configuration
file already exists, and if this option is set to No, no
symbolic link is ever created. This for people who have
other means of booting their machines, and do not like the
symbolic links cluttering up their / directory. Defaults to
Yes.


__minimal_swap__


By default, if the /vmlinuz symbolic link does not point to
an image which is the same as the image being installed, the
postinst moves /vmlinuz to /vmlinuz.old, and creates a
symbolic link to the kernel image in /vmlinuz (the exception
is to prevent both /vmlinuz and /vmlinuz.old from pointing
to the current kernel image -- potentially disastrous if the
current image is defective or lacking in any way). However,
if this option is enabled, no action is taken if
/vmlinuz.old points to the currently installed image (by
default, the symbolic links are swapped). Defaults to
no.


__no_symlinks__


Whether to use symlinks to the ''image'' file. Mutually
exclusive to ''reverse_symlinks.'' Can be used with
''image_in_boot.'' If set to Yes, the image is placed in
vmlinuz (instead of /boot/vmlinuz-X.X.XX). The old vmlinuz
is moved to vmlinuz.old unconditionally. (Normally, that is
only done if the version of the new image differs from the
old one). This restricts you to two images, unless you take
additional action and save copies of older images. This is
for people who have ''/boot'' on a system that does not
use symbolic links (and say, they use loadlin as a
bootloader). This is a Hack. Defaults to No.


__reverse_symlinks__


Whether to use reverse symlinks (that is, the real file is
the one without the version number, and the number version
is the link) to the ''image'' file. Mutually exclusive to
''no_symlinks.'' Can be used with ''image_in_boot.''
Just like ''no_symlinks,'' except that the
/boot/vmlinuz-X.XX is a symbolic link to the real new image,
vmlinuz. This, too, restricts you to just two images unless
further action is taken. The older symlinks are left
dangling. This is for people with ''/boot'' on umsdos,
and who can't see the link in dos, but do want to know the
image version when in Linux. This is a Hack. Defaults to
No.


__image_dest__


If you want the symbolic link (or image, if
__move_image__ is set) to be stored elsewhere than
''/'' set this variable to the dir where you want the
symbolic link. Please note that this is not a boolean
variable. This may be of help to __loadlin__ users, who
may set both this and __move_image__ Defaults to
''/.'' This can be used in conjunction with all above
options except __image_in_boot,__ which would not make
sense. (If both __image_dest__ and __image_in_boot__
are set, __image_in_boot__ overrides)


__postinst_hook__


Set this variable to a script to be executed during
installation after all the symbolic links are created, but
before running the bootloader or offering to create a
floppy. This script shall be called with two arguments, the
first being the ''version'' of the kernel image, and the
second argument being the ''location'' of the kernel
image itself. Errors in the script shall produce a warning
message, but shall be otherwise ignored. An example script
for grub users is present in /usr/share/doc/kernel-package/
directory.


__postrm_hook__


Set this variable to a script to be executed in the postrm
(that is, after the image has been removed) after all the
remove actions have been performed. This script shall be
called with two arguments, the first being the
''version'' of the kernel image, and the second argument
being the ''location'' of the kernel image itself. Errors
in the script shall produce a warning message, but shall be
otherwise ignored.


__preinst_hook__


Set this variable to a script to be executed before the
package is unpacked, and can be used to put in additional
checks. This script shall be called with two arguments, the
first being the ''version'' of the kernel image, and the
second argument being the ''location'' of the kernel
image itself.


__prerm_hook__


Set this variable to a script to be executed before the
package files are removed (so any added files may be
removed) . This script shall be called with two arguments,
the first being the ''version'' of the kernel image, and
the second argument being the ''location'' of the kernel
image itself. Errors in the script shall produce a warning
message, but shall be otherwise ignored.


__move_image__


Instead of creating symbolic links to (or, if
__reverse_symlinks__ is set, from) __image_dest,__ the
image is moved from its location in ''/boot'' into
__image_dest.__ If __reverse_symlinks__ is set,
''/boot'' shall contain a symbolic link to the actual
image. This option can be useful to people using loadlin,
who may need the image to be moved to a different, dos
partition. This variable is unset by default.


__clobber_modules__


If set, the preinst shall silently try to move
/lib/modules/version out of the way if it is the same
version as the image being installed. Use at your own risk.
This variable is unset by default.


__do_boot_enable__


If set to NO, this short circuits all attempts to create
boot floppies, run lilo, etc. This has the additional side
effect that the postinst is silent. Setting both
__do_bootfloppy__ and __do_bootloader__ to NO implies
setting __do_boot_enable__ to NO. Defaults to
Yes.


__do_bootfloppy__


If set to NO, this prevents the postinst from asking
questions about creating a boot floppy. and no boot floppy
is created. The bootloader shall still be run. This may cut
down on the interaction the postinst has. (It still prompts
before formatting ''/dev/fd0)'' Defaults to
Yes.


__do_bootloader__


If set to NO, this prevents the postinst from running the
boot loader. The user may still be asked to create a floppy,
unless __do_bootfloppy__ is also set to NO. Defaults to
Yes.


__relative_links__


If set to yes, the kernel image postinst script shall go to
extra ordinary lengths to ensure that the symbolic links are
relative. Normally, the symbolic links are relative when it
is easily determinable that relative links shall work.
Defaults to No.


__do_initrd__


Set to YES to prevent the ''kernel-image'' post
installation script from issueing a warning when installing
an intrd kernel. This assumes you have correctly set up your
boot loader to be able to boot the initrd image. Default:
no. This is deprecated in favour of the more descriptive
__warn_initrd__ option (please note that the sense of the
option is inverted).


__warn_initrd__


Set to NO to prevent the ''kernel-image'' post
installation script from issueing a warning when installing
an intrd kernel. This assumes you have correctly set up your
boot loader to be able to boot the initrd image. This is now
preferred to __do_initrd,__ since ''warnings'' are
what are prevented. Default: YES


__use_hard_links__


This option has been put in for the people who can't handle
symbolic links (a boot loader that does not handle symbolic
links, for example). If set to YES, this shall cause the
kernel image postinst to use hard link instead of symbolic
links for the automatically handled /vmlinuz and
/vmlinuz.old. I have tried to make it compatible with
__move_image__ and __reverse_symlinks__ Caveat: It is
up to the end user to ensure that the __image_dest__
directory and the location of the image (nominally /boot)
live on the same file system (since one can't make hard
links scross file systems. __You have been
warned.__


__silent_modules__


This option has been put in for the people who are vastly
irritated on being warned about preexisting modules
directory That directory may belong to an old or defunct
package, in which case problems may arise with lefover
modules in that dir tree, or the directory may legitimately
exist due to a independent modules paqckage being installed
for this kernel version that has already been unpacked. In
this latter case the existence of the directory is benign.
If you set this varable, you shall no longer be given a
chance to abort if a preexisting modules directory is
detected. This is unset be default.


__silent_loader__


If set, this option shall cause the question asked before
running the boot laoder in the installation process to be
skipped. Whether or not the boot loader is run is unaffected
by this option ( see __do_bootloader__ to see how to
control whether the boot loader is run or not, and the
absense of the configuration file will also make the install
process voluble and interactive).
!!FILES


The file described here is
''/etc/kernel-img.conf.''
!!SEE ALSO


make-kpkg(1), __kernel-pkg.conf__(5),
make(1), __The GNU Make manual.__
!!BUGS


There are no bugs. Any resemblance thereof is delirium.
Really.
!!AUTHOR


This manual page was written by Manoj Srivastava
----
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Last edited on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:30:38 am by "perry"
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