SuSE Linux: Version 7.2
This article refers to an older version of SuSE Linux.
Therefore some of the informations given in this article may
be outdated or the article may contain stale links.
Since SuSE Linux version 7.2, the graphical boot message of LILO can no longer be configured with the command mklilomsg. mkbootmsg must be used.
mkbootmsg works with a configuration file will not be used by mklilomsg. For this reason, extensive possibilities to pattern the graphical interface of LILO are available.
mkbootmsg is not installed by default in SuSE Linux 7.2. Install the package gfxboot-devel from series ap with YaST or YaST2.
You can find the current LILO configuration in the file /usr/share/gfxboot/ and the documentation of gfxboot in the directory /usr/share/doc/packages/gfxboot/README.
mkbootmsg uses a PCX picture with a maximum color depth of 8 Bit (256 colors). The color with the index 0 (the first color) should be black.
The SuSE LILO image (suselilo.pcx) has:
Create your own menu following this scheme. It should be vacant where you place the time-out display, the boot menu, and the boot option line.
Structure of the configuration
The most important entries are explained in this configuration file.
suselilo.config:
%% image suselilo.pcx 640 480 %% font font_10x20 fixed_10x20
Inimage
, the file name and the desired resolution of the boot image is defined.In
font
, set the desired font.
: : : /timeout.x 49 def /timeout.y 157 def
The following entries specify the position of the time-out display.
: : : /boot.ed.x 178 def /boot.ed.y 400 def
Here, the position of the boot option line is specified. 128 pixels are required for 'boot options:'.
/boot.ed.width 420 def /boot.ed.height fontsize exch pop 2 add def
This defines width and height of the boot options line.
: : : /menu.start.x 95 def /menu.start.y 210 def
This defines the position of the boot menu.
Log in as user root and change to the directory /usr/share/gfxboot. Make a copy of the configuration file:
cat suselilo.config > mylilo.config
Now edit the file mylilo.config. Enter the value for your boot image.
Create the message file as follows:
mkbootmsg -c mylilo.config mymenu
Copy the file "mymenu" into the directory /boot and edit the file /etc/lilo.conf. Change the value:
message=/boot/message
to:
message=/boot/mymenu
As user root, run lilo to adopt the changes.
Use no boot image:
If you want to use the text-based LILO instead of a boot image, uncomment the entry message.
The line in /etc/lilo.conf should now look like this:
# Start LILO global Section ... # message=/boot/message ... # End LILO global SectionNow start lilo to adopt the changes.