Chapter 9: Understanding System Initialization

The Complete Guide To Linux System Administration

Objectives
Describe how standard PC hardware starts an operating system Configure how the LILO or GRUB boot loader starts the Linux kernel Configure the init program and the scripts used to start system services Manage system services after start-up

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration

Hardware Initialization
Basic process for bootstrapping
CPU begins executing commands in BIOS BIOS passes control to boot loader Boot loader passes control to Linux kernel

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Hardware Initialization (continued)

After PC-type computer started:
CPU initializes itself
Sends signals to control other parts of computer

BIOS performs power-on self test (POST)

Checks memory and other hardware

BIOS sends signal to SCSI controller card telling it to initialize itself

SCSI controllers usually contain own BIOS

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Hardware Initialization (continued)

After PC-type computer started (continued):
Other hardware components instructed to initialize themselves BIOS determines which devices to search for operating system
BIOS loads boot loader into memory and passes control it

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Hardware Initialization (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration

The Boot Loader

Boot loader or boot manager
Small program loaded by BIOS

Commonly used
LILO (Linux loader) GRUB (grand unified boot loader)
Default on most systems

BIOS looks for executable program in first sector of 3.5-inch disk or CD-ROM

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration

The Boot Loader (continued)

The Complete Guide to Linux System Administration

The Boot Loader (continued)

Chained boot loader
One boot loader passes control to another boot loader instead of operating system

Use boot loader to start different versions of Linux installed on separate partitions

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The Boot Loader (continued)

uname command
Display information about kernel Full version number of current kernel
uname -a

Timestamp of kernel
uname -v

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Starting the Kernel

Initial piece of kernel
Loads rest of kernel into memory Uncompresses it

dmesg command
View messages stored by kernel during boot process

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Starting the Kernel (continued)

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Starting the Kernel (continued)

Kernel ring buffer
Area of memory Stores messages from kernel

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Using Boot Parameters

Boot parameters
Instruct Linux how to operate or access parts of computer systems hardware Use to activate features of Linux

To enter
GRUB
Press a

LILO
Enter after operating system name
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Configuring Boot Loaders

Configuration files
Created by installation program Examine how boot loader operates Usually no need to change

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Using LILO
Simpler than GRUB To use
Create configuration file describing operating systems LILO should start Run lilo command
Examines lilo.conf file Stores appropriate information in either

MBR Boot record you have indicated

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Using LILO (continued)

Boot image
Each version of Linux

Parameters
boot delay image other

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Using GRUB
Installed by default for many versions of Linux /boot/grub/grub.conf
Configuration file for GRUB Similar in layout and syntax to lilo.conf

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Using GRUB (continued)

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init and its Scripts

init program
Master control program Starts many other programs Runs scripts to initialize system services Controlled by /etc/inittab configuration file

Three main configuration files located in /etc/rc.d

rc.sysinit rc rc.local
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Understanding Run Levels

Run level
Numbered mode of operation Preconfigured set of services is activated Defined in /etc/inittab file Default run level 5

init or telinit command

Change to different run level Commonly done only to restart or halt system

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Understanding Run Levels (continued)

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Understanding rc Scripts
rc script
Located in /etc/rc.d directory Started with parameter that includes run level Starts appropriate system services based on selected run level

Each run level is associated with subdirectory

Located in /etc/rc.d directory

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Understanding rc Scripts (continued)

Each file begins with K or S followed by two-digit number
Begin with Kstopped (killed) Begin with Sstarted

Files symbolic links to scripts that stop and start services

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Understanding rc Scripts (continued)

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Controlling Services
Many services listed in run-level directories relate to networking Scripts allow user to change almost anything on Linux system without restarting computer

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Managing Services
service command
Control service Must know service name Examples:
service lpd restart service named start service named status

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Managing Services (continued)

chkconfig command
Alter files in run-level directories Modify services started or stopped each time system started By default alters run levels 2 through 5 Example: chkconfig named on

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Managing Services Graphically

Service configuration utility
Main window lists services available on system
Determined by contents of /etc/rc.d/init.d

Active services
Shown with check mark next to them

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Managing Services Graphically (continued)

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Configuring System Services

Initialization scripts in /etc/rc.d/init.d
Typically use configuration information located in /etc/sysconfig directory and subdirectories

Files in /etc/sysconfig
Named for services Each file contains name-value pairs
Define configuration options for service

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Configuring System Services (continued)

Use system-config-network utility to configure
/etc/sysconfig/ network file Files within /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts

system-config-securitylevel utility
Alters /etc/sysconfig/system-config-securitylevel file Based on firewall selections

Service itself often has another set of configuration files in /etc directory
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Shutting Down Linux

Turning off Linux computer without shutting it down in orderly way can cause data loss Journaling file system
Tracks each disk operation to ensure it is either completed or not done at all Journal permits operating system to back out of disk operation if not completed successfully

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Shutting Down Linux (continued)

Journaling file system
Means file systems are unlikely to ever be corrupted by power loss

Graceful shutdown
Orderly or methodical shutdown of Linux All Linux services are stopped All data is written to disk Kernel changes to run level 0 or 6

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Shutting Down Linux (continued)

Shut down Linux gracefully
Use reboot command Use halt command Use shutdown command Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del Entering the command telinit 0
Halt system

Entering command telinit 6

Restart system
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Shutting Down Linux (continued)

Graphical desktop
Use log out item on main menu of GNOME or KDE

On servers or multiuser Linux systems

Only system administrator should be allowed to shut down system

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Summary
CPU BIOS and other hardware components of computer must initialize themselves before attempting to load operating system Boot loader typically first software loaded on Linux system Multiple boot loaders can be installed on one system and chained together Messages generated by kernel after it starts are stored in kernel ring buffer
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Summary (continued)
Boot loader can pass parameters to Linux kernel LILO and GRUB configured using text configuration files
Stored in /boot directory

init program
First process started by Linux kernel Runs several scripts that start numerous daemons

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Summary (continued)
Run level mode of operation defines what processes are started at boot time Must gracefully shut down Linux to avoid data loss

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