19 replies to this topic

[Superhai]

• DTrace
  dtrace_dof_mode - Set DTrace DOF modes {0/1/2/3}
  DisableFBT - Disable FBT {1}
  IgnoreFBTBlacklist - Ignore blacklist of certain critical modules {1}
  
  
• BSD
  -b - Don't run /etc/rc.boot
  -l - Log leaks
  srv - Boot as server {1}
  ncl - Number of clusters
  nbuf - Number of buffers for bsd
  kmem - Kernel memory access {1}
  trace - Kernel trace buffer size
  msgbuf - Message Buffer
  rp - Root path
  mcache_flags - Memory cache flags
  mbuf_debug - MBuf Debug {1}
  initmcl - Init mbuf clusters
  socket_debug - Socket debug (net)
  net_affinity - Net Affinity (net)
  rte_debug - Route debug (net) {flags}
  -rwroot_hack - Mount root read/write
  
  
• IOKit
  mseg - Max segment
  dart - Remove mapper present
  io - IO Kit Debug
  
  
• Mach
  keepsyms - Do not unload KLD/Address-symbol translation {1}
  debug - Kernel debug {flags}
  nvram_paniclog - commit paniclog to NVRAM {1}
  pmsafe_debug - Put CPUs into "safe" power mode {1}
  preempt - Set default preemption rate
  unsafe - Max unsafe quanta
  poll - Max poll quanta
  yield - Schedule poll yield shift
  idlehalt - Halt idle thread to allow cpu into lowpower mode {1}
  panic_io_port - In a panic read from this I/O port {0x0 to 0xffff}
  _fpu - Limit boot-time cpu features {387/mmx/sse}
  diag - Diagnostic output
  serial - Serial diagnostic console
  maxmem - Maximum memory to use
  cpus -Numbers of cpus
  himemory_mode - Set memorymode for over 4GB {0 - All pages available/1- disable high mem/2 - prefer high mem}
  immediate_NMI - Force immediate NMI debugger {1}
  -legacy - Force legacy 32bit mode
  lcks - Lock statistics
  novmx - No altivec emulation in Rosetta {1}
  max_valid_dma_addr - Max valid DMA address
  maxbouncepool - Max bounce pool size
  maxloreserve - Max low reserve
  npvhash - Physical to virtual mapping hash
  wpkernel - Write protect kernel {1}
  -no_shared_cr3 - Disable shared kernel address space for 64 bit users
  -pmap_trace - Enable kernel traces for pmap
  _panicd_ip - IP of panic server
  _router_ip - IP of router
  panicd_port - Port of panic server
  -zc - Free zone element checking
  mtxspin - Mutex spin (ppc)
  vmmforce - VMM force (ppc)
  fn - Force nap (ppc) (acpi) {0/1/2}
  pmsx - Experimental power management stepper mode (ppc) {1}
  ctrc - Set tracing to specific cpu (ppc)
  tb - Non-default trace buffer size (ppc)
  wcte - Write combine timer enable (ppc)
  mcklog - Clear machine check flag (ppc)
  mcksoft - Machine check software recovery (ppc)
  ht_shift - Non-default hash table size (ppc) {1}
  zsize - Target zone size
  colors - Set VM colors
  fill - Fill pages
  serialbaud - Set serial baud rate
  
  
• Boot
  -v - Verbose Mode
  -x - Safe Mode
  -f - Old Safe Mode
  -F - Ignore Boot File
  -s - Single User Mode
  Graphics Mode - VESA Graphics Mode Dimensions
  Text Mode - VGA Text Mode Dimensions
  Boot Graphics - Graphics or Text Mode
  Quiet Boot - Quiet Bootmode
  MKext Cache - Mkext cache file
  Kernel Cache - Kernel Cache file
  rd - Root Device
  boot-uuid - Boot UUID
  platform - Platform Expert {ACPI}
  config - Load alternate config plist
  
  
• Other
  smbios - Verbose SMBIOS (AppleSMBIOS.kext) {1}
  acpi - Debug AppleACPIPlatform {1-8}
  acpi_level - ACPI Debug Level
  acpi_layer - ACPI Debug Layer
  acpi_sleep - ACPI Sleep
  nvdebug - NVDAResman debug
  nvrm - NVDAResman
  ndrv_debug_level - NDRV Debug Level (NVDAResman)
  pstep - Power Step Debug (ACPI_SMC)
  hpet - AppleHPET

There are more, which I will update it later. I will not add args which are not present in the current apple release (i.e. only vanilla). All reservations against errors and mistakes. If you find anyone please notify.

[macgirl]

Shouldn't "config" be in the boot options?

I use "config=tv" at boot sometimes to load a config file with different gfx string, so it loads /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/tv.plist instead of com.apple.Boot.plist

[Superhai]

 macgirl, on May 26 2008, 05:46 AM, said:

Shouldn't "config" be in the boot options?

I use "config=tv" at boot sometimes to load a config file with different gfx string, so it loads /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/tv.plist instead of com.apple.Boot.plist

Yep you're right, I missed it from my notes. I'll edit.

[XweAponX]

I need to know a leetle teeny weeny bit more about this section:

Boot
-v - Verbose Mode
-x - Safe Mode
-f - Old Safe Mode
-F - Ignore Boot File
-s - Single User Mode
Graphics Mode - VESA Graphics Mode Dimensions
Text Mode - VGA Text Mode Dimensions
Boot Graphics - Graphics or Text Mode
Quiet Boot - Quiet Bootmode
MKext Cache - Mkext cache file
Kernel Cache - Kernel Cache file
rd - Root Device
boot-uuid - Boot UUID
platform - Platform Expert {ACPI}
config - Load alternate config plist


Is there any place to get elaboration on these commands?

[macgirl]

They are no commands, they are flags.

Whe Darwin bootloader presents the boot menu (one partition or as many as you have) you can hit any key and a boot flag prompt appears, there you write the flag, you can combine the flags:
rd=disk0s3 -s -x "Graphics Mode"="800x600x32" platform=X86PC

You can also write "?" to display the boot help.

There are several posts about boot flags and of course Apple Developer site for documentation.

[mitch_de]

Hi,
i am a bit confused about using the boot-flags.

I have EFI installed. And want to use  boot-uuid - XXXXX
Does it have the same boot-flags ?
Also Chameleon ?

Are they using complete different "darwin bootloader" or are they loaded before darwin bootloader, so i can use this boot-flags.

[macgirl]

yes they are the same, I am using chameleon with boot-uuid flag.

[mitch_de]

Thanks for this detail (boot flags usable in EFI also).

[menuhin]

Thanks for the detail listings.

Can some of you tell us which options are the most useful ones in fixing kernel panics during boot up? e.g. panic due to some kext / modules or some other issues?
Thanks!

[lurscher]

i always use busratio= to tell the kernel the cpu frequency ratio block frequency to use, usually what i have on the bios

[twilight.lee]

Does Graphics Mode can truly set resolution and refresh rate?

Can be work on shared memory Nvidia card?

[Chrysaor]

 twilight.lee, on Feb 1 2009, 03:37 AM, said:

Does Graphics Mode can truly set resolution and refresh rate?

Can be work on shared memory Nvidia card?

Type "?video" and you'll get a list of all modes you can set it.

[nekkro-kvlt]

Hi, I'm looking for a way to make a boot flag selection at startup, do you know any bootloader which would make this thing possible ? Just want to have a choice as thepartition choice in darwin boot loader, which would allows me to set the config= or "graphics mode"= flags.

Thanks.

[tessa17]

great list!! I will be using this.

[Asere]

 Superhai, on May 26 2008, 01:43 AM, said:

• Other
  smbios - Verbose SMBIOS (AppleSMBIOS.kext) {1}
  acpi - Debug AppleACPIPlatform {1-8}
  acpi_level - ACPI Debug Level
  acpi_layer - ACPI Debug Layer
  acpi_sleep - ACPI Sleep
  pstep - Power Step Debug (ACPI_SMC)

Hi,

I'm very interested how to use these bootargs in detail. Do I have to write acpi=8, for instance? What about acpi_level, acpi_layer and acpi_sleep, or pstep? Is "pstep=1" correct to activate pstep debug, or just pstep?

How can I see the debug output of:
Store ("Hello World", Debug)

Any ideas?

Thank you

[pista7]

 Asere, on Sep 15 2009, 11:01 PM, said:

Hi,

I'm very interested how to use these bootargs in detail. Do I have to write acpi=8, for instance? What about acpi_level, acpi_layer and acpi_sleep, or pstep? Is "pstep=1" correct to activate pstep debug, or just pstep?

How can I see the debug output of:
Store ("Hello World", Debug)

Any ideas?

Thank you

I'm afraid you won't be able to use the Debug object - the AppleACPIPlatform is apparently compiled without debug support.

If you look at ACPICA sources (the reference ACPI implementation), the trick should be done by setting
acpi_level=2 acpi_layer=0x80. However, this doesn't work with AppleACPIPlatform.

[rafirafi]

You can also use:
-l
as argument on boot, it activates the l2 cache.
Works for me!

[Muneeba]

Hi, I need urgent help, I messed with boot.plist and i am unable to boot now, please check this image for brief error that I see when booting: http://server.mzeb.com/booterror.jpg

[davidm71]

Hi,

Anyone know how to set the prefered gpu gfx card to boot as primary? Sometimes a new install will pick the wrong screen. Anyhow will "quiet boot" supress the boot warnings that I get over my boot theme background image?


thanks.

[PineAppleApe]

Where does Apple document the boot argument?! I have Developer installed and it's nowhere to be found. Nilch, nada, zero.