BOOT.CONFIG(5) File Formats Manual BOOT.CONFIG(5) NAME boot.config -- Configuration file for the legacy boot blocks DESCRIPTION The boot.config file contains options for the FreeBSD boot block code. When the first- and second-stage FreeBSD boot loaders run, they search the "a" slice of the boot partition for a boot.config file (as a result, slices which are missing an "a" partition require user intervention during the boot process). If the boot.config file is found, its contents are used as the default configuration options for the boot block code and are echoed to the system console. A valid format of this file is to put BIOS drive number, a controller type, a unit number, a partition, a kernel file name, and any other valid boot(8) option on a single line, as it is done at the "boot:" prompt. The options related to the boot image selection described below and all the other options available for boot.config are documented in detail in the boot(8) manual page. FILES /boot.config parameters for the boot blocks (optional) /boot/config alternate location for boot config information EXAMPLES The command: # echo "-P" > /boot.config will activate the serial console of FreeBSD if no keyboard is present, oth- erwise video console will be used. The command: # echo "1:ad(1,a)/boot/loader" > /boot.config will instruct the second stage of boot(8) on the first disk to boot with the third boot(8) stage from the second disk. The command: # echo "1:ad(1,a)/boot/loader -P" > /boot.config will do both of the above. SEE ALSO boot(8), loader(8) AUTHORS This manual page was written by Daniel Gerzo <danger@FreeBSD.org>. FreeBSD 15.1 November 14, 2025 BOOT.CONFIG(5)
NAME | DESCRIPTION | FILES | EXAMPLES | SEE ALSO | AUTHORS
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