Kernel Boot Splash How-To

[knoppixusr]

http://www.desktop-linux.net/bootsplash.htm

[probono]

Suppose I want to create a bootable Knoppix CD using the bootsplash kernel patch. Do I just need to recompile the (matching) kernel or would I have to do a full remaster of Knoppix and change the kernel modules as well?

Also, how do I append the bootsplash image to the compressed knoppix initrd?

[kelmo]

You would need to recompile the kernel, alter the miniroot and startup scripts. Very involved.

That's why Fabian Franz's little splash trick was so interesting. It was totally kernel independent.

[probono]

Just to be very clear: With the bootsplash patch, do I have to remaster the compressed 700 MB file or "just" miniroot?

[kelmo]

You would have to patch & build a new kernel, replace the one in the KNOPPIX filesystem, install bootsplash userland utilities and sysv-init patches in KNOPPIX filesystem, rebuild the KNOPPIX filesystem, alter the miniroot to contain the modules of your newly created kernel, replace the kernel isolinux uses to boot the compressed filesystem.

Then if you wanted bootsplash to appear post-hdinstall, alter knoppix installer scripts.

If you wanted bootsplash to appear in live-cd mode ???. I am still working on this one.

[aj]

Hi,

does anybody know where I can find the above mentioned "splash trick"?!

Many thanks in advance!

[kelmo]

type:-

knoppix splash

at boot time

[aj]

Thanks Kelmo, but I thought there is a "trick" for a HD-Install as well...

[zenarchist]

This was from my old Linux site, I took the page down as Linux was just becoming more and more user friendly and many of my Linux how-to's were just not needed anymore. Anyways, sounds like from the above post that recompiling the kernel is not neccessary but below is the how-to for historical purposes:


Debian Graphical BootSplash How To


Some newer Linux distro's are including a fancy graphical boot splash to display while your kernel boot messages are scrolling away. You can configure it with verbose mode to display the kernel messages or silent mode which displays no kernel messages, just an image and a progress bar.

This requires patching and recompiling the kernel. If you've never compiled a kernel before then this is a great project, when your done you'll either think that it was a lot of work or cool, I did it

I have Debian kernel-source-2.6.6 installed, just substitue my kernel number for yours.


If you've never compiled a debian kernel before, make sure you also take a look here:

http://www.desktop-linux.net/debkernel.htm


Required:

A Debian kernel source in /usr/src. If you choose to use a stock kernel source instead, make sure you apply the cramfs and debian patches before compiling.

initrd-tools package


Download and Install Kernel Patch:


1) Download the correct patch for your Kernel (ie bootsplash-3.1.4-2.6.6-debian.diff for Kernel-source-2.6.6) from here:

http://www.bootsplash.de/files/


2) Save the patch to where your kernel source is located (ie /usr/src/kernel-source-2.6.6)


3) Open a console and type:

# cd /usr/src/kernel-source-2.6.6


4) Next you would type something like this to apply the patch:

# patch -p1 <bootsplash-3.1.4-2.6.6-debian.diff



Configure and Compile Kernel Image:

1) You should still have a console open as root and be in the /usr/src/kernel-source directory, next type:

# make xconfig


2) Next, build support into the kernel for the following:


Under --> File Systems, place a checkmark in:

Reiserfsor Ext3 etc....
I always build support for my linux filesystem so I don't need to build an initrd image.


Under --> File Systems --> Misc File Systems, place a checkmark in:

Compressed ROM File System Support (cramfs)


Under --> Device Drivers --> Block Devices, place a checkmark in the following boxes:

Ram Disk Support
Initial RAM Disk (initrd)


Under --> Graphics Support --> Support For Frame Buffer devices, place a checkmark in the following boxes:

VGA 16 Color Graphics Suport
Vesa VGA Graphics support

Also check any box that matches your video card if there is one.


Under --> Graphics Support --> Console Display Driver Support, place a checkmark in:

Framebuffer Console Support


Under --> Graphics Support --> Bootsplash Configuration, place a checkmark in:

Bootsplash Screen

Note: Do not build the above as modules.



3) Finish compiling the kernel as normal then install the kernel image with:

# make-kpkg buildpackage -rev Custom.1 kernel_image


4) When your done compiling, you'll find the new kernel installation .deb packages located in /usr/src


Note: You'll get a message warning you that you need to patch the kernel with the cramfs patch but we downloaded a Debian kernel source package so it's included and we enabled cramfs earlier.


Go here for more complete instructions:

http://www.desktop-linux.net/debkernel.htm


Download and Install BootSplash Utilities and Themes:


1) Add this line to your /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://www.bootsplash.de/files/debian/ unstable main


2) Open a console and type:

# apt-get update
# apt-cache search bootsplash


3) You should get a list of bootsplash packages and themes, choose to install the bootsplash package with the following command and it will automatically install the debian-tux bootsplash theme package:

# apt-get install bootsplash


When you install a bootsplash theme it will ask you if you want it to apply it to an existing initrd image. If you don't have an initrd image, choose none and the installer will create the /boot/initrd.splash image and apply the theme.

Note: The default debian-tux theme is black and Tux is quite hard to see, I really like the Debian-Wave theme much better.


Add/Change Themes:


When I installed the bootsplash package it also installed the debian-tux theme and attached the jpg picture and the bootsplash config header automatically. If you install multiple themes you can change them with the following command:

# dpkg-reconfigure bootsplash


You can also use the bootsplash utility to do this from the command line:

# splash -s -f /etc/bootsplash/themes/debian-tux/config/bootsplash-1024x768.cfg >> /boot/initrd.img-2.6.6

The initrd image will be found in the /boot directory and bootsplash themes are installed in the /etc/bootsplash/themes directory.




Update Boot Loader:


For Grub:

1) Add the following red text to your /boot/grub/menu.lst file:

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.6
kernel (hd0,5)/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.6 root=/dev/hda6 vga=791 splash=verbose
initrd (hd0,5)/boot/initrd.splash
savedefault
boot


2) Reboot to the new Kernel


For Lilo:

1) Add the new kernel as well as the following text to the /etc/lilo.conf file:

initrd=/boot/initrd.splash
vga=791
append="splash=verbose"


2) Run lilo, if you don't get any error's, reboot to the new kernel.


Note:

Change initrd image and kernel numbers to match yours.

Splash=verbose - All kernel messages are displayed on top of a translucent background image.

Splash=silent - No kernel messages are shown, just an image with a progress bar. For information on getting the progress bar working, see http://www.bootsplash.org/



Links:


Bootsplash.org How-To:

http://www.bootsplash.org/


A similar debian how-to can be found here:

http://bulma.net/impresion.phtml?nIdNoticia=1812


Themes:

http://www.bootsplash.de/


More kernel boot splash themes (mixed in with kde splash screens):

http://www.kde-look.org