Re: boot hd0a:/bsd.sp query

On 12/1/25 06:06, Zé Loff wrote:
>
>> I cold boot. I reach the '>boot ' prompt (thanks to biosboot(8).
>> boot(8)'s main purpose is to load the system kernel, which I do e.g.:
>>
>> boot> hd0a:/bsd.sp # Now I need to convince myself why /bsd.sp
>> # does/should not honour the contents of
>> # /etc/bsd.re-config because it used to.
>
> No it never did. Look inside /usr/libexec/reorder_kernel: the relinked
> kernel is put on /bsd.
>
> When you tell the bootloader to boot /bsd.sp you are not booting a
> relinked kernel (i.e., one that has been altered by /etc/bsd.re-config),
> but the same old /bsd.sp. Don't believe me? Do as Nick suggested and
> run
>
> # ls -l /bsd*
> # /usr/libexec/reorder_kernel
> # ls -l /bsd*
>
> and then compare the dates between the first and the second ls.
> Regardless of whether you booted /bsd or /bsd.sp, it is always /bsd than
> changes.
>
>

right... the big point is what bsd.re-config does.

it does NOT change the operation like boot -c does.
It changes the kernel as it is relinked for the NEXT boot.

So... create a bsd.re-config, reboot. Does not take effect because the
unchanged kernel is what is on the disk at startup.
reboot again, THIS time it takes effect.

In other words, don't think of "bsd.re-config" as related to "boot -c".
Think of it as config -ef /bsd -- wont' change the running kernel, but
but will change it NEXT boot. But you went and booted an unchanged
kernel.

Nick.