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CHAPTER 4
Booting Linux

BEFORE YOU CAN LOG IN AND START using your Linux system, a complicated process of booting the operating system must take place. A lot happens behind the scenes in the Linux boot process. It helps to know just what all goes on in case something goes wrong.

This chapter examines the boot and start up processes in Linux systems. It first takes a look at the role the computer firmware plays in getting the process started. After that, it discusses Linux boot loaders and examines how to configure them. Finally the chapter ends with a discussion about the Linux initialization process, showing how Linux decides which background applications to start at bootup.