INSTALLBOOT(8) | System Manager's Manual | INSTALLBOOT(8)

# NAME

`installboot` — install bootstrap on a disk

# SYNOPSIS

`installboot` | [`-cnv`] [`-r` root] disk [stage1 [stage2]]

`installboot` | [`-nv`] `-p` disk

# DESCRIPTION

`installboot` installs bootstrap on the specified disk. The exact process used depends on the system architecture, however there is generally a primary bootstrap (often known as a boot block) and a secondary bootstrap (often known as a boot loader). Some architectures only require a single stage bootstrap, which is written to the beginning of the disk.

The options are as follows:

`-c`
  Set up the machine to boot from the specified disk by default. This is only implemented for amd64 and arm64 machines with UEFI firmware and GPT partition tables.
`-n`
  Perform a dry run - do not actually write to the disk.
`-p`
  Prepare filesystem. This will create a new filesystem on the partition reserved for the boot loader on architectures that require one.
`-r` root
  Specify the mount point of the root filesystem to operate on, defaulting to /.
`-v`
  Increase verbosity during operation.
disk
  Specify the disk to install the bootstrap on. This may be specified using a full pathname, an abbreviated disk form, or a disklabel UID.
stage1
  Specify the file to use for the primary bootstrap. If not specified, the default for this architecture will be used.
stage2
  Specify the file to use for the secondary bootstrap. If not specified, the default for this architecture will be used.

# EXAMPLES

In its most basic form, to install bootstrap on disk sd0, using the default primary and secondary bootstrap files:

    # installboot sd0

To install bootstrap on an OpenBSD amd64 machine, using /usr/mdec/biosboot as the primary bootstrap and /usr/mdec/boot as the secondary bootstrap:

    # installboot -v wd0 /usr/mdec/biosboot /usr/mdec/boot

# SEE ALSO

disklabel(8)

February 19, 2025 | Debian