Adding kernel parameters when booting Linux

Depending on your platform, boot medium, and boot configuration, you can provide kernel parameters when you start the boot process.

Note:
  • Kernel parameters that you add when booting Linux are not persistent. Such parameters enter the default reboot configuration, but are omitted after a regular shutdown. To define a permanent set of kernel parameters for a Linux instance, include these parameters in the boot configuration.
  • Kernel parameters that you add when booting might interfere with parameters that SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 sets for you. Read /proc/cmdline to find out which parameters were used to start a running Linux instance.

If it is displayed, you can specify kernel parameters on the interactive GRUB 2 menu. See SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 Administration Guide for more information.

Specifying kernel parameters before GRUB 2 takes control

Important: The preferred method for specifying kernel parameters when booting is through the GRUB 2 interactive boot menu.
You might be able to use one or more of these interfaces for specifying kernel parameters:
z/VM® guest virtual machine with a CCW boot device
When booting Linux in a z/VM guest virtual machine from a CCW boot device, you can use the PARM parameter of the IPL command to specify kernel parameters. CCW boot devices include DASD and the z/VM reader.
z/VM guest virtual machine with a SCSI boot device
When booting Linux in a z/VM guest virtual machine from a SCSI boot device, you can use the SET LOADDEV command with the SCPDATA option to specify kernel parameters.
LPAR mode with a SCSI boot device
When booting Linux in LPAR mode from a SCSI boot device, you can specify kernel parameters in the Operating system specific load parameters field on the HMC Load panel.

Kernel parameters as entered from a CMS or CP session are interpreted as lowercase on Linux.