zipl-editenv - Edit the zipl environment block

7.1 LPAR mode z/VM guest

Use the zipl-editenv command to display and change the zipl environment block.

Modifications that are made with zipl-editenv are lost after rerunning zipl. Modifications that are made with the zipl-editenv command do not affect the zipl environment file. Keep the environment file current to avoid inconsistencies. For more information about the zipl environment file, see zipl environment - Variables for the kernel command line.

CAUTION: Do not modify the zipl environment block by any other means than the zipl-editenv command.

zipl-editenv syntax

Where:

-t <target_dir> or --target <target_dir>

specifies a directory that contains the boot data. The default is

-t
/boot

-l or --list

prints a list of all keyword-value pairs in the zipl environment block.

-s <keyword>=<value> or --set <keyword>=<value>

assigns the specified value to the keyword in the common name space, unless -S is specified. The value can consist of any printable characters, but must not contain functions, such as the new-line symbol. If a keyword does not exist it is added.

The keyword must satisfy the following requirements:

Consist of uppercase letters A - Z, digits 0 = 9, and the _ (underscore).
Must not begin with a digit.

The maximum number of keyword-value pairs per boot partition is 512.

-u <keyword> or --unset <keyword>

removes the specified keyword from the common name space of the zipl environment block, unless -S is specified.

-r or --reset

removes all keywords from a common name space of the zipl environment block, unless -S is specified. All variables on the command line then resolve to the empty string.

-S <site> or -- site <site>

specifies the site as a numeral in the range 0 to 9. Combine the -S with the -s, -u, or the -r options to manipulate keywords for the specified site.

-h or --help

displays help text.

-v or --version

displays information about the version.

Examples

To list the zipl environment block, issue:

# zipl-editenv -l
ROOT=/dev/dasda1
PANIC_TIMEOUT=panic=8

To change the value of PANIC_TIMEOUT to panic=9, issue:
```
# zipl-editenv -s PANIC_TIMEOUT=panic=9
```
Use the --list option to check that the keywords and their values are now as expected:
```
# zipl-editenv -l
ROOT=/dev/dasda1
PANIC_TIMEOUT=panic=9
```
Assume that you have created an environment file with two sites, site 1 and site 2. You then run zipl to prepare the boot device for IPL. The installed environment might look for example like this:
```
# zipl-editenv --list
Common variables:
  VAR_A=A
Site 1:
  VAR_A=A1
Site 2:  
  VAR_B=B2
```
In this example, the common name space contains keyword VAR_A with the value A, site 1 contains the same keyword with a different value, A1, and site 2 contains keyword VAR_B with the value B2.
- To define a value for VAR_A at site 2, issue:
```
# zipl-editenv --set VAR_A=A2 --site 2
```
- To add a keyword VAR_C in the common name space, issue:
```
# zipl-editenv --set VAR_C=C
```
List the environment to see the changes:
```
# zipl-editenv --list
Common variables:
  VAR_A=A
  VAR_C=C
Site 1:
  VAR_A=A1
Site 2:
  VAR_A=A2
  VAR_B=B2
```