SCO OpenServer Handbook
Appendix G, Kernel initialization check letters

Appendix G

Appendix G<P> Kernel initialization check letters Kernel initialization check letters

Each time the kernel starts, it checks the hardware that it expects to find in the system, initializes various kernel tables, mounts the root filesystem, opens the swap device, and prints configuration information. At each stage of checking, the kernel displays a letter (plus a message if the stage is subdivided). The process normally pauses for a while at certain letters if lengthy checks or initialization are involved. However, if the process stops and does not continue at a particular letter, this usually indicates a problem with the initialization of the corresponding device driver.

The following list describes the meanings of the kernel startup letters:

D
Check for 10 bits of I/O decoding by writing to and reading from the direct memory access (DMA) controller channel 0 page table address register (I/O port 0x87).

Perform machine-specific initializations. If the initialization stops here, there is a hardware problem. This may be resolved by running hardware tests available on reference or setup floppy disks from the hardware manufacturer.

E
Print configuration information for the numeric coprocessor (80287, 80387, 80487SX, Weitek, or built-in), if any. Also perform machine-specific multiprocessor memory initialization.

If a coprocessor is present but not recognized, confirm that it is properly connected and that your hardware recognizes it. Refer to your floating point processor documentation for available tests.

F
Initialize pseudo-devices and I/O devices by calling their corresponding driver initialization functions.

If a failure occurs at this stage, check the relevant devices to see if they are incorrectly configured or non-functioning. Refer to the documentation for the relevant hardware for more information.

The format of the startup ``F'' messages is: 

 --------------------------------------------------
 Message       Description
 --------------------------------------------------
 driverinit    Initialize configured driver 
 BTLD init     Initialize boot-time loadable driver
 driverinit2   Link SCSI peripheral driver to SCSI
               host adapter

G
Initialize the Programmable Interrupt Controller (PIC) chips and multiprocessors, configure root disk driver, and reset keyboard.

H
Initialize various system resources: 
 ---------------------------------------------
 Message   Description
 ---------------------------------------------
 oeminit   OEM-specific features
 cinit     character lists (clists)
 inoinit   inodes

 fsinit       filesystems
 fstyp init   filesystem of type fstyp 
 finit        file table
 strinit      STREAMS

 ksl init   kernel STREAMS linker (ksl__start)
 iinit      open root device, load superblock
            into memory and mount the root
            filesystem.  If the root device is
            a hard disk, display configuration
            message. If the system hangs here,
            suspect a damaged, missing, or
            incorrectly configured root device.
            Also reset system clock from
            hardware clock.

 flckinit   file locking
 seminit    IPC semaphores

 msginit   IPC messages
 xsdinit   XENIX shared data

 xseminit   XENIX semaphores

 cfgmsginit   print configuration error messages
              if too many groups or open files
              are defined. Print a warning
              message if too many memory ranges
              were specified at boot time.

I
Print any machine-specific information, invoke the driver start routine for certain devices, and print total kernel memory and user memory.

The format of the startup ``I'' messages is: 

 -------------------------------------------------
 Message       Description
 -------------------------------------------------
 driverstart   Start driver 
 BTLD start    Start boot-time loadable driver

J
Initialize floating point emulator.

K
Open the swap device, add it to the swap file table, and print information about it.

M
Initialize machine-specific memory ECC support.

Print information on root, pipe, dump devices, clock interrupt rate (HZ), kernel I/O buffers, and additional CPUs found.