bootparams Database

The bootparams database contains information that is used by machines that are configured to boot in the network client mode. You need to edit this database if your network has network clients. See Configuring Network Clients for procedures. The database is built from information that is entered into the /etc/bootparams file.

The bootparams(4) man page contains complete syntax for this database. The man page's basic syntax is shown in the following example:

machine-name file-key-server-name:pathname

For each network client machine, the entry might contain the following information: the name of the client, a list of keys, the names of servers, and path names.

The first item of each entry is the name of the client machine. Next is a list of keys, names of servers, and path names, separated by tab characters. All items but the first are optional. An example follows.

Example 5–6 bootparams Database

myclient   root=myserver : /nfsroot/myclient  \
swap=myserver : /nfsswap//myclient \
dump=myserver : /nfsdump/myclient

In this example, the term dump=: tells client hosts not to look for a dump file.

Wildcard Entry for bootparams

In most instances, use the wildcard entry when editing the bootparams database to support clients. This entry follows:

*  root=server:/path dump=:

The asterisk (*) wildcard indicates that this entry applies to all clients that are not specifically named within the bootparams database.