---
name: "gfxboot"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gfxboot"
version: "4.5.73-2+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gfxboot"
---

# gfxboot(1)

graphical boot screen test and config tool

## NAME

gfxboot - graphical boot screen test and config tool

## SYNOPSIS

**gfxboot \[** *OPTIONS* **\]** *ARGS*

## DESCRIPTION

**gfxboot** modifies and tests graphical boot loader configuration.

## OPTIONS

### General options

- **-a**, **--archive** *FILE*\|*DIRECTORY*

  Use FILE as gfxboot archive (default is /boot/message). If it points to a directory, assume it is an expanded archive (see **--expand-archive** option below).

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Increase verbosity.

- **--save-temp**

  Keep temporary files.

- **--version**

  Show gfxboot version.

- **--help**

  Print usage.

### Switching themes

- **--new-theme** *THEME*

  Activate THEME. Theme files are stored in /etc/bootsplash/themes/THEME/bootloader.

- **--update-theme** *THEME*

  Activate THEME but keep language settings from current gfxboot archive.

### Changing gfxboot config

- **--show-config**

  Show gfxboot config file (gfxboot.cfg).

- **--change-config** \[*SECTION1::*\]*OPTION1*=*FOO1* \[*SECTION2::*\]*OPTION2*=*FOO2* ...

  Change gfxboot config options. If sections are omitted, section "base" is used.

- **--rm-config** \[*SECTION1::*\]*OPTION1* \[*SECTION2::*\]*OPTION2* ...

  Delete gfxboot config options. If sections are omitted, section "base" is used.

- **--rm-section** *SECTION1* *SECTION2* ...

  Delete sections in gfxboot config file.

- **--default-language** *LANG*

  Make LANG the default language. LANG is a locale string (e.g. en\_US).

- **--add-languages** *LANG1* *LANG2* ...

  Add translation files.

- **--rm-languages** *LANG1* *LANG2* ...

  Remove translation files.

- **--config-file** *FILE*

  Don't work on gfxboot.cfg from gfxboot archive but on FILE. NOTE: FILE will be modified even with "--test".

### Preview/test gfxboot setup

- **-p**, **--preview**

  Try current config (needs some virtual machine).

- **-t**, **--test**

  Test only (don't actually change any files).

- **-b**, **--bootloader** *BOOTLOADER*

  Use BOOTLOADER (grub, lilo, isolinux, syslinux, pxelinux) for preview.

- **-m**, **--vm** *VM*

  Use virtual machine VM (bochs, qemu, qemu32, qemu64, vbox, vbox64, vmplayer, vmware) for preview.

- **--grub** *DIRECTORY\|RPM*

  Use grub from DIRECTORY or RPM (default is /).

- **--lilo** *DIRECTORY\|RPM*

  Use lilo from DIRECTORY or RPM (default is /).

- **--syslinux** *DIRECTORY\|RPM*

  Use syslinux from DIRECTORY or RPM (default is /).

- **--isolinux** *DIRECTORY\|RPM*

  Use isolinux from DIRECTORY or RPM (default is /).

- **--pxelinux** *DIRECTORY\|RPM*

  Use pxelinux from DIRECTORY or RPM (default is /).

- **--password** *PASSWORD*

  Create test config with PASSWORD for preview.

- **--32**

  Create 32 bit test image.

- **--64**

  Create 64 bit test image.

- **--biarch**

  Create biarch test image (same as using --32 and --64).

- **--cdrom**, **--dvd**

  Create iso image for preview.

- **--disk**

  Create harddisk image for preview.

- **--floppy**

  Create floppy image for preview.

- **--net**

  Create tftp directory for preview.

- **--save-image** *FILE*

  Copy preview image to FILE.

- **--test-add-files** *FILE1* *FILE2* ...

  Add files to test directory.

- **--test-rm-files** *FILE1* *FILE2* ...

  Delete files from test directory.

### Adding/removing files from gfxboot archive

- **--ls**, **--list-files**

  List gfxboot archive files.

- **--add-files** *FILE1* *FILE2* ...

  Add files to gfxboot archive.

- **--rm-files** *FILE1* *FILE2* ...

  Delete files from gfxboot archive.

- **--extract-files** *FILE1* *FILE2* ...

  Copy files from gfxboot archive to current working directory.

- **--show-file** *FILE*

  Print FILE.

- **--expand-archive** *DIRECTORY*

  Create expanded gfxboot archive version in DIRECTORY. That is, only files that cannot be read directly from file system are kept in a cpio archive. All others are unpacked.  Use only for isolinux, syslinux, or pxelinux.

- **--pack-archive** *FILE*

  Pack all gfxboot files into cpio archive FILE.

### Modifying help files

- **--help-show** *FILE*

  Print FILE (internal help file format) as HTML.

- **--help-create** *FILE*

  Convert HTML files passed as ARGS to FILE (internal format).

- **--used-pages** *LINK1* *LINK2* ...

  Mark pages as referenced.

- **--navi** *FILE*

  Use FILE as template for navigation links.

- **--define** *ENTITY1*=*VALUE1* *ENTITY2*=*VALUE2* ...

  Define ENTITYx with VALUEx.

## FILES

- **/boot/message**

  bootloader graphics archive (actually a cpio achive)

- **/etc/bootsplash/themes**

  theme directory

- **/etc/sysconfig/bootsplash**

  default theme

## BUGS

None.

## AUTHOR

```
Written by Steffen Winterfeldt.
```

## SEE ALSO

If you want to create your own theme look at the gfxboot-devel package.