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Diffstat (limited to 'en/using-d-i/modules/shell.xml')
| -rw-r--r-- | en/using-d-i/modules/shell.xml | 63 |
1 files changed, 42 insertions, 21 deletions
diff --git a/en/using-d-i/modules/shell.xml b/en/using-d-i/modules/shell.xml index 57081c7a2..796744900 100644 --- a/en/using-d-i/modules/shell.xml +++ b/en/using-d-i/modules/shell.xml @@ -3,39 +3,60 @@ <sect3 id="shell"> <title>Using the Shell and Viewing the Logs</title> - <!-- TODO: There is nothing about logs in this section! --> <para> -There is an <guimenuitem>Execute a Shell</guimenuitem> item on the -menu. If the menu is not available when you need to use the shell, -press <keycombo><keycap>Left Alt</keycap> <keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo> -(on a Mac keyboard, <keycombo><keycap>Option</keycap> <keycap>F2</keycap> -</keycombo>) to switch to the second <emphasis>virtual -console</emphasis>. That's the <keycap>Alt</keycap> key on the -left-hand side of the <keycap>space bar</keycap>, and the -<keycap>F2</keycap> function key, at the same time. This is a separate -window running a Bourne shell clone called <command>ash</command>. +There are several methods you can use to get a shell while running an +installation. On most systems, and if you are not installing over +serial console, the easiest method is to switch to the second +<emphasis>virtual console</emphasis> by pressing <keycombo><keycap>Left +Alt</keycap> <keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo><footnote> + +<para> +That is: press the <keycap>Alt</keycap> key on the left-hand side of the +<keycap>space bar</keycap> and the <keycap>F2</keycap> function key +at the same time. +</para> + +</footnote> (on a Mac keyboard, <keycombo><keycap>Option</keycap> +<keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo>). Use <keycombo><keycap>Left Alt</keycap> +<keycap>F1</keycap></keycombo> to switch back to installer itself. + +</para><para> + +If you cannot switch consoles, there is also an <guimenuitem>Execute +a Shell</guimenuitem> item on the main menu that can be used to start +a shell. To get back to the installer itself, type +<userinput>exit</userinput> to close the shell. </para><para> At this point you are booted from the RAM disk, and there is a limited set of Unix utilities available for your use. You can see what programs are available with the command <command>ls /bin /sbin /usr/bin -/usr/sbin</command> and by typing <command>help</command>. The -text editor is <command>nano</command>. The shell has some nice features -like autocompletion and history. +/usr/sbin</command> and by typing <command>help</command>. +The shell is a Bourne shell clone called <command>ash</command> and has +some nice features like autocompletion and history. </para><para> -Use the menus to perform any task that they are able to do — the -shell and commands are only there in case something goes wrong. In -particular, you should always use the menus, not the shell, to -activate your swap partition, because the menu software can't detect -that you've done this from the shell. Press <keycombo><keycap>Left -Alt</keycap> <keycap>F1</keycap></keycombo> to get back to menus, or -type <command>exit</command> if you used a menu item to open the -shell. +To edit and view files, use the text editor <command>nano</command>. +Log files for the installation system can be found in the +<filename>/var/log</filename> directory. </para> +<note><para> + +Although you can do basically anything in a shell that the available +commands allow you to do, the option to use a shell is really only there +in case something goes wrong and for debugging. + +</para><para> + +Doing things manually from the shell may interfere with the installation +process and result in errors or an incomplete installation. +In particular, you should always use let the installer activate your swap +partition and not do this yourself from a shell. + +</para></note> </sect3> |