NetBSD Problem Report #59961

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Date: Thu,  5 Feb 2026 00:16:37 +0000 (UTC)
From: andrew.cagney@gmail.com
Reply-To: andrew.cagney@gmail.com
To: gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org
Subject: installboot.8 makes (almost) no mention of boot.cfg
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X-From4GNATS: "andrew.cagney@gmail.com via gnats" <gnats-admin@NetBSD.org>

>Number:         59961
>Category:       install
>Synopsis:       installboot.8 makes (almost) no mention of boot.cfg
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       serious
>Priority:       medium
>Responsible:    install-manager
>State:          open
>Class:          doc-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Thu Feb 05 00:20:00 +0000 2026
>Originator:     cagney
>Release:        10.1
>Organization:
>Environment:
NetBSD netbsd 10.1 NetBSD 10.1 (GENERIC) #0: Mon Dec 16 13:08:11 UTC 2024  mkrepro@mkrepro.NetBSD.org:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC amd64
>Description:
The only reference to boot.cfg in installboot(8) is:

    bootconf    [amd64, i386] (Don't) read a boot.cfg file.

not exactly enlightening.

>How-To-Repeat:
Trying to set the boot timeout=0 using the command:

+ installboot -v -o console=com0,timeout=0,speed=9600 /dev/rld0a /usr/mdec/bootxx_ffsv1
File system:         /dev/rld0a
Primary bootstrap:   /usr/mdec/bootxx_ffsv1
Boot options:        timeout 0, flags 0, speed 9600, ioaddr 0, console com0

but it seems to be stuck at 5 seconds.

Reading the code it turns out that boot.cfg is what needs changing.
>Fix:
In installboot(8):

- boot.cfg(5) is missing from SEE ALSO; suggest adding it

- boot(8) appears in SEE ALSO but that's it(?); suggest adding a second paragraph to the opening DESCRIPTION explaining that boot(8) is the definitive reference for x86 (assuming that's true)

- -o's opening stanza doesn't mention that boot.cfg(5); suggest adding it

- suggest explaining that bootconf=0 stops boot.cfg overriding parameters
   bootconf    [amd64, i386] (Don't) read a boot.cfg file" matters

In boot.cfg(5):

- add installboot(8) to SEE ALSO


In boot(8):

     If present, the file /boot.cfg will be used to configure the behaviour of
     the boot loader including setting the timeout, choosing a console device,
     altering the banner text and displaying a menu allowing boot commands to
     be easily chosen.  See boot.cfg(5).

consider replacing configure with override or customise?

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