Configure LILO for graphical login. I like LILO. It just makes sense to me. Maybe because that's what Slackware uses, so that's what I learned how to use. The big thing I think that turns people on about other boot loaders like GRUB is the cool graphics. Well wouldn't you know it, you can get some cool graphics for LILO, too. I sure prefer the graphics to the boring red LILO menu.
Here's what I do: Edit /etc/lilo.conf, save your changes, and run /sbin/lilo. Easy, huh? Of course it helps to know what you should edit in /etc/lilo.conf to make this work, so here is mine.
# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
#compact # faster, but won't work on all systems.
prompt
timeout = 600
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
vga=788
# ramdisk = 0 # paranoia setting
map = /boot/map-bmp
install=/boot/boot-bmp.b
bitmap = /boot/logo64a.bmp
bmp-colors = 15,,0;5,,15
bmp-table = 59,5,1,18,
bmp-timer= 66,28,6,8,0
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.5
root = /dev/hda2
label = Slackware-2.6.5
read-only # Non-UMSDOS filesystems should be mounted read-only for checking
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# DOS bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/hda1
label = WindowsME
table = /dev/hda
# DOS bootable partition config ends
Fire up your favorite text editor and open up /etc/lilo.conf. Most of the stuff probably already
looks similar to mine. The interesting part is the line that starts "map=" through the end of the
LILO global section. Now it's not going to work if you don't have the files that are being referenced,
namely /boot/logo64a.bmp. If it isn't in your /boot directory, use slocate to find it and copy it over
to the /boot directory. Edit up that /etc/lilo.conf file and run /sbin/lilo. No errors, right? Well then,
reboot and check out your cool new boot screen.
A side note, I got my /boot/logo64a.bmp file from the Internet (I re-named it to logo64a.bmp). The one that comes with LILO just didn't float my boat. You can use any bmp file you like just make sure that it is 640x480x16. Here's a couple more places I found with pre-made images:
Now seems like as good a time as any to change my default run level. I use the graphical login as well as the graphical LILO. Why? Well I prefer to boot to console, myself. But if you're like me, you're not the only one using the computer. My friends and family that have never even heard of Linux before regularly use Linux on my computer without any problems. I think they would have been a little less willing to try out Linux if I had it booting to console. Maybe I'm wrong, but, whatever.
Anyhow, crank up your favorite text editor and open /etc/inittab . Now see that line that says:
# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:3:initdefault:
Change it to:
# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:4:initdefault:
Now you'll be greeted by your shiney new graphical login manger when you boot up. If you're like me, you'll have your share of troubles and wish you were logging into console. When something like that comes up, it's nice to remember that ctrl-alt-f6 opens up a text console. Ctrl-alt-f7 takes you back to X.