This has nothing to do with the kernel, it all happens before the kernel is loaded.
boot.config(5), boot(8), loader(8) and loader.conf(5).
Handbook: Chapter 12. The FreeBSD Booting Process
You'd probably want to add boot_mute="" to /boot/loader.conf.If i dont want to the kernel show messages during boot(make silent boot) , i have to modify the kernel source not? Beyond there is already a option for this
man loader.conf
will point you to loader.conf(5) which tells you more about the more basic options. Step two: study the default settings. This is the exact reason why you should never change anything within a defaults directory but instead overrule options.But my question is, for example,
If i dont want to the kernel show messages during boot(make silent boot) , i have to modify the kernel source not? Beyond there is already a option for this
boot_mute=YES
in /boot/loader.conf for a FreeBSD splash screen at the time when loader loads the kernel and before rc to start reading /etc/rc.confYou'd probably want to add boot_mute="" to /boot/loader.conf.
Anyway, you ask a good question I think. The answer is a bit complicated because the boot process covers many different settings.
First and foremost: always check the manpages. Soman loader.conf
will point you to loader.conf(5) which tells you more about the more basic options. Step two: study the default settings. This is the exact reason why you should never change anything within a defaults directory but instead overrule options.
But yeah, if you look into /boot/defaults/loader.conf you'll find a whole lot of options which you can use. This is how I found out about the mute option above myself.
Then also important: the SEE ALSO sections in the manpages. If you check the above manualpage for loader.conf you'll automatically be pointed to boot(8) which in its turn will mention boot options such as -m (mute console). These options are meant to be used within the boot menu but as shown above can also be configured yourself.
And finally you'll also find loader(8), loader.4th(8) and of course rc.conf(5).
So yeah; the answer is basically a combination of manual pages, their SEE ALSO sections and the default directory. You'll notice that most options are already available![]()
Indeed FreeBSD's rc is quite verbose per default, I can figure this is related to FreeBSD being mainly a Server OS. I'm used to send some core services' stdout | stderr to /dev/null and silence booting process a bit. vermaden has just posted quite the thorough and easy to follow how-to about how to achieve a similar result, see Thread HOWTO FreeBSD Desktop Part 1 Simplified-Boot.65346. Personally I do the same for powerd(8) and IPFW(8) which are quite verbose, but you can do similarly with practically anything else (ntpd, pf, smartd, ftpd, moused...). Also I've noticed that boot time is 1/3 to 1/2 faster if running a custom kernel which includes only needed drivers, as FreeBSD has again a lot of Server-oriented stuff built-in GENERIC by default.Try also disabling anything unneeded and setboot_mute=YES
in /boot/loader.conf for a FreeBSD splash screen at the time when loader loads the kernel and before rc to start reading /etc/rc.conf