Commands

Here is a list of commands. The 2nd and 3rd columns say whether or not the command exists within Grub Legacy and Grub 2 respectively. If the command doesn't exist, but the functionality is implemented using a different command name or method, the column will contain the keyword 'replaced'.

Command	GRUB Legacy	GRUB 2	Comments	Group
blocklist	yes	yes
boot	yes	yes
bootp	yes	no	network support is missing
cat	yes	yes
chainloader	yes	yes	ex. of use chainloader (hd0,0)+1
cmp	yes	yes
color	yes	replaced	now two variables (menu_color_{normal,highlight})
configfile	yes	yes	default file is /grub.cfg	Menu only
debug	yes	replaced	now a variable
default	yes	yes	missing support for label and saved
device	yes	replaced	replaced with loopback
dhcp	yes	no	network support is missing
displayapm	yes	no	maybe useless
displaymem	yes	no	how useful? for debugging?
embed	yes	no	unnecessary
fallback	yes	no	required with label support	Menu only
find	yes	replaced	replaced with search
fstest	yes	no	how useful?
geometry	yes	no	ls should suffice
halt	yes	yes
help	yes	yes
hiddenmenu	yes	replaced	see Hiddenmenu	Menu only
hide	yes	no	Required for old operating systems
ifconfig	yes	no	network support is missing
impsprobe	yes	no	useless
initrd	yes	yes
insmod	no	yes	Insert a module
install	yes	no	unnecessary
ioprobe	yes	no	useless
kernel	yes	replaced	replaced with multiboot, linux, etc.
linux	no	yes	Load a linux kernel
lock	yes	no	Required for security
loopback	no	yes	Make a device from a file
ls	no	yes
lsmod	no	yes	List modules
makeactive	yes	no	useful but a better name is wished
map	yes	no	Required for old operating systems
md5crypt	yes	no	should be implemented as a utility
module	yes	yes
modulenounzip	yes	no	should be merged into module
multiboot	no	yes	Load a multiboot kernel
pager	yes	replaced	now a variable
partnew	yes	no	Usefull to create/manage partitions without additional programs
parttype	yes	no	Usefull to create/manage partitions without additional programs
password	yes	no	Required for security
pause	yes	no	how useful?
quit	yes	no	synonym of halt or reboot?
rarp	yes	no	used?
read	yes	no	useful for debugging
reboot	yes	yes
rescue	no	yes	Enter rescue mode
rmmod	no	yes	Remove a module
root	yes	replaced	now a variable
rootnoverify	yes	no	useless
savedefault	yes	no	useful
search	no	yes	Search devices by a file or a filesystem label
serial	yes	yes
set	no	yes	Set a variable
setkey	yes	no	useful
setup	yes	no	unnecessary
terminal	yes	yes	timeout support is missing
terminfo	yes	yes	not completed yet
testload	yes	no	how useful?
testvbe	yes	replaced	replaced with vbetest
tftpserver	yes	no	network support is missing
timeout	yes	yes		Menu only
title	yes	yes	shortcut support would be nice	Menu only
unhide	yes	no	Required for old operating systems
unset	no	yes	Unset a variable
uppermem	yes	no	evil necessity!
vbeprobe	yes	no	replaced with vbeinfo

Commands for the menu only

The menu-specific commands have to be used before any others.
The files must be in plain-text format.
# at the beginning of a line in a configuration file means it is only a comment.
Options are separated by spaces.
All numbers can be either decimal or hexadecimal. A hexadecimal number must be preceded by `0x', and is case-insensitive.
Extra options or text at the end of the line are ignored unless otherwise specified.
Unrecognized commands are added to the current entry, except before entries start, where they are ignored.

CategoryDocumentation