Filesystem Hierarchy Standard
This directory contains everything required for the boot process except
configuration files and the map installer. Thus /boot stores
data that is used before the kernel begins executing user-mode
programs. This may include saved master boot sectors, sector map files,
and other data that is not directly edited by hand.[footnote 2]
The operating system kernel must be located in either / or
/boot.[footnote 3]
[2] Programs necessary to arrange for the boot loader to be able to
boot a file must be placed in /sbin. Configuration files for
boot loaders must be placed in /etc.
[3] On some i386 machines, it may be necessary for /boot to be
located on a separate partition located completely below cylinder 1024
of the boot device due to hardware constraints.
Certain MIPS systems require a /boot partition that is a mounted
MS-DOS filesystem or whatever other filesystem type is accessible for
the firmware. This may result in restrictions with respect to usable
filenames within /boot (only for affected systems).
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Translated by troff2html v1.5 on 29 March 2002 by Daniel Quinlan