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On the recordRead 8 Oct 202621 facts
systemd-boot
On the record
- Boot assessment
- The systemd boot assessment mechanism can track boot attempts and prioritize entries that have not exhausted their configured attempt counters.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Boot configuration
- The loader configuration supports a default-entry pattern and a menu timeout, while entry files can specify a title, version, EFI image, kernel, initrd, and options.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Boot control
- EFI variables can store the default entry, preferred entry, timeout, and one-shot entry selection.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Boot hotkeys
- Menu hotkeys can directly select Linux, Windows, macOS, the EFI Shell, or entries numbered 1 through 9.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Boot menu
- It selects a default entry by configured pattern or on-screen menu, and boots the default immediately when no timeout is configured and no key is pressed.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Default behavior
- With no configured timeout and no key pressed during startup, systemd-boot executes the default entry immediately.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Download
- The systemd project’s wiki lists GitHub releases and distribution package repositories as download sources for systemd.wiki.freedesktop.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- EFI System Partition
- Configuration files, kernels, initrds, and other EFI images must reside on the EFI System Partition.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- EFI variables
- systemd-boot uses EFI variables for settings and state including the default entry, one-shot entry, menu timeout, and ESP partition UUID.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Entry configuration
- Boot entries can specify a title, version, machine ID, EFI image, kernel options, Linux kernel, and initrd.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- ESP requirement
- systemd-boot operates on the EFI System Partition (ESP), where its configuration files, kernels, initrds, and other EFI images must reside.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Kernel requirement
- Linux kernels need CONFIG_EFI_STUB to be directly executed as EFI images by systemd-boot.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Linux kernel requirement
- Linux kernels must be built with CONFIG_EFI_STUB to run directly as EFI images.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Management utility
- The systemd project says bootctl can install systemd-boot to the EFI System Partition.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Other boot choices
- The menu lists configured entries and documents hotkeys for Linux, Windows, macOS, and the EFI Shell.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- systemd-boot is a UEFI boot manager that executes configured EFI images.systemd.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The systemd repository says it has a security bug bounty program sponsored by the Sovereign Tech Fund and hosted on YesWeHack.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security program
- The systemd project repository says it has a security bug bounty program sponsored by the Sovereign Tech Fund and hosted on YesWeHack.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
