LILO (Linux Loader) is one of the original bootloaders for Linux, designed to launch the operating system immediately after the server is powered on. It is used on systems with BIOS and can be installed either into the Master Boot Record (MBR) or the boot sector of a specific partition.
The main purpose of LILO is to locate and load the Linux kernel into memory and then transfer control to it. Unlike more advanced bootloaders, LILO works directly with disk sectors, making it highly reliable and predictable.
LILO supports multi-boot configurations, allowing the system to boot into different operating systems. Its behavior is fully configured via the /etc/lilo.conf file. After any changes to this file, the configuration must be manually applied by running the lilo command.
Due to its simplicity and minimal resource requirements, LILO is often used in minimalist, embedded, or specialized systems, as well as in server environments where full control over the boot process is essential.
boot=/dev/sda
prompt
timeout=50
default=linux
image=/boot/vmlinuz-5.10
label=linux
read-only
root=/dev/sda1
After editing the configuration file, changes must be applied manually using:
sudo lilo
LILO is a stable and predictable bootloader, ideal for systems that prioritize simplicity, control, and reliability. It remains a practical choice for lightweight distributions, embedded systems, and BIOS-based servers using MBR.