Speaking largely about 10.1-RELEASE: boot(8) & https://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=boot%288%29 missing reference material for zfsloader and zfs device information, such as for currdev. zfsloader(8) missing; s.b. link to loader(8) documentation for boot.config appears to be wrong, at least for zfs bootblocks. For example, '# echo "-D -S 115200 " > /boot.config' from manpage or https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/serialconsole-setup.html results in a host that stops after loading the bootblocks, as in: >> FreeBSD/i386 BOOT Default: 0:ad(0,a)/boot/loader boot: then you face the zfs-related documentation issues. /boot/zfsloader -D -S 115200 does not work either. rpool:/boot/zfsloader -D -S 115200 also not. zfs:rpool:/boot/zfsloader -D -S 115200 also not.
Also, loader(8) says: During initialization, loader will probe for a console and set the console variable, or set it to serial console (“comconsole”) if the pre‐ vious boot stage used that. If multiple consoles are selected, they will be listed separated by spaces. But, https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/serialconsole-setup.html indicates that the arguments are separated by a comma.
Regarding space vs comma: the loader accepts either separator so both cases work. I always use a space myself and the i386 loader uses spaces when it sets the initial console value in sys/boot/i386/loader/main.c if multiple consoles are enabled.
A commit references this bug: Author: allanjude Date: Sat Jul 11 19:18:44 UTC 2020 New revision: 363107 URL: https://svnweb.freebsd.org/changeset/base/363107 Log: boot(8): Add additional cross references Provide hints to direct people towards gptzfsboot, zfsbootcfg, efibootmgr, etc PR: 199103 MFC after: 2 weeks Sponsored by: Klara Inc. Event: July 2020 Bugathon Changes: head/sbin/reboot/boot_i386.8
currdev is documented in loader(8), it is not part of the bootstrap. Although the documentation for it is lacking. I have started a review to improve it: https://reviews.freebsd.org/D25629
A commit references this bug: Author: allanjude Date: Mon Jul 13 02:09:21 UTC 2020 New revision: 363139 URL: https://svnweb.freebsd.org/changeset/base/363139 Log: Loader: explain the syntax of currdev The origin text was: "Syntax for devices is odd." That is not very helpful. PR: 199103 Reviewed by: kevans, tsoome Sponsored by: Klara Inc. Event: July 2020 Bugathon Differential Revision: https://reviews.freebsd.org/D25629 Changes: head/stand/man/loader.8
A commit in branch stable/12 references this bug: URL: https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/src/commit/?id=3c880137ef67e784710178d7867c400de650abd3 commit 3c880137ef67e784710178d7867c400de650abd3 Author: Allan Jude <allanjude@FreeBSD.org> AuthorDate: 2020-07-13 02:09:21 +0000 Commit: Kyle Evans <kevans@FreeBSD.org> CommitDate: 2021-10-08 08:12:01 +0000 Loader: explain the syntax of currdev The origin text was: "Syntax for devices is odd." That is not very helpful. PR: 199103 (cherry picked from commit 551d20f044f3fa5e4f59d6303f1a2a70c1bf2297) stand/man/loader.8 | 12 +++++++++--- 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)