Re: [PATCH v3 6/6] Documentation/kernel-parameters: add/update printk_delay/boot_delay

From: Petr Mladek

Date: Fri Jul 17 2026 - 05:13:06 EST


On Tue 2026-07-14 17:51:31, Steven Rostedt wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Jul 2026 11:20:37 +0100
> Andrew Murray <amurray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
> > index 2884103b93bca7b76cd3a93946276074cf62d0a1..1118feda87b1b04543b1da0bd52c090b1fddaeac 100644
> > --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
> > +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
> > @@ -650,11 +650,19 @@ Kernel parameters
> > See Documentation/block/cmdline-partition.rst
> >
> > boot_delay= [KNL,EARLY]
> > - Milliseconds to delay each printk during boot.
> > - Only works if GENERIC_CALIBRATE_DELAY is enabled,
> > - and you may also have to specify "lpj=". Boot_delay
> > - values larger than 10 seconds (10000) are assumed
> > - erroneous and ignored.
> > + Milliseconds to delay each printk during and post boot.
> > + Boot time delays only work if GENERIC_CALIBRATE_DELAY
> > + is enabled.
> > +
> > + Once booted the delay can be removed or adjusted via
> > + the printk_delay sysctl.
> > +
> > + Please note that you may also have to specify "lpj=".
> > + Boot_delay values larger than 10 seconds (10000) are
> > + assumed erroneous and ignored.
> > +
> > + This will soon be deprecated, please use printk_delay
> > + instead.
> > Format: integer
> >
> > bootconfig [KNL,EARLY]
> > @@ -5468,6 +5476,19 @@ Kernel parameters
> > printk.time= Show timing data prefixed to each printk message line
> > Format: <bool> (1/Y/y=enable, 0/N/n=disable)
> >
> > + printk_delay= [KNL,EARLY]
> > + Milliseconds to delay each printk during and post boot.
> > + Boot time delays only work if GENERIC_CALIBRATE_DELAY
> > + is enabled.
> > +
> > + Once booted the delay can be removed or adjusted via
> > + the printk_delay sysctl.
> > +
> > + Please note that you may also have to specify "lpj=".
> > + printk_delay values larger than 10 seconds (10000) are
> > + assumed erroneous and ignored.
> > + Format: integer
> > +
>
> The two parameters descriptions are identical. They should show something
> different. Is it just that the "boot_delay" name is getting deprecated?

Good point. We could remove all the details from the boot_delay
comment. Instead, we could say that it an obsolete alias to
printk_delay, will soon be drecated, ...

Best Regards,
Petr