Automatically Changing to a non-US Keyboard Layout for Imaging
Novell Cool Solutions: Tip
By Jamie Glendinning
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Updated: 3 Oct 2007 |
I've got an update to this Cool Solution that I wrote in 2006 that explained how to change the keyboard mapping in the ZENworks Imaging Environment. Novell has now released ZENworks Configuration Management and ZENworks 7 Sp1 IR1 (and several previous Hotpatches). The Loadkeys command that we used in the previous article has now changed.
Here's a new section where I explain the new method of doing it.
For ZENworks 10 Configuration Management
PROBLEM: The Keyboard Layout in the ZENworks Imaging Environment defaults to a US layout. However, not everyone in the world uses a US Keyboard layout and this can cause problems when trying to type the correct command line at the bash prompt.
SOLUTION: Use the loadkeys utility to change the keyboard mapping file being used.
The loadkeys utility is hidden away in the /lbin folder. It's very straightforward to use:
loadkeys uk
will change the keyboard layout to UK format.
If this is not the layout that you want to use - have a look in /kbd/keymaps/ as this is where the keymap files are stored.
Now running the loadkeys command every time you boot to the bash prompt might be fun for you, but I'm lazy so I wanted to automate the change.
To do this you will need to update the /tftp/boot/settings.txt
Add the appropriate command to the bottom of this file:
loadkeys <keyboard map file name>
where the keyboard map file name is one of the following:
br-abnt2.map
cz-us-qwertz.map
de-lat1-nd.map
de-latin1.map
dk.map
es.map
fi.map
fr-latin1.map
gr.map
hu.map
it.map
jp106.map
nl.map
no-latin1.map
Pl02.map
pt-latin1.map
ru1.map
sk-qwerty.map
sv-latin1.map
uk.map
us.map
When you next PXE-boot your machine, you should have the appropriate keyboard layout -- and you don't need to edit or update your initrd files to get it to work. :-)
For ZENworks 6.5 SP2 or ZENworks 7 Imaging Environment
PROBLEM: The Keyboard Layout in the ZENworks Imaging Environment defaults to a US layout. However, not everyone in the world uses a US Keyboard layout and this can cause problems when trying to type the correct command line at the bash prompt.
SOLUTION: Use the loadkeys utility to change the keyboard mapping file being used.
EXAMPLE: I've wondered how to swap the keyboard layout for some time as we have several customers around the world.
The loadkeys utility is hidden away in the /lbin folder.
It's very straightforward to use:
/lbin/loadkeys uk
will change the keyboard layout to UK format.
If this is not the layout that you want to use - have a look in /kbd/keymaps/ as this is where the keymap files are stored.
Now running the loadkeys command every time you boot to the bash prompt might be fun for you, but I'm lazy so I wanted to automate the change.
To do this you will need to update the /tftp/boot/settings.txt
Add the appropriate command to the bottom of this file:
/lbin/loadkeys <keyboard map file name>
where the keyboard map file name is one of the following:
br-abnt2.map
cz-us-qwertz.map
de-lat1-nd.map
de-latin1.map
dk.map
es.map
fi.map
fr-latin1.map
gr.map
hu.map
it.map
jp106.map
nl.map
no-latin1.map
Pl02.map
pt-latin1.map
ru1.map
sk-qwerty.map
sv-latin1.map
uk.map
us.map
When you next PXE-boot your machine, you should have the appropriate keyboard layout -- and you don't need to edit or update your initrd files to get it to work. :-)
If you have any questions you may contact Jamie at jamie_glendinning_TAKETHISOUT@TAKETHISOUTTOOengl.co.uk
Reader Comments
- Very useful, Jamie .. thanks again :)
- Thanks for the info! /Marcus W
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