[Bug 286556] boot_mute is improperly specified in loader.conf(5); man page doesn't mention

https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=286556

            Bug ID: 286556
           Summary: boot_mute is improperly specified in loader.conf(5);
                    man page doesn't mention
           Product: Base System
           Version: 15.0-CURRENT
          Hardware: Any
                OS: Any
            Status: New
          Severity: Affects Only Me
          Priority: ---
         Component: kern
          Assignee: bugs@FreeBSD.org
          Reporter: sgharms@stevengharms.com

Per: stand/defaults/loader.conf

#boot_mute=""           # -m: Mute the console

This is inaccurate.

The documentation reflects the original intention of this option. Per Warner
Losh[1]:

> Originally, it was done by Whistle in 1993 for muting the console on their 
> WhistleJet internet systems since it printed things Whistle generally didn't 
> want disclosed.

So far, things are consistent. However, boot_mute does not live up to this
commitment. Rather it:

1. Displays a beastie orb image covering up the hardware testing sequence
kernel initialization
2. After moving to init(8), the overlay is removed and rc initialization is
printed to screen in violation of expectation of the option

Continued Losh:

> ...the  vt(4) authors weren't aware of this when vt was merged, and none of the 
> reviewer caught it...

In conclusion, the incomplete guidance is inaccurate. That the de facto
functionality *also* fails, is another concern that will be opened in a
different bug.

[1]: https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-current/2025-March/007230.html

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