By default, the Boot module takes the initial set of bundle installed on framework startup from one or more startup bundles list files. The extension used for such files is .ini and they contain bundle installation instructions (like install, start, stop) in a XML format. A startup bundles list file may also specify the start levels and required permissions for startup bundles.

A file containing the startup bundles list is used on startup only if the framework is started with empty storage. Such a file provides the following information about each bundle to be installed:

• location of the bundle JAR
• initial start level - the start level of the bundle as defined in the OSGi Start Level Specification
• action - the command to be executed when processing the bundle
• permission - the permission that the bundle needs to operate correctly in a security-enabled framework

The permission function is deprecated and its usage is discouraged.