Is LiveMMC or Live SD possible?

[paf077]

Just a wild stab to find out opinions on this.  

Class 6 and specially class 10 SD cards are a lot faster than any usb sticks, heck even 2.5" portable hdd are faster than usb pendrives and card readers are usb port based (plugged in a usb port) either stand alone readers or integrated like in laptops. So would it be possible to get the LiveUSB script to write to a SDcard instead of a usb pen drive?

Just curious.

I have a 16Gb class 10 SDcard and  am going to try this during the holidays.
Paf

[AS]

Theoretically it's possible, (although PCLinuxOS-LiveUSB-creator might require some small change), the problem I see is that generally booting from SD cards is not always supported from BIOS.

The small changes are related to the SD card recognized as "removable devices", I have found this behavior rather inconsistent depending on the device.

When evaluating the SD card speed, do not forget to evaluate the SD card controller speed, SD cards reader based on USB 2.x are slower than pci based SD card reader.

You may also want to test the beta release of LiveUSB creator:  http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,100908.0.html

Happy testing! 

AS

[Just18]

There should be no problem at all.
It will write to any removable drive that has an ext filesystem on a partition.

It has been tested on Zip drives and on Firewire drives as well as on some SD cards by others.

Booting from some of those devices can be a problem though .......  has anyone found a motherboard that allows booting from Firewire drive?  I have not noticed on ....

[Archie]

I'm not sure whether mine has bad superblock or I'm doing it all wrong. I could format it on my wife's Windows PC and save files on it.

OK. First, the 16GiB MicroSD was originally FAT32 or something like that so I fdisk d-n-w, and it told me it synced. Ejected the card and plug it in again. For extra measures, I did an mke3fs /dev/mmcblk0p1 and got an:

Code:

ext2fs_mkdir: Attempt to read block from filesystem resulted in short read while creating root dir

Maybe wrong approach so did the fdisk all over again then run lusbc on terminal. It detected the partition, I highlighted it and clicked OK. It then loops.

Code:

                Your Inserted device is being detected   

                  This will take just a few moments.     

Do   <span color='\''red'\''><b>NOT</b></span>   attempt to view its contents while running this application.

                                  ' --auto-close --auto-kill
+ echo
+ sleep 10
++ cut -d: -f1
++ grep -e /dev/
++ sfdisk -s
+ DRIVES2='/dev/sda
/dev/sdb
/dev/mmcblk0'
++ echo /dev/sda /dev/sdb /dev/mmcblk0
+ for file in '$(echo $DRIVES2)'
++ echo /dev/sda /dev/sdb
++ grep -v /dev/sda
++ head -1
+ tmpstr=
+ '[' '' '!=' '' ']'
+ for file in '$(echo $DRIVES2)'
++ echo /dev/sda /dev/sdb
++ grep -v /dev/sdb
++ head -1
+ tmpstr=
+ '[' '' '!=' '' ']'
+ for file in '$(echo $DRIVES2)'
++ grep -v /dev/mmcblk0
++ head -1
++ echo /dev/sda /dev/sdb
+ tmpstr='/dev/sda /dev/sdb'
+ '[' '/dev/sda /dev/sdb' '!=' '' ']'
+ DEVICE=/dev/mmcblk0
+ '[' /dev/mmcblk0 == '' ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext2 ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext3 ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext4 ']'
++ zenity --window-icon=/usr/share/icons/pclosusb.png --list --height=550 '--title=   PCLinuxOS LiveUSB Creator 0.9.7' '--text=   
                 <b>Select a <span color='\''blue'\''><b>Linux ext</b></span> Partition for the Install</b>

                 You must select a <span color='\''blue'\''><b>Linux</b></span> partition (type #83).

                 Highlight your selection and select <span color='\''blue'\''><b>OK</b></span>

                 Select  <span color='\''red'\''><b>Cancel</b></span>  to quit the application

' --width=550 --height=400 '--column=Partitions                                     Details'
++ grep '^/dev/mmcblk0'
++ fdisk -l

(zenity:5802): GLib-WARNING **: Invalid file descriptor.

+ Selected_Part='/dev/mmcblk0p1   *        2048    30916607    15457280   83  Linux'
+ '[' 0 = 1 ']'
++ echo '/dev/mmcblk0p1   *        2048    30916607    15457280   83  Linux'
++ awk '{print $1}'
+ DEV_PART=/dev/mmcblk0p1
++ blkid -c /dev/null -o value -s TYPE /dev/mmcblk0p1
+ Type=
+ '[' '' '!=' ext2 ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext3 ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext4 ']'
++ grep '^/dev/mmcblk0'
++ zenity --window-icon=/usr/share/icons/pclosusb.png --list --height=550 '--title=   PCLinuxOS LiveUSB Creator 0.9.7' '--text=
                 <b>Select a <span color='\''blue'\''><b>Linux ext</b></span> Partition for the Install</b>

                 You must select a <span color='\''blue'\''><b>Linux</b></span> partition (type #83).

                 Highlight your selection and select <span color='\''blue'\''><b>OK</b></span>

                 Select  <span color='\''red'\''><b>Cancel</b></span>  to quit the application

' --width=550 --height=400 '--column=Partitions                                     Details'
++ fdisk -l

Any ideas while I do some packaging tasks? TIA

[AS]

I'm not sure whether mine has bad superblock or I'm doing it all wrong. I could format it on my wife's Windows PC and save files on it.

OK. First, the 16GiB MicroSD was originally FAT32 or something like that so I fdisk d-n-w, and it told me it synced. Ejected the card and plug it in again. For extra measures, I did an mke3fs /dev/mmcblk0p1 and got an:

Code:

ext2fs_mkdir: Attempt to read block from filesystem resulted in short read while creating root dir

Apparently look like some media issue ... look in dmesg and/or /var/log/messages for possible hints  ...
also, but should not be relevant in your case, did you changed the partition type from fat32 to Linux ?
Is this under 32 or 64 bit system ? (I ask because I have a similar device, same driver, may be I can do some test)

AS

[Archie]

I'm not sure whether mine has bad superblock or I'm doing it all wrong. I could format it on my wife's Windows PC and save files on it.

OK. First, the 16GiB MicroSD was originally FAT32 or something like that so I fdisk d-n-w, and it told me it synced. Ejected the card and plug it in again. For extra measures, I did an mke3fs /dev/mmcblk0p1 and got an:

Code:

ext2fs_mkdir: Attempt to read block from filesystem resulted in short read while creating root dir

Apparently look like some media issue ... look in dmesg and/or /var/log/messages for possible hints  ...
also, but should not be relevant in your case, did you changed the partition type from fat32 to Linux ?
Is this under 32 or 64 bit system ? (I ask because I have a similar device, same driver, may be I do some test)

AS

Yes, lusbc detected it as 83 Linux. Previously, I deleted the original partition and created a new one.

dmesg | tail displayed something like a cannot detect ext2 filesystem followed by another line of similar error but ext3.

[AS]

Just made an install on my SD, all went well, below the relevant part of log

Code:

...
+ DEVICE=/dev/mmcblk0
+ '[' /dev/mmcblk0 == '' ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext2 ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext3 ']'
+ '[' '' '!=' ext4 ']'
++ zenity --window-icon=/usr/share/icons/pclosusb.png --list --height=550 '--title=   PCLinuxOS LiveUSB Creator 0.9.7' '--text=   
                 <b>Select a <span color='\''blue'\''><b>Linux ext</b></span> Partition for the Install</b>

                 You must select a <span color='\''blue'\''><b>Linux</b></span> partition (type #83).

                 Highlight your selection and select <span color='\''blue'\''><b>OK</b></span>

                 Select  <span color='\''red'\''><b>Cancel</b></span>  to quit the application

' --width=550 --height=400 '--column=Partitions                                     Details'
++ grep '^/dev/mmcblk0'
++ fdisk -l
+ Selected_Part='/dev/mmcblk0p1   *          16     3970047     1985016   83  Linux'
+ '[' 0 = 1 ']'
++ echo '/dev/mmcblk0p1   *          16     3970047     1985016   83  Linux'
++ awk '{print $1}'
+ DEV_PART=/dev/mmcblk0p1
++ blkid -c /dev/null -o value -s TYPE /dev/mmcblk0p1
+ Type=ext3
+ '[' ext3 '!=' ext2 ']'
+ '[' ext3 '!=' ext3 ']'
+ zenity --window-icon=/usr/share/icons/pclosusb.png --info --no-wrap --width=500 --timeout=6 '--title= PCLinuxOS LiveUSB Creator 0.9.7' '--text=<b>Selected Partition</b>
You have chosen to install on /dev/mmcblk0p1     ext3                 '
...

May be you have not clicked on the 'selected partition' ?

[Archie]

Actually I have ... twice before Cancel. I know the terminal output does not show it is selected which is why I am also baffled. But I did highlight (select) it before clicking OK.

[AS]

Actually I have ... twice before Cancel. I know the terminal output does not show it is selected which is why I am also baffled. But I did highlight (select) it before clicking OK.

is 64 bit system ?

[Archie]

Actually I have ... twice before Cancel. I know the terminal output does not show it is selected which is why I am also baffled. But I did highlight (select) it before clicking OK.

is 64 bit system ?

Yep. KDE-64 (almost on 4.8 ... shhhhh)

[AS]

Actually I have ... twice before Cancel. I know the terminal output does not show it is selected which is why I am also baffled. But I did highlight (select) it before clicking OK.

is 64 bit system ?

Yep. KDE-64 (almost on 4.8 ... shhhhh)

I will test it, but later ... 

[Just18]

++ fdisk -l

(zenity:5802): GLib-WARNING **: Invalid file descriptor.

I would suggest that you use  Kde Partition Manage to delete the MBR/Partition Table;
(you could also use the DD command to write zeros to the first sector which might be a more certain way to ensure it is clean)

Now create a new Partition Table (DOS type)

Then create a new partition and format it to ext.

After that try the script again.

[Archie]

++ fdisk -l

(zenity:5802): GLib-WARNING **: Invalid file descriptor.

I would suggest that you use  Kde Partition Manage to delete the MBR/Partition Table;
(you could also use the DD command to write zeros to the first sector which might be a more certain way to ensure it is clean)

Now create a new Partition Table (DOS type)

Then create a new partition and format it to ext.

After that try the script again.

Done that too with fdisk o-n-w. Then I also tried fdisk o-n-a-w.

[Just18]

++ fdisk -l

(zenity:5802): GLib-WARNING **: Invalid file descriptor.

I would suggest that you use  Kde Partition Manage to delete the MBR/Partition Table;
(you could also use the DD command to write zeros to the first sector which might be a more certain way to ensure it is clean)

Now create a new Partition Table (DOS type)

Then create a new partition and format it to ext.

After that try the script again.

Done that too with fdisk o-n-w. Then I also tried fdisk o-n-a-w.

Try zeroing with dd before creating the partition table, just in case there is something left over that is causing upset.
Small chance I know .....

In addition you might try adding a very small FAT partition at the beginning of the device .....  and the ext partition after it.

[Archie]

++ fdisk -l

(zenity:5802): GLib-WARNING **: Invalid file descriptor.

I would suggest that you use  Kde Partition Manage to delete the MBR/Partition Table;
(you could also use the DD command to write zeros to the first sector which might be a more certain way to ensure it is clean)

Now create a new Partition Table (DOS type)

Then create a new partition and format it to ext.

After that try the script again.

Done that too with fdisk o-n-w. Then I also tried fdisk o-n-a-w.

Try zeroing with dd before creating the partition table, just in case there is something left over that is causing upset.
Small chance I know .....

In addition you might try adding a very small FAT partition at the beginning of the device .....  and the ext partition after it.

Hmm before I do anything, please confirm that what I am doing is correct:

Code:

#dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/mmcblk0p1

TIA