Rolling and Live on the same HD (SOLVED)

[Archie]

I am not sure where this should be posted but ... let me explain ...

I have a rolling 64-bit install that I use for packaging. On the same install I want to add a 32-bit remaster also for the purpose of packaging and testing 32-bit RPMS. I do not want to install the remaster instead would want to keep it in pristine condition so every time I logon to it, it will not have the devels and libs that were used in the previous build.

There's no problem with reinstalling devels and libs for me. I have a copy of the repo on a removable disk.

I normally do this on LiveUSB but I thought why not just create a /pcliveos and drop in my remastered kde-minime on the folder, fix up /boot/menu.lst and I'm ready to roll. Well, it's not that easy and here's where I'm gonna need some help.

Right now here's my menu.lst:

Code:

timeout 5
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,4)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title PCLinuxOS 64
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PCLinuxOS_64 root=UUID=9889ae84-1883-406d-a2d6-ab06186dea62  quiet nokmsboot acpi=on resume=UUID=39c13ef0-39c3-4cdc-941f-ea07c4f957e5 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

[b]title PCLinuxOS 32 Live
kernel (hd0,4)/pcliveos/minime-isolinux/vmlinuz vga=788 splash=silent quiet livecd=minime root=Label=/pcliveos/ acpi=on fstab=rw,noauto
initrd (hd0,4)/pcliveos/minime-isolinux/initrd.gz[/b]

Obviously, there is something wrong with the second stanza or I wouldn't be posting. I removed fromusb that was on the LiveUSB. I do not want it persistent so I can keep it's pristine condition. Updates and installation of devels and libs are already set to be done locally, i.e. from the removable harddisk.

While I am waiting for HDD Live Install - PMI, I'd like to get this done as soon as I can.

Any help is appreciated.

Archie

[Neal ManBear]

Archie,     
Stanza 1     
(hd0,4)     

Stanza 2     
(hd0,4)     

       

[Archie]

Archie,    
Stanza 1    
(hd0,4)    

Stanza 2    
(hd0,4)    

     

The second stanza is on a sub-folder of / (i.e. /pcliveos) and contains the following files:

Code:

archie@arevalo.ph ~ > ls -l /pcliveos/
total 2043548
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Sep 27 19:55 kde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 697626624 Sep 25 08:57 kde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 11 10:14 lxde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 622034944 Dec 10 19:15 lxde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Oct 22 22:57 minime-isolinux/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 474779648 Oct 22 22:57 minime.sqfs
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 15 16:42 raw-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 298127360 Dec 15 16:42 raw.sqfs*

Which is why the stanza consist of the two-part: kernel (hd0,4)/pcliveos/minime-isolinux/ and initrd (hd0,4)/pcliveos/raw-isolinux/

I've done this sort of boot with Puppy Linux before so I'm sure it would work. I just can't remember the correct parameters.

Additional info from fdisk -l:

Code:

/dev/sda1   *          63     2040254     1020096   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2         2040255    33479459    15719602+   5  Extended
/dev/sda4        33479460   234436544   100478542+  83  Linux
/dev/sda5         2040318    33479459    15719571   83  Linux

[Neal ManBear]

  Sorry, Archie. I don't see how 2 OSes can exist on one partition. Well, as a virtual machine, yes, but as an install, no. I guess we'll have to wait for someone who knows more about this stuff.     

[Archie]

Sorry, Archie. I don't see how 2 OSes can exist on one partition. Well, as a virtual machine, yes, but as an install, no. I guess we'll have to wait for someone who knows more about this stuff.     

Hmmm come to think of it. I can't remember exactly whether I had the sqfs on the same partition or on the /home partition. But if you just think about it, the other OS is not running and I suppose what I am trying to do here is what would be call a Frugal Install, i.e. a Frugal Install is where you boot off the hard drive, usually via grub or lilo, and load the compressed image off of the hard drive or a usb stick (<--LiveUSB).

[Neal ManBear]

Oh! A poor man's install. Hmm...... I think Just18 had some posts on the subject. You should be able to find something on a forum search.   

[Archie]

I have tried some of the suggestions, especially on this post but I am still getting the same error.

Code:

Searching for the loop image  [OK]
      /dev/sda1
      /dev/sda2
      /dev/sda4
      /dev/sda5

  [DONE]

ERROR: Unable to mount the livecd
    Dropping you to a limited shell.
  Loading /initrd/bin/ash
/initrd/bin/ash: can't access tty; job control turned off.
$

[AS]

I have tried some of the suggestions, especially on this post but I am still getting the same error.

Code:

Searching for the loop image  [OK]
      /dev/sda1
      /dev/sda2
      /dev/sda4
      /dev/sda5

  [DONE]

ERROR: Unable to mount the livecd
    Dropping you to a limited shell.
  Loading /initrd/bin/ash
/initrd/bin/ash: can't access tty; job control turned off.
$

The above message come from linuxrc (that one installed in initrd image, coming from /usr/share/mylivecd/linuxrc), one parameter you absolutely need here is fromusb, despite it's name this option is not stricty related to USB devices, but it's needed to drive the script linuxrc to search for /dev/sdX devices which are otherwise ignored when fromusb is not present, it has nothing to do with persistence.

Archie, as first step restore the option fromusb on the grub parameters line.
You may want to temporarily add also the option debug and splash=verbose, and remove the option quiet, some additional output (especially some debug info), will be will turned on.

retry reboot, and report back the error 

AS

[Archie]

Archie, as first step restore the option fromusb on the grub parameters line.
You may want to temporarily add also the option debug and splash=verbose, and remove the option quiet, some additional output (especially some debug info), will be will turned on.

retry reboot, and report back the error  

AS

Did as advised. Removed quiet and added splash=verbose, fromusb and debug on parameters. Rebooted and go the following error:

Code:

DBG: I am after bootfrom. The LOOPMNT is:
Searching for loop image:
      /dev/sda1
      /dev/sda2
      /dev/sda4

DBG: Mounted /dev/sda4

      /dev/sda5

DBG: Mounted /dev/sda5

      /dev/sr0

DBG: I am after find_cloops. The LOOPMNT is:

[DONE]

ERROR: Unable to mount the livecd.
    Dropping you to a limited shell.
  Loading /initrd/bin/ash
/initrd/bin/ash: can't access tty; job control turned off.
$

This was from the second stanza with the suggested changes. What's next?

[Just18]

I have not read in-depth the above posts, but would like to say there is no problem in putting a liveinstall on a partition which already holds an installed OS.

Check that you have the boot option "livecd=" correct.
If you have put the livecd.sqfs file into a sub folder then you must specify that in the option. If it has been renamed then this option should reflect this.

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,88330.msg782737.html#msg782737

kernel (hd0,4)/pcliveos/minime-isolinux/vmlinuz vga=788 splash=silent quiet livecd=minime

You may wish to try using this script ....  although I have not looked at it for some time .... so it is not anything near up to date ..
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5838889/liveHDD-April-Beta-03.sh

[Just18]

Archie .......  I want to remind you about running Live sessions .......  the filesystem does not appear to get cleanly unmounted on shutdown/reboot.
Usually this will be corrected during a normal boot .....  but ......

I would advise the use of a separate partition for Live installs ......  in that way there is no data to be corrupted if such should occur.

[AS]

The second stanza is on a sub-folder of / (i.e. /pcliveos) and contains the following files:

Code:

archie@arevalo.ph ~ > ls -l /pcliveos/
total 2043548
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Sep 27 19:55 kde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 697626624 Sep 25 08:57 kde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 11 10:14 lxde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 622034944 Dec 10 19:15 lxde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Oct 22 22:57 minime-isolinux/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 474779648 Oct 22 22:57 minime.sqfs
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 15 16:42 raw-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 298127360 Dec 15 16:42 raw.sqfs*

I remember (it seems to me to remember...  ...) about some issue when the livecd.sqfs is not on the root directory ...
try to copy minime.sqfs to .. so it look like /minime.sqfs instead of /pclinuxos/minime.sqfs.

[Just18]

The second stanza is on a sub-folder of / (i.e. /pcliveos) and contains the following files:

Code:

archie@arevalo.ph ~ > ls -l /pcliveos/
total 2043548
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Sep 27 19:55 kde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 697626624 Sep 25 08:57 kde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 11 10:14 lxde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 622034944 Dec 10 19:15 lxde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Oct 22 22:57 minime-isolinux/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 474779648 Oct 22 22:57 minime.sqfs
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 15 16:42 raw-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 298127360 Dec 15 16:42 raw.sqfs*

I remember (it seems to me to remember...  ...) about some issue when the livecd.sqfs is not on the root directory ...
try to copy minime.sqfs to .. so it look like /minime.sqfs instead of /pclinuxos/minime.sqfs.

There is no problem having the SQFS file in a directory .......  provided the path is given in the boot option for it to be found.

Here is an example of a boot stanza from a LiveUSB stick ......

title   KDE_32Bit
kernel (hd0,0)/KDE_32Bit_0/KDE_32Bit_0/vmlinuz livecd=/KDE_32Bit_0/KDE_32Bit_0 fromusb root=UUID=67e74b39-7d70-4998-b364-124b0457ad7f acpi=on vga=791 splash=silent
initrd (hd0,0)/KDE_32Bit_0/KDE_32Bit_0/initrd.gz

The highlighted option shows that the livecd.sqfs has been renamed to the second 'KDE_32Bit_0' and it is in a directory named 'KDE_32Bit_0' ......  thus the full path/filename is given and causes no problems with booting.

In case of interest ....  the isolinux directory has been renamed and it also resides in the same directory as the SQFS file.


regards.

[AS]

The second stanza is on a sub-folder of / (i.e. /pcliveos) and contains the following files:

Code:

archie@arevalo.ph ~ > ls -l /pcliveos/
total 2043548
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Sep 27 19:55 kde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 697626624 Sep 25 08:57 kde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 11 10:14 lxde64-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 622034944 Dec 10 19:15 lxde64.sqfs*
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Oct 22 22:57 minime-isolinux/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 474779648 Oct 22 22:57 minime.sqfs
drwxrwxr-x 2 root root      4096 Dec 15 16:42 raw-isolinux/
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 298127360 Dec 15 16:42 raw.sqfs*

I remember (it seems to me to remember...  ...) about some issue when the livecd.sqfs is not on the root directory ...
try to copy minime.sqfs to .. so it look like /minime.sqfs instead of /pclinuxos/minime.sqfs.

There is no problem having the SQFS file in a directory .......  provided the path is given in the boot option for it to be found.

Here is an example of a boot stanza from a LiveUSB stick ......

title   KDE_32Bit
kernel (hd0,0)/KDE_32Bit_0/KDE_32Bit_0/vmlinuz livecd=/KDE_32Bit_0/KDE_32Bit_0 fromusb root=UUID=67e74b39-7d70-4998-b364-124b0457ad7f acpi=on vga=791 splash=silent
initrd (hd0,0)/KDE_32Bit_0/KDE_32Bit_0/initrd.gz

The highlighted option shows that the livecd.sqfs has been renamed to the second 'KDE_32Bit_0' and it is in a directory named 'KDE_32Bit_0' ......  thus the full path/filename is given and causes no problems with booting.

In case of interest ....  the isolinux directory has been renamed and it also resides in the same directory as the SQFS file.


regards.

Great! It appears that Archie have used livecd=minime:

timeout 5
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
gfxmenu (hd0,4)/boot/gfxmenu
default 0

title PCLinuxOS 64
kernel (hd0,4)/boot/vmlinuz BOOT_IMAGE=PCLinuxOS_64 root=UUID=9889ae84-1883-406d-a2d6-ab06186dea62  quiet nokmsboot acpi=on resume=UUID=39c13ef0-39c3-4cdc-941f-ea07c4f957e5 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,4)/boot/initrd.img

title PCLinuxOS 32 Live
kernel (hd0,4)/pcliveos/minime-isolinux/vmlinuz vga=788 splash=silent quiet livecd=minime root=Label=/pcliveos/ acpi=on fstab=rw,noauto
initrd (hd0,4)/pcliveos/minime-isolinux/initrd.gz

[Archie]

SOLVED! Well, sorts of.

Yeap, that fixed it ... so livecd= is very particular to the location of the sqfs. I just added livecd=/pcliveos/minime and it was that just that easy! Thank you, CO. You've save my butt once again. Thank you AS and Neal for chipping in as well.

Sort of ... meaning a restart of the machine leaves me with

Code:

-f
INIT: no more processes left in this runlevel.

Another thing I wanna ask, my /home is on a separate partition. I can't seem to find it. It didn't automount. and it is where the stuff I needed to test are at.

I'll have a look at those things again but at least now I can boot from it. Last resort, I'll move the imgs to my /home partition at /dev/sda4 and that would be (hd0,3)/pcliveos/

Happy holidays, y'all!