HDD Live Install ...... Poorman's Install

[AS]

.....

If I'm not wrong bootfromiso is used when you put multiple ISO files inside a single media (i.e. one DVD containing multiple ISO),
then the linuxrc script try to:
1) mount the cdrom unit;
2) if bootfromiso is defined (i.e. bootfromiso=distro.iso), then the distro.iso will be mounted on a loop device;
3) the file *.sqfs is searched and mounted on another loop device (either, found on cdrom or inside the specified iso)

That may be its general use .......  but I would ask .......  can PCLOS use an ISO in this manner?

I know neither I nor old-polack (as mentioned) ever succeeded in booting an ISO without first extracting files.

I am interested to know if you have succeeded.

regards.

I have extrapolated the above reading from the source code .... unless something is not working as expected...
have not tried until now, but will do a test as soon as possible and will report back about.

AS

I can confirm that bootfromiso is working, had prepared a new test-livecd.iso:

Code: [Select]

mylivecd --gzip --nodir ^/ISOs --isoextrafiles /ISOs test-livecd.isothe /ISOs directory contains the iso file(s) i.e. bonsai.iso
when booting from test-livecd.iso add the following parameter: bootfromiso=/bonsai.iso

see mylivecd help about --isoextrafiles option

AS

So I do not jump to any conclusions ........  I read that as saying that if an ISO is specifically prepared by using the 'extractfiles' mylivecd option, that 'bootfromiso' will then work.

Do I understand you correctly?

.....  also, as the standard PCLOS ISOs do not use the 'extractfiles' when being created, the 'bootfromiso' will not work on them?

Thanks for the explanation. 

regards.

practically yes,
the additional ISO(s) need to be nested in the livecd.iso prepared from mylivecd:

you have to prepare an ISO image that includes other ISO, nested one inside the other:
this is the content of my test-livecd.iso (a kde livecd containing an openbox-bonsai.iso):

ll
total 1109354
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 259178496 Jun 27 02:03 bonsai.iso
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root      2048 Jun 27 10:15 boot/
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root      8192 Jun 27 10:27 isolinux/
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 876789760 Jun 27 10:27 livecd.sqfs

note also that bootfromiso allow for <path> to be specified, while the --isoextrafiles option of mylivecd state:
"Add the files in 'path' to the root of the LiveCD ISO image"

it's not clear if a <tree> could be added or not to the root of the livecd, need to be verified.

[Just17]

What happens if there are no other ISOs included .......  will the created ISO itself be bootable using 'bootfromiso'?
I read it as Yes from the first post ....  but am not sure from the last post ....

Sorry, getting a bit confused here this morning........

[AS]

What happens if there are no other ISOs included .......  will the created ISO itself be bootable using 'bootfromiso'?
I read it as Yes from the first post ....  but am not sure from the last post .....

that's will be a standard livecd as built from mylivecd.

Please note that the option bootfromiso is handled (only) from linuxrc, therefore boot take place as per every livecd.iso and later instead of using the livecd.sqfs file, the livecd.sqfs contained into the nested iso (and selected from bootfromiso param) will be used.

doesn't make sense to use bootfromiso option if there are no iso image(s) included in the livecd.

Hope to have understood the question correctly 

[Just17]

OK, bootfromiso is of no use whatsoever except for booting supplemtary ISOs contained in the main ISO?

From reading on the net, that was not the impression I received ........  so maybe the implementation we are speaking of in PCLOS is different to what I had read previously for other distros  .....

[AS]

OK, bootfromiso is of no use whatsoever except for booting supplemtary ISOs contained in the main ISO?

Yes!

From reading on the net, that was not the impression I received ........  so maybe the implementation we are speaking of in PCLOS is different to what I had read previously for other distros  .....

if your read on the net ... you will find that the Apollo mission to the Moon was a fake ...     

seriously, each distro can have customized the use of each own tools, leading to different result at different times... don't know. 

[Just17]

OK, bootfromiso is of no use whatsoever except for booting supplemtary ISOs contained in the main ISO?

Yes!

From reading on the net, that was not the impression I received ........  so maybe the implementation we are speaking of in PCLOS is different to what I had read previously for other distros  .....

if your read on the net ... you will find that the Apollo mission to the Moon was a fake ...     

seriously, each distro can have customized the use of each own tools, leading to different result at different times... don't know. 

Yeah ......  and a confusing mess for users if true 

I am glad to note that you too reckon that mission was faked!     

[and then..]

I'm not sure if this will be regarded as a poor mans install method, but here goes!  (noobies beware!)
Requirements:
System must have GRUB1 installed and have a spare (primary) partition available for overwrite.

My test system has PClinux installed and spare 3GB partition is /dev/sda4
isohybrid method is previously mentioned on this forum.  
1.  ie get your.iso &

Code: [Select]

cd /path/to/iso
isohybrid -partok your.iso
dd if=your.iso of=/dev/sdaX
where sdaX is the target primary partition.
2. Modify your GRUB menu.lst to add the following stanza (as per my system) YMMV

Code: [Select]

title Poormans Install on /dev/sda4
root (hd0,3)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1
I found this a little limited as it used a precious Primary partition for only one OS so I went multiOS!
> grabbed iso's for  KDE 2011.6,  Gnome 2010.12 and LXDE 2010.12
> extracted livecd.sqfs and isolinux folder from Gnome 2010.12 and renamed them gnome.sqfs and gnome folder.
> I extracted livecd.sqfs and isolinux folder from LXDE 2010.12 and renamed them lxde.sqfs and lxde folder.
> (KDE can stay as is.)
> cracked open the KDE2011.6 iso (used ISO Master) and extracted /isolinux/isolinux.cfg  (removed the original)
> modified the contents of this isolinux.cfg to something like:

Code: [Select]

default Poorman_kde
prompt  1
timeout 90
ui gfxboot.com bootlogo
label Poormans_kde
    kernel vmlinuz
    append livecd=livecd initrd=initrd.gz root=/dev/rd/3 acpi=on vga=788 keyb=us vmalloc=256M nokmsboot splash=silent
label Poormans_gnome
    kernel /gnome/vmlinuz
    append livecd=gnome initrd=/gnome/initrd.gz root=/dev/rd/3 acpi=on vga=788 keyb=us vmalloc=256M nokmsboot splash=silent
label Poormans_lxde
    kernel /lxde/vmlinuz
    append livecd=lxde initrd=/lxde/initrd.gz root=/dev/rd/3 acpi=on vga=788 keyb=us vmalloc=256M nokmsboot splash=silent
#label Legacy Kernel
#    kernel vmlinuz2
#    append livecd=livecd initrd=initrd2.gz initrd=initrd.gz root=/dev/rd/3 acpi=on vga=788 keyb=us vmalloc=256M nokmsboot
label Memtest
    kernel memtest>Reinserted the file back into the iso as /isolinux/isolinux.cfg again.
>Inserted gnome.sqfs and gnome folder, lxde.sqfs and lxde folder to the / of iso and saved iso as multiOS.iso  (2.1GB)

dd'd the iso to my /dev/sda4  (on my system was as follows)  YMMV.

Code: [Select]

cd /path/to/multiOS.iso
isohybrid -partok multiOS.iso
dd if=multiOS.iso of=/dev/sda4

and REBOOT system.
>select GRUB menu option "Poormans Install on /dev/sda4"
>GRUB then passes boot control to isolinux.cfg menu etc.

I also confirmed that the cheatcode bootfromiso works from within the hybrid/TYPE="iso9660" environment but it is more convenient to manipulate the extracted file/folder.  A little more later regarding persistence if anyone is interested.    I'm of to work now.
Regards,
Cages

[djohnston]

isohybrid -partok

Is isohybrid included with syslinux?

Okay, found this:

To enable this mode, the .iso image should be postprocessed with the "isohybrid" script from the utils directory:

        isohybrid filename.iso

This script creates the necessary additional information to be able to boot in hybrid mode.

from here: http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/Doc/isolinux

[Archie]

isohybrid -partok

Is isohybrid included with syslinux?

Okay, found this:

To enable this mode, the .iso image should be postprocessed with the "isohybrid" script from the utils directory:

        isohybrid filename.iso

This script creates the necessary additional information to be able to boot in hybrid mode.

from here: http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/Doc/isolinux

I just found that out myself... I typed in isohybrid --help on a terminal.

I gotta try that procedure. Thanks for sharing, darkages.

[djohnston]

Thanks for sharing, darkages.

A big +1.

[and then..]

Thanks for sharing, darkages.

A big +1.

You're welcome!  My pleasure.
Cages

[Old-Polack]

Much as I dislike the *buntus for using grub2 for their default boot loader, it does have the ability to boot .iso images directly. Along with grub4dos it shares the same commands to accomplish this. Basically the .iso image is first mapped as a hard drive, then booted as such. It's about the only useful feature I can see for grub2.

I wouldn't consider installing grub2 as our default boot loader, but one could install grub2 to the partition holding the .iso images and chainload to it from the master legacy grub, then use grub2's ability to boot the .iso images from there. That would seem much simpler than trying to add that bit of code to the legacy grub source, to gain .iso image booting support..

Just a thought, for those wanting to pursue this further, without having to resort to all the kludges and workarounds so far suggested.

[Just17]

That scheme might be the best of the lot o-p.  Thank you!   

I haven't played about with Grub2 in that regard ..... might have a look soon. ......  now why didn't I think of that .... ?     

[Old-Polack]

That scheme might be the best of the lot o-p.  Thank you!   

I haven't played about with Grub2 in that regard ..... might have a look soon. ......  now why didn't I think of that .... ?     

Either just too young... or... just too dam-old!

[Village Idiot]

That scheme might be the best of the lot o-p.  Thank you!   

I haven't played about with Grub2 in that regard ..... might have a look soon. ......  now why didn't I think of that .... ?     

Either just too young... or... just too dam-old!

 

lol