USB stick install question ?

Vilius · 05-06-2010, 06:12 AM

Hello,

I was reading debian docs how to install using usb stick(Installation guide 4.3.2.2).
One thing is not clear to me:

At first I install syslinux and copy vmlinuz and initrd.gz files to fat16 filesystem. Lets say that my stick boots debian installer with no problem now.
How do I copy all other installation files:
1. I copy whole iso CD image file to my stick and point iso file location to debian setup.
or
2. I extract iso contents to usb stick filesystem ?

thanks
Vilius

giammy · 05-06-2010, 06:42 AM

hi,

usually you put the iso image on the stick: I never did this by hand - I'm too lazy :-)
I usually use Unetbootin.

(By the way, a good way to see the structure, is to create a usb stick with
Unetbootin and then look how it is build!)

bye
giammy

craigevil · 05-06-2010, 07:14 AM

4.3.*Preparing Files for USB Memory Stick Booting - http://www.debian.org/releases/stabl...h04s03.html.en
4.3.1. Copying the files — the easy way

Code:

There is an all-in-one file hd-media/boot.img.gz which contains all the installer files (including the kernel) as well as syslinux and its configuration file. 

Note that, although convenient, this method does have one major disadvantage: the logical size of the device will be limited to 256 MB, even if the capacity of the USB stick is larger. You will need to repartition the USB stick and create new file systems to get its full capacity back if you ever want to use it for some different purpose. A second disadvantage is that you cannot copy a full CD image onto the USB stick, but only the smaller businesscard or netinst CD images.

To use this image simply extract it directly to your USB stick:

# zcat boot.img.gz > /dev/sdX

http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dis...mages/MANIFEST
hd-media/boot.img.gz -- 256 mb image (compressed) for USB memory stick is the one you want

http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dis...ia/boot.img.gz