Installing Debian Linux onto an ARM9-based system without the use of the internet
 

Hi all,

I am RaptorBoi from Brisbane, Australia, and I rather enjoy using Linux.

I am to drop Linux onto an ARM9 NAS board to make it more useful than just a network attached storage device.

I know about U-Boot and I can install Debian Linux by booting the system via TFTP, and I can install Linux easily... if I have an internet connection.

My question is, how can I install Debian WITHOUT the use of an internet connection. I am looking into downloading the armel flavour of Debain and using that as a source, but I have no idea on how to install it onto an embedded system as it has no CD/DVD drive. It only has an ethernet port, 2 USB-2.0 ports and a serial UART port.

Sorry about the super long question guys, but I have been stuck on this for a week now.

Thanks heaps for any info guys :)

- RaptorBoi

Oh... one more thing
 

Hi again

One more thing... the problem I run into is that I can't pick a mirror because I don't want to use the internet. Also, I would love to know how to set the initial mirror to a dvd/cd iso that sits on a server that my board is connected to.

This isn't something I really need to do, but at Uni internet access requires you to log in via a webpage, which I can't do (yet?) with my system.

Thanks again for any info guys, much appreciated :)

Guess I should have said this earlier :)
 

After a bit of thinking, I guess I should post exactly the situation I am in.

I am trying to install the armel Debian Linux (Squeeze) onto an ARM9 nas device. It is an old Linkstation Pro.
Currently I am using the serial port as a way for me to view what is happening, as it is an embedded device.
I have U-Boot booting an installer image via TFTP (using the Ethernet port, obviously) and I can get the installer running, no problems.
I am using my pc as a tftp server using tftpd32, a program used to make my pc act like a tftp server to serve files.

My problem is when it comes to the point in the installer where it asks you to pick a mirror to download the rest of files needed (And I am guessing to help make the sources.list for Debian). I don't have access to the internet, so I want the installer to choose an image from over a network connection. I have spent a fair amount of time searching for how to do this, and I found something like setting the mirror to something like

Code:
deb http://192.168.0.1 stable main config
and then set the next option to
Code:
/debian/
and then nothing for the proxy server, but the installer cant find the image for installing, and this is where my problem lies.

The reason I can't use a USB to boot is because while I am installing, I am in busybox which I assume is a very small temp install of linux for installing larger things.

As for the pass-thru cable, I still need to make the installer choose a mirror, otherwise the installer doesn't let me get anywhere.


I hope that clears things up.

Thanks in advance fro any info guys

- RaptorBoi

Can you set up the existing tftp server host as a local Debian repository?

--- rod.