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Old 09-29-2009, 01:52 PM   #1
Diomedes
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Multiple Distros On USB Drive


It seems several people, myself included, are interested in this topic.
I want to install multiple distributions of Linux onto a USB drive. I would like, I think, to use syslinux and format the drive as one FAT32 partition. I have experience with bootloaders (that is, Grub), but not syslinux. How would I go about doing this, and end up with no conflicts and a nice little boot menu?
Thanks!
Dio
 
Old 09-29-2009, 02:10 PM   #2
MBybee
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I have something similar to this via Qemu (pendrivelinux plus several other live CDs). That's one simple way to do it - I have a couple here and I'll play with some more complex ideas that would work as a full live boot.
 
Old 09-29-2009, 03:04 PM   #3
linus72
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OK
well, many distro's have to have their persistent files on a seperate partition; debian, grml, dsl,
etc
many distros like those mount the first partition read-only and mount the persistent partition rw

you can still go with just 1 partition
just pick distros that can do this
slax
tinycore
puppy

any Ubuntu or Debian will need a seperate partition

so, we're still gonna need to know exactly which distros you wanna boot from usb?
each usually have their own syntax for booting and persistency...
 
Old 09-29-2009, 03:49 PM   #4
Diomedes
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Well, I was thinking:
Linux Mint
Puppy Linux
Grml
Debian

I understand Grml is Debian-based, and Mint looks very Ubuntesque, so I will go ahead and make the assumption that it's based on Ubuntu. A single partition isn't necessary, it just seemed like it may be easier that way. The list is up for modification if need be, but I definitely want grml, and it would be nice to have another "full-featured" distro on there as well (enter Debian). Slackware, perhaps? Pardon me if this is less-than-helpful. This project is becoming more complicated than I thought it would. I appreciate the help!
 
Old 09-29-2009, 04:09 PM   #5
linus72
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its not all that complicated really
you just need to familiarize yourself with it all

OK, first, a couple hurdles we gotts overcome
Both grml and debian-live go looking for a folder named "live"
and they both also share the common "live-rw" persistence feature

so, you gotta edit the initrd.gz for grml(I'll do it for you)
and change the parameters for grml so you can boot both without conflict
what "name" do you want for the grml folder and persistent file/partition
how about diomedes and diomedes-rw
?

I have noticed that casper-rw, which is what Ubuntu usess
seems to be broken when you try to use a casper-rw file
it works OK if you label the partition casper-rw though

so, heres what you gotta do-

1) which grml do you want?
grml-big is 600+mb, grml-medium with fluxbox is 200+MB?

2) which Debian-Live? LXDE, gnome, or xfce?

3) which Puppy?
browserlinux is a very nice puppy and small too
http://www.browserlinux.com/

4) Linux Mint is easy too

heres your partition layout

sdb1 fat32, holds all 4 distros(puppy can save to same partition it boots from...)
sdb2 ext2 labeled "casper-rw" for Mint, also holds the grml diomedes-rw file

so, I'm gonna make the menus for you, as explaing all that is way too long
so answer the questions above diomedes?
 
Old 09-29-2009, 05:34 PM   #6
Diomedes
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Wow, alright.
I have the standard/main grml iso (the big one)
I would prefer the lxde version of Debian-Live, though I'm having trouble getting it to download, and when I tried the torrent I was cruising at 3kb/s, so I'm waiting on that. Is it possible to go ahead with the installation/configuration and let the menu and so forth just assume it's there, installing it whenever possible? Instincts tell me no. *EDIT* I think I've got it going. It's about 25% complete.
I downloaded the main image from http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php...%20Release.htm (simply referred to as Puppy Linux... I didn't really think there'd be variations). So I already have that image.
I have the main iso for Linux Mint 7.
diomedes & diomedes-rw are perfectly fine. I don't think I quite understand the potential grml conflict, or what the *-rw partitions are for. Sorry, most of this is new to me.

Last edited by Diomedes; 09-29-2009 at 05:37 PM.
 
Old 09-29-2009, 05:50 PM   #7
linus72
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the rw stuff is for persistence with grml, debian, and mint
rememeber that any ubuntu is debian based, and any grml is also debian

hard to explain, but lets say debian goes looking for "itself" in a folder named "live"
well, so does grml, which mean the bootprocess may get confused and boot grml when you wanna boot debian
and if you just make a live-rw for grml, when you boot debian persistent it will also look for a live-rw

so, change grml's stuff and it wont get confused.

oh, are you getting the grml-2009-05 release?

i gotta go take a shower then I'll make the menus
most sre already made, as I keep "templates"
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:10 PM   #8
Diomedes
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I really appreciate the work.
Yes, grml-2009-05.iso is what I have, I believe. The most recent "big" one. Pardon, I switched back to Windows to clean some stuff up (I'm reformatting once I'm done with this -- my poor laptop is so messed up), and the images are in Fedora.
I think I see what you're saying. Having never had multiple Debian distros at once, I suppose I just took this whole thing for granted. Silly me. But I believe I'm starting to understand.
So, to install each distro to the flash drive, would I go through the process of boot live CD -> use install option, and just avoid installing a bootloader? I kind of want to do this all at once so I don't get hung up on a step.
Alright, so this Debian-Live iso seems to be done. The download finished, and Windows Explorer reports the iso to be half the size it should be, but I mounted it on a virtual drive and it says the volume is the right size, and I can navigate all around the image... I suppose that means it's okay. I'll find out, I guess, when it boots and fails its hash check. :\
In any case, the other iso's check out, so once I part my flash drive and centralise the iso's I'll be good to go.
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:15 PM   #9
linus72
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OK

were going to be installing to usb el' manuel'
thats is manually

what distro are you using?
huh uh?
you only have windows?

damn it jim!

burn grml to cd-r or debian to cd-r as I have no windows
and no idea how to extract isos in windows
sorry

if you got a linux system already installed thats cool
oh, you got fedora?
if you got fedora no need to bur isos
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:22 PM   #10
linus72
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oh
you know how to copy and paste right?
I'm gonna upload the menus and such
you just go to those pages and copy/paste to a new text file
and name em
I'll tell you what each ones name is too
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:28 PM   #11
Diomedes
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Yep, I'm back in Fedora. I have XP installed for a few things, and due to the pending reformat I just had to make sure I wasn't going to lose anything important.
I believe I have everything set.
And yes, my copy/paste prowess is renowned far and wide. ;D
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:34 PM   #12
Diomedes
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I just mounted the Debian iso, and it's giving me all sorts of problems. It definitely seems to be corrupt to a great degree.
Why is it that cracked, $100+ software seems simple enough to download that it inspires fierce litigation battles, and yet I have so much trouble downloading something open, legitimate, legal, and free in the first place? This is so irritating.
The iso I keep downloading with plenty of fail is at http://lxde.org/download . It's the iso, not the img. I guess I could just download one of the standard Debian iso's, except that there are 20-something of them, and I'm assuming the iso from the above link is specifically tailored to have condensed the important components of Debian into flash drive size. I guess I'll just skip Debian. Unless I can in fact skip it for now and install it later without problem?
Either way, I can really just make do without it for now. Between Mint and grml, I think I'll have a lot of learning to do anyway.

Last edited by Diomedes; 09-29-2009 at 06:51 PM.
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:54 PM   #13
linus72
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yeah, you can install any at any time
as were doing it manually

are you trying to download the iso in windows or fedora??

try getting the debian-lxde directly from debian
http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/re...e/i386/iso-cd/

ill be back with grml/mint menus
 
Old 09-29-2009, 06:59 PM   #14
Diomedes
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Ah, excellent, thank you! I couldn't for the life of me find the LXDE version on the Debian site.
I tried it in both, with the same result. Honestly, I feel better knowing I can install it at any time. I'm downloading the one you linked as I type, but it won't be done for a while.
*EDIT* This thread has to come close to most edits I've ever done.
Alright, thanks. I appreciate it. Really. If a jillion were a real number, that would be how many times I appreciate you. So take your time!

Last edited by Diomedes; 09-29-2009 at 07:02 PM.
 
Old 09-29-2009, 07:03 PM   #15
linus72
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i'm gonna boot both grml and lxde deb now from usb and see if all is ok
 
  


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