Ok, so I guess I do need to ask #2:

I try to start a slack install, but it doesn't list my sda1 in the list of places to install to. Is there a way to run "setup" from inside an already booted slack system? This way, I would think that it would appear.

If not, how can I get my card reader to show up?

Cool

Here' what I've tried so far:-

format boot floppy to msdos-
#mkfs.msdos /dev/fd0

mount floppy-
# mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy/ -t msdos

copy kernel to floppy (got a usb supporting version from this thread - thanks) -
# cp USBkernelImage /mnt/floppy/bz.img

(that's DOS filename)

make a file on that disk called syslinux.cfg
# touch syslinux.cfg

with this in it-

timeout 0
default bz.img

append=ramdisk_blocksize=4096 root=/dev/sda2

and then use syslinux on it (can't find much info on this command!)-
#syslinux /dev/fd0


---> This gives you a bootdisk that tries to boot with root as /dev/sda2.

The whole thing assumes that /dev/sda2 exists and that linux is on there properly.

It's sda2 because this is the 2nd partition. I partitioned my usb drive with fdisk giving the first partition for swap space.

The sda(x) series is because usb is emulated as SCSI on linux - same as cd writers, so bear this in mind - it may change the value to sdb2 or sda3, it's worth cheaking it with a proper linux install 1st.

The next move:-

I'm now going to statr off with getting ZIPSLACK onto the usb devices as it's the right size and is easy to installk - u just unzip it.

I'm not going to try and boot it from floppy straight off - I'm going to try to switch to it from a working linux install. I think to do this I use-

#chroot /mnt/usb

and possibly

# source /mnt/usb/etc/profile

after this I'm aiming for:-

- X
- distcc (compiling cluster)
- mosix (cluster)

handy

Good luck and keep in touch!

1. The post above is cleaner than what I did, I never bothered to see how syslinux really worked, good job there mate

2. I could have sworn you could run setup after everything is installed... I swear that's what I did on a laptop the other day to get Slack... that was 8.0, I can't imagine anything has changed like that, but I can't find an executable called 'setup' anywhere on my slack 8.1 box either, so... here's a little muckier trick:

dd a regular bare.i and copy over the vmlinuz with the specially slapped around vmlinuz+USB goodness from above. That should boot just fine, then proceed with setup from there, its going to be a little messy in that you'll have to do a nasty 6 floppy install.

I can't find a thing on setup in 8.1, so I went and checked (on the last one in the house), and it is indeed on 8.0. Aside from the 6 floppy install above the only thing I can think of is to make your own ISO using Patricks instructions from ISOlinux.

Now I feel like a jackass.

I wish I had some dosh for another compact flash card right around now...

Cheers,

Finegan

I thought it might be better to post this here rather than start a new thread.

I have an Archos 20 gigabyte Recorder, which is basically a usb mass storage device. I figure I can do what you guys did. My only question is does anyone know if I would have any problems partitioning it with fdisk? I wanted to know if anyone else has tried this before. I imagine it would be fine. I believe it's an scsi drive since I access it with /dev/sda1. Any input would be appreciated thanks.

1) get it working in linux.

modules:
- load ohci / uhci / usb-uhci
- load usb-storage
That /should/ give you /dev/sda something, possibly sdb.

2)

cfdisk /dev/sda

Once you got a /dev entry for it it's no problem, acting just like a hard disk or something. You can also use

`hotplugging`

support to detect when something is plugged in to load modules and do any other stuff you need it to, such as mount it, copy stuff to it or play a ouch.wav soundfile.
I haven't found a noddy / simple to understand guide to hotplugging so I've just copied and pasted uptil now so can't help you much with that.

cya

Hey thanks for your reply. Did you just use Zipslack? Someone mentioned that I'd be limited by the usb connection as to what kind of setup I'd want to use. I'd suspect that if this is the case, I'd have to use something minimal.

I actually haven't yet managed to do it

- I gave up because I was able to achieve my goal my using mulinux, a floppy based distro that can connect to vnc, x and ssh servers; enough for a thin client.

But I think I'll have another go somewhen just for the heck of it, for fun.

Oulevon: Yep, the usb connection runs quite slow. (is it >3mbit anyone?). You're also limited by the amount of spare disk space on the usb device of course.
This means that generally you'll want to have as little stuff loading into memory as possible.

You'll need a 2.4+ kernel because that's what supports usb.
That kernel will need support for your usb device.

If you have 700mb+ of space on the storage device I can suggest:
- get Knoppix, a cd based distro that can be installed
- once the cd has booted, install it to your usb mass storage device (don't forget to plug it in eh?)
- make a bootdisk that can see your usb mass storage device. Make that bootdisk boot with "root=/dev/sda1" or where ever the /dev entry is.

Problem: how do we tell if the bootdisk can see your Usb Mass storage device? look at bootup messages? does th usb support need to be built in?


? What's the name of your usb mass storage device everyone ?

(mine is 128mb smartmedia with a usb reader device, how much space have all you guys got?)