LinuxQuestions.org - boot slackware from usb stick

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boot slackware from usb stick

I know there are many threads and posts about booting the slackware installer from USB (if the cd/dvd drive can't boot the system, etc.) Strangely, I haven't seen that many about booting a slackware install from an external USB drive or USB stick.

I've installed slackware 12.2 to my USB stick. Before installation/setup (which I did using cds 1-3), I partitioned it this way:
/dev/sdb1 - vfat - 8 GB
/dev/sdb2 - ext2 - 23 GB
/dev/sdb3 - swap - 1 GB (just in case I actually need one)

Installed LILO to the MBR of the USB stick. It starts booting but along the way I get the VFS kernel panic message device (8,18). It says my boot options are /dev/sda or /dev/sda1. But sda is laptop harddisk, not my USB stick...which is sdb and root is on sdb2.

So what do I need get it to work? My guess is, an intird image - but which one and how do I get it into LILO?

(If it's relevant to the solution, I have slax on another USB which I use as a backup linux usb.)

I've tried specifying 'root='s at the 'tab' boot command options but none work (/dev/sdb , /dev/sdb2 , /dev/sdb1).

Did you have a look at the usb-and-pxe-installers directory? The documentation and boot-images there should get you going.

You should also read Alien Bob's excellent howto at http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...ckware:usbboot
-y1

There is also the Best one for USB-installer for Slackware 12.2
With this and a 4GB or larger USB you can install Slackware-12.2 Full with all packages!
( http://www.slackware.com/~alien/tools/usbinstall/12.2/ )
Please tell me if you get it working...

Additionally there is the Netinstall 40MB Mini-install .iso which can be extracted to a folder-transferred to USB-then configured to boot from USB-but you must know the Slackware 12.2 mirror urls, etc when installing.
( http://www.slackware.com/~alien/slackboot/mini/12.2/ )

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yalla-One (Post 3491388)

Did you have a look at the usb-and-pxe-installers directory? The documentation and boot-images there should get you going.

I know I need to create an initrd of sorts. However, I'm not looking to make a "USB installer". I installed slack 12.2 TO a USB and now I get the VFS kernel panic message half-way through the boot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yalla-One (Post 3491388)

You should also read Alien Bob's excellent howto at http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...ckware:usbboot

I can see where you're going with that... I'll start by using the initrd on the slackware disc to boot into Slack. For lack of a better option.

Then, update packages, recompile and make a new/proper intird.

Can you post the syslinux.cfg you have for the 12.2 USB that is having the kernel panic?
Or the isolinux.cfg-is it booting from the FAT32 partition?

Couldn't find 'syslinux.cfg' anywhere in the dir tree. I used the kernel 'huge' from the install cd. My lilo.conf on the USB:

Code:

boot = /dev/sdb



  bitmap = /boot/slack.bmp

  bmp-colors = 255,0,255,0,255,0

  bmp-table = 60,6,1,16

  Timer location x, timer location y, foreground color,

  bmp-timer = 65,27,0,255



# Append any additional kernel parameters:

append=" vt.default_utf8=0"

prompt

timeout = 50



vga = 773



# Linux bootable partition config begins

image = /boot/vmlinuz

  root = /dev/sdb2

  label = Slack122-1

  read-only  # Partitions should be mounted read-only for checking

other = /dev/sda1

  label = WindowS

  table = /dev/sda

It looks similar to my lilo.cfg
A question-do you have slack installed to your USB like it's a HD?
The lilo.cfg is for the USB right?
I have never tried it that way...
Others here would know more about that...
But, you can also try several different methods-netinstall and usb install as I mentioned above-or additionally I think you can have the slack netinstall boot off the FAT32 partition, put the Slackware-12.2 DVD iso on the ext2 partition and then tell slack to find the iso at the menu prompt during setup-I think I saw that somewhere...?

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72 (Post 3491494)

It looks similar to my lilo.cfg
A question-do you have slack installed to your USB like it's a HD?
The lilo.cfg is for the USB right?

yes to both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72 (Post 3491494)

But, you can also try several different methods-netinstall and usb install as I mentioned above-or additionally I think you can have the slack netinstall boot off the FAT32 partition, put the Slackware-12.2 DVD iso on the ext2 partition and then tell slack to find the iso at the menu prompt during setup-I think I saw that somewhere...?

but that would help to install from USB, not to USB.

OH! I thought you trying to install from USB-sorry!
I don't understand what's wrong-here is my lilo.cfg from my HD sda1

Code:

# LILO configuration file

# generated by 'liloconfig'

#

# Start LILO global section

boot = /dev/hda

#compact        # faster, but won't work on all systems.

# Boot BMP Image.

# Bitmap in BMP format: 640x480x8

  bitmap = /boot/slack.bmp

# Menu colors (foreground, background, shadow, highlighted

# foreground, highlighted background, highlighted shadow):

  bmp-colors = 255,0,255,0,255,0

# Location of the option table: location x, location y, number of

# columns, lines per column (max 15), "spill" (this is how many

# entries must be in the first column before the next begins to

# be used.  We don't specify it here, as there's just one column.

  bmp-table = 60,6,1,16

# Timer location x, timer location y, foreground color,

# background color, shadow color.

  bmp-timer = 65,27,0,255

# Standard menu.

# Or, you can comment out the bitmap menu above and

# use a boot message with the standard menu:

#message = /boot/boot_message.txt



# Append any additional kernel parameters:

append=" vt.default_utf8=0"

prompt

timeout = 300

# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256

vga = 771

# Normal VGA console

# vga = normal

# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k

# vga=791

# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k

# vga=790

# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256

# vga=773

# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k

# vga=788

# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k

# vga=787

# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256

# vga=771

# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k

# vga=785

# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k

# vga=784

# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256

# vga=769

# ramdisk = 0    # paranoia setting

# End LILO global section

# Linux bootable partition config begins

image = /boot/vmlinuz

  root = /dev/hda1

  label = Slackware12.2

  read-only  # Partitions should be mounted read-only for checking

# Linux bootable partition config ends

I would think the USB is not being recognized or not recognized as a HD...
I'm sure somebody here knows...
Also, your booting lilo off the FAT32 partition?
Is that possible?
What is the FAT32 partition for?

One of the members here has pretty detailed instructions on how to accomplish this:

http://linuxconfig.dyndns.org:1184/l...vable_USB_disk

including info for your initrd.

Also, I'm pretty sure you're going to have to add a rootdelay line in your lilo.conf in order to give your system time to properly mount the usb stick.

I know there are some recent threads in this sub-forum regarding this. I was keen a couple of months back, but I'm happy with my extremely-customized slax usbstick at the moment, and I don't feel like scrapping it to make it pure Slackware (perhaps when 12.3 is released I'll give it a go....)

When I have a moment, I'll see if I can hook you up with those threads.

cheers,

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72 (Post 3491502)

OH! I thought you trying to install from USB-sorry!
...
Also, your booting lilo off the FAT32 partition?
Is that possible?
What is the FAT32 partition for?

not booting off the FAT32 but it's there coz I wanted windows-readable space on the USB stick and read somewhere that windows wants/needs(?) the FAT* partition to be first to be able to read it.

this is the error (wrote it down):
(after 'md' devices...)

Code:

VFS: Cannot open root device "812" or unknown-block(8,18)

Please append a correct "root=" boot option; here are the available partitions

0800 ... sda driver: sd was detecting the harddrive

  0801 ... sda1

0b00 sr0 driver: sr

Kernel panic...

Get similar errors when I use sda, sda1, sdb, sdb[12], etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrclisdue (Post 3491522)

Yup, that worked! :-)
tried

Code:

Slack122-1 rootdelay=10 root=/dev/sdb2

and

Code:

Slack122-1 rootdelay=10

(without explicitly specifying the root). Both worked.

So will now add an append line to lilo.conf, I think that would be easier/faster than modifying initrd, espcially since I don't have one right now. Will give it a try when I recompile the kernel.

Will first redo lilo and re-try the normal boot. Though I'm curious about how 'slax' does it coz there's no notable delay in the boot process.

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by aneroid (Post 3491554)

...Though I'm curious about how 'slax' does it coz there's no notable delay in the boot process...

I haven't investigated, but there's probably a "sleep" function in the initrd for slax. The same guy who maintains slax is responsible for linux-live.org where he explains how to create a live distro, so there may be info there....

cheers,