LinuxQuestions.org - Slackware "USB Boot CD" HOWTO

Slackware "USB Boot CD" HOWTO

After installing a minimal Slackware 11.0 on my USB2.0 external drive (see this thread) http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=518905, I had to be able to boot it from a laptop, the bios of which, does not support USB booting.

Stage 1
Install Slackware on the USB drive, using huge26.s, connected to the machine that you will use the USB drive with.

Stage 2
Reboot using a rescue cd/live distribution, and do all the following instructions as root.

Stage 3
Mount your USB linux system eg.

Code:

mount -t reiserfs /dev/sda5 /mnt/hd

mount -t ext2 /dev/sda1 /mnt/hd/boot

mount -t reiserfs /dev/sda7 /mnt/hd/home

Stage 4
chroot to the mount point

Code:

chroot /mnt/hd

Stage 5
mount cd or partition with Slackware packages.

Code:

mount -t iso9660 /dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom

(the cd drive should become free when you chroot to your new root directory)
Install kernel 2.6.17.13 plus modules using the Slackware 11.0 install cd 2

Code:

installpkg /mnt/cdrom/extra/linux-2.6.17.13/kernel-generic-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz

installpkg /mnt/cdrom/extra/linux-2.6.17.13/kernel-modules-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz

rm /etc/rc.d/rc.modules

ln -s rc.modules-2.6.17.13 rc.modules

Stage 5
Make your initrd.gz (a mini linux system that allows your main system to boot).

Code:

cd /boot

mkinitrd -c -k 2.6.17.13 -m reiserfs:uhci-hcd:ehci-hcd:ohci-hcd:usb-storage

Stage 6
Prepare the build directory and files, isolinux is on cd 1.

Code:

mkdir /bootcd

cp /boot/initrd.gz /bootcd/initrd.gz

cp /boot/vmlinuz-generic-2.6.17.13 /bootcd/linux

cp /mnt/cdrom/isolinux/isolinux.bin /bootcd/isolinux.bin

echo "DEFAULT linux initrd=initrd.img ro root=/dev/sda5" > /bootcd/isolinux.cfg

Stage 7
Time to rebuild the initrd.gz

Code:

cd /bootcd/

mkdir tmp/

gunzip initrd.gz

mount -o loop initrd tmp/

cd tmp

pico rootdev and add a line similar to this

Code:

/dev/sda5

pico rootfs and add a line similar to this

Code:

reiserfs

pico linuxrc and add after the modules section but before the lvm section.

Code:

sleep 10

Then run the following commands

Code:

cd ..

umount tmp/

rmdir tmp/

gzip -c -9 initrd > initrd.img

Stage 8
Build the bootcd.iso, this is done in the /bootcd directory.

Code:

mkisofs -o bootcd.iso -b isolinux.bin -c boot.cat\

-no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -J\

-hide-rr-moved -R .

Remember the final .
Then burn your iso, I use k3b but this can also be done from the command line using cdrecord.

Stage 9
Put the cd where it belongs, make sure your external USB drive is connected and on, boot and enjoy.