Boot From ISO image, here the patch for linux-live.org

[Mithrandil]

I tried the linuxrc of FanthomX, but it require too many changes to boot PixieLive (it's gentoo based), so i decided to stick to the linuxrc provided on linux-live.org (with some tweaks).

Anyway, I modified linuxrc to be able to boot from an ISO image, and since i like this feature, i will post here the patch, so fanthom can be inspired and may be add the feature also to the NamelessX distribution

download: isoboot.patch

how-to apply the patch:

1. place isoboot.patch in the same directory of your linuxrc

2. Code: Select all

   patch -p0 < isoboot.patch

3. delete isoboot.patch

notes:

1. the patch is for the linuxrc provided with linux-live-6.3.0.tar.gz (http://www.linux-live.org)
2. the cheatcode for the iso is:

   Code: Select all

   iso=NameOfTheIso.iso

3. the boot directory can be found in /mnt/live/var/log/datafrom

enjoy

[fanthom]

yes - i'm inspired and will introduce new cheatcode to my linuxrc: 'from_iso='
Syntax will be something like:
'from_iso=/dev/sdx/path/to/iso'

thanks a lot and similar ideas are welcome

[Quax]

Hi Mithrandil,

...I modified linuxrc to be able to boot from an ISO image

I don't get the sense of patching an already present funtion into something...

LLS based distros are able to boot from ISO images for ages.

Given, that the ISO image is located on /dev/sda3, appending the following to the kernel call at boot will lead to the same:

Code: Select all

from=/dev/sda3/<name_of_the_iso_to_load>.iso

Did I miss something???

Regards, Quax

[Mithrandil]

Hi Mithrandil,

...I modified linuxrc to be able to boot from an ISO image

I don't get the sense of patching an already present funtion into something...

LLS based distros are able to boot from ISO images for ages.

Given, that the ISO image is located on /dev/sda3, appending the following to the kernel call at boot will lead to the same:

Code: Select all

from=/dev/sda3/<name_of_the_iso_to_load>.iso

Did I miss something???

Regards, Quax

i never been able to use that function, it never worked for me , that's why i wrote the patch... did you try it (the original one)?

anyway, with my patch you don't need to predict the name of the device where the iso is located

[Quax]

maybe you didn't store the ISO image in the root of the device given ???

Quax

[Mithrandil]

damn, you are right, it works... but with the patch you don't have to predict the name of the device where the iso is located, which may be a problem for unexperienced users

[blablotin]

damn, you are right, it works... but with the patch you don't have to predict the name of the device where the iso is located, which may be a problem for unexperienced users

Does it mean that the cheatcode "from=" albready work on slax remix to boot from any ISO image?

[fanthom]

'from=' is no longer used here. I have replaced it with 'from_dev=', 'from_dir=' and (will be introduced in 1.0) 'from_iso='. please have a look on the changelog for more info about 'from_iso=":
http://forum.porteus.org/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=82

[Tonio]

There is a nice script that may allow users to have the two versions (32 bit and 64 bit Porteus) on usb stick. This would be nice to use :

http://pcplus.techradar.com/feature/lin ... b-30-12-10

I have posted this here, since it addresses booting from iso image(s), this way we can put the two isos on the usb stick and boot them with this multi loader. What do others think?

[fanthom]

@Tonio
Porteus-v09 has 'from_iso=' cheatcode - you can unpack just /boot folder on usb stick, run bootinst.bat (to make it bootable) and then point loader to ISO image with full patch. Example:
'from_iso=/dev/sdb1/linux-images/porteus-v09-i486.iso'
it's not a perfect solution for multi-boot as for 64bit version you will need a second /boot folder with 64bit kernel, initrd.lz, etc

That's why your method sounds better, as well as grub4dos one mentioned by ponce in other thread and here:
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/boot-multi ... iboot-usb/

Cheers