[CentOS] Install CentOS directly from usb drive?

[Neil Aggarwal]

Tosh:

Actually, I figured out how to do it:

1. Using fdisk, I created two partitions on the drive:
	/dev/sdc1 = 15 MB
	/dev/sdc2 = The rest
I marked the first one bootable

2. I used dd to copy the diskboot.img to /dev/sdc1

3. Formatted /dev/sdc2 as ext3 and copied the
	iso images there

4. When I boot from the usb drive, I selected hard
	drive install and pointed the installer to
	/dev/scd2

It worked perfectly!

Thanks,
	Neil

--
Neil Aggarwal, (832)245-7314, www.JAMMConsulting.com
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: centos-bounces at centos.org 
> [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On Behalf Of Tosh
> Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 10:10 AM
> To: CentOS mailing list
> Subject: Re: [CentOS] Install CentOS directly from usb drive?
> 
> Neil Aggarwal wrote:
> > Hello:
> >
> > I followed the instructions here:
> > 
> http://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/5.2/Installation_Guide/ch02s
> 04s01.html
> > to put isolinux on a usb drive.  When I boot from the usb drive,
> > the installer comes up and I can do a network install.  I have
> > to say that is very impressive!
> >
> > But, since I have a 4GB usb drive, I am thinking I can
> > load the rest of the installation onto the usb drive
> > so I do not have to use a network install.
> >
> > I searched the Internet but could not find any instructions
> > on doing that.
> >
> > Can someone point me in the right direction?
> >
> > Thanks,	
> > 	Neil
> >
> > --
> > Neil Aggarwal, (832)245-7314, www.JAMMConsulting.com
> > Eliminate junk email and reclaim your inbox.
> > Visit http://www.spammilter.com for details.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> 
> I currently use a different method.
> 
> 1) make the first partition active
> 	fdisk /dev/sd[c]1 then a, 1 and w to write and quit
> 2) format the usb stick with fat or ext3
> 3) if you chose
> 	(a) fat : you will need to make syslinux work on the stick
> 		syslinux /dev/sd[c]1
> 	(b) ext3 : you will need to use extlinux work on the stick
> 		extlinux /dev/sd[c]1
> 4) I extract the isolinux folder from the dvd iso
> 5) rename all isolinux to (a) syslinux - (b) extlinux
> 6) copy the dvd/cd iso(s) to your stick
> 7) normally you should get the same boot loader as when you 
> would pop in 
> the cd/dvd, centos install will start loading necessary 
> drivers and then 
> you will have to chose hard disk install and point to the drive where 
> your dvd/cd iso(s) are
> 8) anaconda will start and well the rest you know
> 
> I have a 16gb stick with CentOS 4 32bit & 64bit and CentOS 5 32bit & 
> 64bit to install my systems
> There is one problem, if you want to use kickstart, it will want the 
> mounted iso files, have not yet figured a way to get around 
> this or to 
> get some command to mount the images somewhere
> 
> Regards,
> Tosh.
> 
> -- 
> Toshaan <toshlinux at gmail.com> - http://www.toshaan.be
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