booting bootable iso-images on a usb-disk

[Jarle Bjorgeengen]

Hi fellows,

wouldn't it be neat if one could install a bootloader in the MBR of a usb-disk, that is capable of booting a complete iso-image residing on the same disk ? I think it would.

Then I could have DSL, Knoppix, slax, RHEL install-CD's and you name it all in on 2.5 inch disk, and boot them as needed.

I have installed grub in the MBR of the disk without any problem, but have not been able to boot any iso image from there.

There is supposed to be a chinese DOS-versjon of grub that supports to remap a iso image to a hd and then chainload , but id like to have a linux version in english.

Any hints on how to achive this is very much appreciated.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

The currently supported procedures for creating a bootable usb device from RH Linux destorys what is previously onthe device. Therefore to support this on a usb device you will need a usb device for each release.

As far as putting them all on one portable 2.5 inch disk, the current release of RH grub supports this. The last Linux you install will install the grub bootloader that you will use from then on.

Try partitioning the disk with fdisk prior to starting any install.

SEP

[Stuart Browne]

You might also want to look 'SYSLINUX'.

http://syslinux.zytor.com/

This is especially usefull if you want to be able to install multiple OS' from the same media..

[Jarle Bjorgeengen]

Hi Stuart,

you wouldn't happen to know if/how to make isolinux do this ?

I know how to use isolinux to make a usb-stick bootable. The question her is to boot an iso-imag residing on a usbstick.

[Stuart Browne]

I thought that was what you were trying to do.

I've had no experience trying to do this, but I'd assume loop-mounting and a pivot_root should be able to achieve this.

I've got no usb sticks here to experiment with I'm afraid.