MBR in livecd

[Gareth]

Hi, developers

I'm now trying install a system on a disk, such as /dev/sda, in a livecd
environment.
I think I could just follow the steps of making a live cd without the
package step. It seems work, but I found there is no MBR settings during
making a livecd.

I also tried the 'iso-to-disk' script onto a disk. It's bootable, but
failed when finding a usb device.

I'm confused about the progress of setting correct MBR (to a grub, or to a
partition). Is there any clear steps to do that?



-- 
Gareth

*Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball*
*OpenStack contributor*
*Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>*
*My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email from
Mar 1 2013, notify me *
*and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify.*

[Scott Dowdle]

Greetings,

----- Original Message -----
>  I'm now trying install a system on a disk, such as /dev/sda, in
> a
>  livecd environment.
>  I think I could just follow the steps of making a live cd without the
>  package step. It seems work, but I found there is no MBR settings
>  during making a livecd.
>  
>  
>  I also tried the 'iso-to-disk' script onto a disk. It's bootable, but
>  failed when finding a usb device.
>  
>  
>  I'm confused about the progress of setting correct MBR (to a grub, or
>  to a partition). Is there any clear steps to do that? 
I'm not really following you.  You have a livecd you are booting from and wanting to
install it to a hard drive?  That's a typical install scenario.  If your livecd is
built correctly and you have a functioning anaconda installer on it you can run, it should
just automatically install the bootloader.  I've been building remixes since Fedora 9
or so (currently doing F17, F18, and F19) and I haven't had any problems with that.

If you want to manually install grub2, you can run grub2-install /dev/{devicename}.  That
assumes you have a working grub2 environment.

If I'm nowhere close to answering your questions... please explain a little more what
the problem is.

TYL,
-- 
Scott Dowdle
704 Church Street
Belgrade, MT 59714
[phone] [home]
[phone] [work]

[Gareth]

Thanks for your reply Scott [?]

My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a hard drive. I
have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard drive, and find data
is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So I want to know how MBR is
set in livecd-tools.


# If your livecd is built correctly and you have a functioning anaconda
installer on it you can run, it should just automatically install the
bootloader.
You're right, but bootloader is installed correctly but the setting is not
my want (maybe I take some wrong steps).

# If you want to manually install grub2, you can run grub2-install
/dev/{devicename}.  That assumes you have a working grub2 environment.
I'm using this tool and testing now. I think it will solve my problems.

BTW, the script 'livecd-iso-disk' use a 'strange' way to set MBR: cat
mbr.bin > /dev/sda. I'm now sure this way could work. I use the lastest
version script to copy content on /dev/sda, and it boot failed (seems like
finding some usb device?).

Thx



On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 11:30 PM, Scott Dowdle <dowdle(a)montanalinux.org&gt;wrote:

>  Greetings,
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  > I'm now trying install a system on a disk, such as /dev/sda, in a
>  > livecd environment.
>  > I think I could just follow the steps of making a live cd without the
>  > package step. It seems work, but I found there is no MBR settings
>  > during making a livecd.
>  >
>  >
>  > I also tried the 'iso-to-disk' script onto a disk. It's bootable, but
>  > failed when finding a usb device.
>  >
>  >
>  > I'm confused about the progress of setting correct MBR (to a grub, or
>  > to a partition). Is there any clear steps to do that?
>
>  I'm not really following you.  You have a livecd you are booting from and
>  wanting to install it to a hard drive?  That's a typical install scenario.
>   If your livecd is built correctly and you have a functioning anaconda
>  installer on it you can run, it should just automatically install the
>  bootloader.  I've been building remixes since Fedora 9 or so (currently
>  doing F17, F18, and F19) and I haven't had any problems with that.
>
>  If you want to manually install grub2, you can run grub2-install
>  /dev/{devicename}.  That assumes you have a working grub2 environment.
>
>  If I'm nowhere close to answering your questions... please explain a
>  little more what the problem is.
>
>  TYL,
>  --
>  Scott Dowdle
>  704 Church Street
>  Belgrade, MT 59714
>  [phone] [home]
>  [phone] [work]
>  --
>  livecd mailing list
>  livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd 



-- 
Gareth

*Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball*
*OpenStack contributor*
*Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>*
*My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email from
Mar 1 2013, notify me *
*and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify.*

[Gareth]

Further question, using pipe with cat will change null data into zero, does
this cause any other issues?


On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 10:37 AM, David Both <
dboth(a)millennium-technology.com&gt; wrote:

>  On 05/16/2013 10:21 PM, Gareth wrote:
>
>   Thanks for your reply Scott [?]
>
>   My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a hard drive. I
>  have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard drive, and find data
>  is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So I want to know how MBR is
>  set in livecd-tools.
>
>
>   # If your livecd is built correctly and you have a functioning anaconda
>  installer on it you can run, it should just automatically install the
>  bootloader.
>  You're right, but bootloader is installed correctly but the setting is not
>  my want (maybe I take some wrong steps).
>
>   # If you want to manually install grub2, you can run grub2-install
>  /dev/{devicename}.  That assumes you have a working grub2 environment.
>  I'm using this tool and testing now. I think it will solve my problems.
>
>   BTW, the script 'livecd-iso-disk' use a 'strange' way to set MBR: cat
>  mbr.bin > /dev/sda. I'm now sure this way could work. I use the lastest
>  version script to copy content on /dev/sda, and it boot failed (seems like
>  finding some usb device?).
>
>  This is not a strange way to do this at all. It is a trivial way to copy
>  the boot record to the first sector of the hard drive, /dev/sda as opposed
>  to a partition such as /dev/sda1. There are other methods that would
>  accomplish the same thing such as *dd if=mbr.bin of=/dev/sda*.  This is
>  so very easy because in Unix/Linux, "everything is a file," including hard
>  drives and partitions on a hard drive.
>
>
>   Thx
>
>
>
>  On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 11:30 PM, Scott Dowdle <dowdle(a)montanalinux.org&gt;wrote:
>
> > Greetings,
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > > I'm now trying install a system on a disk, such as /dev/sda, in a
> > > livecd environment.
> > > I think I could just follow the steps of making a live cd without the
> > > package step. It seems work, but I found there is no MBR settings
> > > during making a livecd.
> > >
> > >
> > > I also tried the 'iso-to-disk' script onto a disk. It's bootable,
> but
> > > failed when finding a usb device.
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm confused about the progress of setting correct MBR (to a grub, or
> > > to a partition). Is there any clear steps to do that?
> >
> >  I'm not really following you.  You have a livecd you are booting from
> > and wanting to install it to a hard drive?  That's a typical install
> > scenario.  If your livecd is built correctly and you have a functioning
> > anaconda installer on it you can run, it should just automatically install
> > the bootloader.  I've been building remixes since Fedora 9 or so (currently
> > doing F17, F18, and F19) and I haven't had any problems with that.
> >
> > If you want to manually install grub2, you can run grub2-install
> > /dev/{devicename}.  That assumes you have a working grub2 environment.
> >
> > If I'm nowhere close to answering your questions... please explain a
> > little more what the problem is.
> >
> > TYL,
> > --
> > Scott Dowdle
> > 704 Church Street
> > Belgrade, MT 59714
> > [phone] [home]
> > [phone] [work]
> > --
> > livecd mailing list
> > livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
> > https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>
>
>
>
>   --
>   Gareth
>
>   *Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball*
>  *OpenStack contributor*
>  *Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>*
>  *My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email
>  from Mar 1 2013, notify me *
>  *and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify.*
>
>
>  --
>  livecd mailing
> [e-mail]://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>
>
>  --
>
>
>  *********************************************************
>  David P. Both, RHCE
>  Millennium Technology Consulting LLC
>  919-389-8678
>  dboth(a)millennium-technology.com
>  www.millennium-technology.com www.databook.bz - Home of the DataBook for Linux
>  DataBook is a Registered Trademark of David Both
>
>
>
>  --
>  livecd mailing list
>  livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>  


-- 
Gareth

*Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball*
*OpenStack contributor*
*Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>*
*My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email from
Mar 1 2013, notify me *
*and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify.*

[Scott Dowdle]

Greetings,

----- Original Message -----
>  My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a hard
> drive.
>  I have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard drive, and
>  find data is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So I want to
>  know how MBR is set in livecd-tools. 
I'm still clueless as to what you are doing.  Are you booting from live media (CD or
USB drive) and using the Anaconda-based installer to install?  Why are you rsyncing
ext3fs.img?  I don't get it.

Are you trying to write your own installer?

TYL,
-- 
Scott Dowdle
704 Church Street
Belgrade, MT 59714
[phone] [home]
[phone] [work]

[Jiang Jim]

I think he means to using anacoda-based installer to install centos system
in a livecd.
I am also confused about how to use anacoda to install a system to
hard-disk in a livecd when i do not have a graph user interface.


2013/5/17 Scott Dowdle <dowdle(a)montanalinux.org&gt;

>  Greetings,
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  > My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a hard drive.
>  > I have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard drive, and
>  > find data is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So I want to
>  > know how MBR is set in livecd-tools.
>
>  I'm still clueless as to what you are doing.  Are you booting from live
>  media (CD or USB drive) and using the Anaconda-based installer to install?
>   Why are you rsyncing ext3fs.img?  I don't get it.
>
>  Are you trying to write your own installer?
>
>  TYL,
>  --
>  Scott Dowdle
>  704 Church Street
>  Belgrade, MT 59714
>  [phone] [home]
>  [phone] [work]
>  --
>  livecd mailing list
>  livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>

[Gareth]

I need reset raid card before installing a system， and all of progress need
be automatic.

So I need a pxe environment to boot a livecd. In that, auto-script will
reset raid card with different tools installed in livecd.

Further more, a node could response pxe server to change its own grub to
install system on own drive. It's ok, but I want to make this progress more
simple. I think what I want is just a drive, like /dev/sda. All of data in
this drive is in kind of data in livecd, except MBR.

I rsync the file system with its data and fail after reboot. So I'm trying
get to know how to set MBR.




On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 11:42 PM, Jiang Jim <jiangwt100(a)gmail.com&gt; wrote:

>  I think he means to using anacoda-based installer to install centos
> system
>  in a livecd.
>  I am also confused about how to use anacoda to install a system to
>  hard-disk in a livecd when i do not have a graph user interface.
>
>
>  2013/5/17 Scott Dowdle <dowdle(a)montanalinux.org&gt;
>
> > Greetings,
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > > My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a hard drive.
> > > I have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard drive, and
> > > find data is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So I want to
> > > know how MBR is set in livecd-tools.
> >
> > I'm still clueless as to what you are doing.  Are you booting from live
> > media (CD or USB drive) and using the Anaconda-based installer to install?
> >  Why are you rsyncing ext3fs.img?  I don't get it.
> >
> > Are you trying to write your own installer?
> >
> > TYL,
> > --
> > Scott Dowdle
> > 704 Church Street
> > Belgrade, MT 59714
> > [phone] [home]
> > [phone] [work]
> > --
> > livecd mailing list
> > livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
> > https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
> >
>
>
>  --
>  livecd mailing list
>  livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>  


-- 
Gareth

*Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball*
*OpenStack contributor*
*Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>*
*My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email from
Mar 1 2013, notify me *
*and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify.*

[Joey Boggs]

On 05/18/2013 12:07 AM, Gareth wrote:
>  I need reset raid card before installing a system， and all of 
>  progress need be automatic.
>
>  So I need a pxe environment to boot a livecd. In that, auto-script 
>  will reset raid card with different tools installed in livecd.
>
>  Further more, a node could response pxe server to change its own grub 
>  to install system on own drive. It's ok, but I want to make this 
>  progress more simple. I think what I want is just a drive, like 
>  /dev/sda. All of data in this drive is in kind of data in livecd, 
>  except MBR.
>
>  I rsync the file system with its data and fail after reboot. So I'm 
>  trying get to know how to set MBR.
>  
You'll need to setup grub to set the mbr.

/sbin/grub2-install /dev/sda

I haven't had the chance to try it yet but it should work fine pending 
everything being in place within ext3fs.img


>  On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 11:42 PM, Jiang Jim <jiangwt100(a)gmail.com 
>  <mailto:[e-mail]>> wrote:
>
>      I think he means to using anacoda-based installer to install
>      centos system in a livecd.
>      I am also confused about how to use anacoda to install a system to
>      hard-disk in a livecd when i do not have a graph user interface.
>
>
>      2013/5/17 Scott Dowdle <dowdle(a)montanalinux.org
>      <mailto:[e-mail]>>
>
>          Greetings,
>
>          ----- Original Message -----
>          > My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a
>          hard drive.
>          > I have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard
>          drive, and
>          > find data is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So I
>          want to
>          > know how MBR is set in livecd-tools.
>
>          I'm still clueless as to what you are doing.  Are you booting
>          from live media (CD or USB drive) and using the Anaconda-based
>          installer to install?  Why are you rsyncing ext3fs.img?  I
>          don't get it.
>
>          Are you trying to write your own installer?
>
>          TYL,
>          --
>          Scott Dowdle
>          704 Church Street
>          Belgrade, MT 59714
>          [phone] [home]
>          [phone] [work]
>          --
>          livecd mailing list
>          livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>          <mailto:[e-mail]>
>          https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>
>
>
>      --
>      livecd mailing list
>      livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org <mailto:[e-mail]>
>      https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>
>
>
>
>  -- 
>  Gareth
>
>  /Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball/
>  /OpenStack contributor/
>  /Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>/
>  /My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email 
>  from Mar 1 2013, notify me /
>  /and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify./
>
>
>  --
>  livecd mailing list
>  livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd

[Joey Boggs]

On 05/20/2013 07:40 PM, Joey Boggs wrote:
>  On 05/18/2013 12:07 AM, Gareth wrote:
> > I need reset raid card before installing a system， and all of 
> > progress need be automatic.
> >
> > So I need a pxe environment to boot a livecd. In that, auto-script 
> > will reset raid card with different tools installed in livecd.
> >
> > Further more, a node could response pxe server to change its own grub 
> > to install system on own drive. It's ok, but I want to make this 
> > progress more simple. I think what I want is just a drive, like 
> > /dev/sda. All of data in this drive is in kind of data in livecd, 
> > except MBR.
> >
> > I rsync the file system with its data and fail after reboot. So I'm 
> > trying get to know how to set MBR.
> >
>  You'll need to setup grub to set the mbr.
>
>  /sbin/grub2-install /dev/sda
>
>  I haven't had the chance to try it yet but it should work fine pending 
>  everything being in place within ext3fs.img
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 11:42 PM, Jiang Jim <jiangwt100(a)gmail.com 
> > <mailto:[e-mail]>> wrote:
> >
> >     I think he means to using anacoda-based installer to install
> >     centos system in a livecd.
> >     I am also confused about how to use anacoda to install a system
> >     to hard-disk in a livecd when i do not have a graph user interface.
> >
> >
> >     2013/5/17 Scott Dowdle <dowdle(a)montanalinux.org
> >     <mailto:[e-mail]>>
> >
> >         Greetings,
> >
> >         ----- Original Message -----
> >         > My problem is to install a system, Fedora or Centos, on a
> >         hard drive.
> >         > I have used rsync the data in ext3fs.img to a new hard
> >         drive, and
> >         > find data is right but I can't boot from the new drive. So
> >         I want to
> >         > know how MBR is set in livecd-tools.
> >
> >         I'm still clueless as to what you are doing.  Are you booting
> >         from live media (CD or USB drive) and using the
> >         Anaconda-based installer to install?  Why are you rsyncing
> >         ext3fs.img?  I don't get it.
> >
> >         Are you trying to write your own installer?
> >
> >         TYL,
> >         --
> >         Scott Dowdle
> >         704 Church Street
> >         Belgrade, MT 59714
> >         [phone] [home]
> >         [phone] [work]
> >         --
> >         livecd mailing list
> >         livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
> >         <mailto:[e-mail]>
> >         https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
> >
> >
> >
> >     --
> >     livecd mailing list
> >     livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
> >     <mailto:[e-mail]>
> >     https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -- 
> > Gareth
> >
> > /Cloud Computing, OpenStack, Fitness, Basketball/
> > /OpenStack contributor/
> > /Company: UnitedStack <http://www.ustack.com>/
> > /My promise: if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes in my email 
> > from Mar 1 2013, notify me /
> > /and I'll donate $1 or ￥1 to an open organization you specify./
> >
> >
> > --
> > livecd mailing list
> > livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
> > https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd
>
>
>
>  --
>  livecd mailing list
>  livecd(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/livecd 
This is actually quite a bit more work. From start to finish. Taking 
some code from ovirt-node project since we do quite a bit of this work 
but we remain in livecd format using persistent storage off to the side.

- partition drives
- make the filesystems
- mount the cd
- mount initrd0.img
- mount the ext3fs inside initrd0
- mount the boot/root fs' root to /liveos for examples below
- rsync ext3fs.img contents to /liveos
#### you're somwhere in here ####
- mount /dev/sda1 to /liveos/boot
- grub2-install /dev/sda --boot-directory=/liveos
- create a grub.cfg file
     example grub.cfg:
#default saved
set timeout=5
#hiddenmenu
menuentry "example entry {
set root=(hd0,%(partN)d)
linux /vmlinuz0 %(root_param)s %(bootparams)s
initrd /initrd0.img
}"""

- you still need to copy vmlinuz0 and copy the initrd to /liveos/boot or 
/liveos if you keep just one partition and adjust grub.cfg file paths.


It can be done but it is quite a bit of manual work unless you script 
it. Why not just create a livecd that resets the machine, then boot it 
the second time with kickstart to do the installation? Are you just 
trying to do it all at once?