Installing without a CD drive

[Colin Paul Adams]

Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

[Chasecreek Systemhouse]

On 25 Mar 2006 09:42:47 +0000, Colin Paul Adams
 wrote:
> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
> disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Um, you will need a CD drive at present; I dont believe that Fedora
makes a USB bootable image yet.

--
WC (Bill) Jones -- http://youve-reached-the.endoftheinternet.org/

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "Chasecreek" == Chasecreek Systemhouse  writes:

Chasecreek> On 25 Mar 2006 09:42:47 +0000, Colin Paul Adams
    Chasecreek>  wrote:
    >> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso
    >> images on disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Chasecreek> Um, you will need a CD drive at present; I dont
    Chasecreek> believe that Fedora makes a USB bootable image yet.

Not so.

But I am not talking about a USB boot - I mean a floppy boot.

I did this for FC4, under instruction from Paul Howarth, I think.

But I have forgotten the procedure, and, annoyingly, it's not in the
installation manual.

[LarryT]

Download all the cd isos or better : the dvd iso !
I imagine you have the dvd iso :

installing on another pc :
mount -o loop dvd.iso /tmp/fc5
(you have to create the fc5 directory in tmp)
then run install with "linux askmethod" at the boot , without the quote, 
and choose ftp or nfs , and enjoy :)
(ftp if you have a ftp server)

installing on the same pc :
put the dvd.iso on a partition you want, and verify the partition : is 
it hda3 or hdc5 or ......
Then then run install with "linux askmethod" at the boot , without the 
quote, and choose harddrive
and choose /dev/hdc5 if it is the partition where the iso is
enjoy :)

Larry
"Computers are like air conditioners - They stop working properly when 
you open Windows !"

Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
> disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "Larry" == LarryT   writes:

Larry> ......  Then then run install with "linux askmethod" at the

How?

[LarryT]

Just booting off the rescue cd, and then at prompt type "linux expert" 
(or "linux askmethod"). If you dont want to download and burn the cd, 
you can copy the boot.iso image,
which is in 
http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
on a usb storage (dd if=boot.iso of=/dev/sda1 # if your usb stick is 
mounted on sda1)
Or even use the floppy boot disk image .....
okay ?

Larry
"Computers are like air conditioners - They stop working properly when 
you open Windows !"

Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> > > > > > "Larry" == LarryT   writes:
> Larry> ......  Then then run install with "linux askmethod" at the
>
> How?

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "LarryT" == LarryT   writes:

LarryT> Just booting off the rescue cd, and then at prompt type

Read the subject title - no CD drive.

LarryT> on a usb storage (dd if=boot.iso of=/dev/sda1 # if your

No usb stick either.

LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
    LarryT> disk image

Where is this?

[LarryT]

Larry
"Computers are like air conditioners - They stop working properly when 
you open Windows !"

Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> > > > > > "LarryT" == LarryT   writes:
> LarryT> Just booting off the rescue cd, and then at prompt type
>
> Read the subject

title - no CD drive.
> LarryT> on a usb storage (dd if=boot.iso of=/dev/sda1 # if your
>
> No usb stick either.
> LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
> LarryT> disk image
>
> Where is this?

Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
>

##############################################################################
> http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/

#############################################################################"
> Or even use the floppy boot disk image .....
> okay ?

[Paul Howarth]

On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
> > LarryT> disk image
> >
> > Where is this?
>
> Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> >
>
> ##############################################################################
> > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
>
> #############################################################################"

I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
disk image"?

Paul.

[Bruno Wolff III]

On Sat, Mar 25, 2006 at 16:39:39 +0000,
  Paul Howarth  wrote:
> On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
> > > LarryT> disk image
> > >
> > > Where is this?
> >
> > Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> > >
> >
> > ##############################################################################
> > > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
> >
> > #############################################################################"
>
> I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
> disk image"?

diskboot.image
I saw some documentation somewhere that said it was a FAT file system.

[Paul Howarth]

On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 10:46 -0600, Bruno Wolff III wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 25, 2006 at 16:39:39 +0000,
>   Paul Howarth  wrote:
> > On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > > > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
> > > > LarryT> disk image
> > > >
> > > > Where is this?
> > >
> > > Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> > > >
> > >
> > > ##############################################################################
> > > > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
> > >
> > > #############################################################################"
> >
> > I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
> > disk image"?
>
> diskboot.image
> I saw some documentation somewhere that said it was a FAT file system.

It is, but it's for a USB Key. Being 8MB, it's far too big to go on a
floppy.

Paul.

[Jeff Vian]

On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 10:46 -0600, Bruno Wolff III wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 25, 2006 at 16:39:39 +0000,
>   Paul Howarth  wrote:
> > On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > > > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
> > > > LarryT> disk image
> > > >
> > > > Where is this?
> > >
> > > Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> > > >
> > >
> > > ##############################################################################
> > > > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
> > >
> > > #############################################################################"
> >
> > I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
> > disk image"?
>
> diskboot.image
> I saw some documentation somewhere that said it was a FAT file system.

Please explain how an 8mb file can fit on a 1.44mb floppy?

[Joao Medeiros]

Hi Jeff,

I don't think from Fedora Core 4 there is an option to install from
diskettes. Do you have an USB stick or another machine running you can use
to boot from on your network?

Cheers,
JM

-----Original Message-----
From: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
On Behalf Of Jeff Vian
Sent: 26 March 2006 12:08
To: For users of Fedora Core releases
Subject: Re: Installing without a CD drive

On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 10:46 -0600, Bruno Wolff III wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 25, 2006 at 16:39:39 +0000,
>   Paul Howarth  wrote:
> > On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > > > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy

boot
> > > > LarryT> disk image
> > > >
> > > > Where is this?
> > >
> > > Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> > > >

############################################################################
##
> > > > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/

############################################################################
#"
> > I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
> > disk image"?
>
> diskboot.image
> I saw some documentation somewhere that said it was a FAT file system.

Please explain how an 8mb file can fit on a 1.44mb floppy?

[Jeff Vian]

On Sun, 2006-03-26 at 12:40 +0100, Joao Medeiros wrote:
> Hi Jeff,
>
> I don't think from Fedora Core 4 there is an option to install from
> diskettes. Do you have an USB stick or another machine running you can use
> to boot from on your network?

If you read the last few messages in this thread, my comment below was a
_very_ tongue-in-cheek way of saying I did not believe he meant it was a
boot floppy image, even though that is what he had stated.

I was not the one saying the image was a boot floppy nor was I
indicating that I thought he was correct.  I was expressing disbelief.

A following message indicated that the image is actually a USB key image
for booting, which is as I had understood it.

Jeff
> Cheers,
> JM
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]
> On Behalf Of Jeff Vian
> Sent: 26 March 2006 12:08
> To: For users of Fedora Core releases
> Subject: Re: Installing without a CD drive
>
> On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 10:46 -0600, Bruno Wolff III wrote:
> > On Sat, Mar 25, 2006 at 16:39:39 +0000,
> >   Paul Howarth  wrote:
> > > On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > > > > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy
>
> boot
> > > > > LarryT> disk image
> > > > >
> > > > > Where is this?
> > > >
> > > > Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> > > > >
>
> ############################################################################
> ##
> > > > > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
>
> ############################################################################
> #"
> > > I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
> > > disk image"?
> >
> > diskboot.image
> > I saw some documentation somewhere that said it was a FAT file system.
>
> Please explain how an 8mb file can fit on a 1.44mb floppy?
>
> -- 
> fedora-list mailing list
> [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list

[LarryT]

You're wrong Paul !
I am feeling most dumb, but it lasts for few days :-D
I'd better have a rest .

Excuse-me Paul :-/
... BTW i thank you for this point ! i 'll try to be more careful

Larry
"Computers are like air conditioners - They stop working properly when 
you open Windows !"

Paul Howarth wrote:
> On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 16:19 +0100, LarryT wrote:
> > > LarryT> usb stick is mounted on sda1) Or even use the floppy boot
> > >    LarryT> disk image
> > >
> > > Where is this?
> >
> > Do you wann be kind enough to read what i wrote ?
> > >
> >
> > ##############################################################################
> > > http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/fedora/linux/core/5/i386//os/images/
> >
> > #############################################################################"
>
> I must be feeling a bit dumb today. Which of those is the "floppy boot
> disk image"?
>
> Paul.

[gary]

On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 09:42 +0000, Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
> disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.
> --

Googling gets this.
http://www.bhamu.net/index.php/2005/06/15/fedora-core-4-floppy-disk-install
                                           ---gary

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "Gary" == gary   writes:

Gary> On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 09:42 +0000, Colin Paul Adams wrote:
    >> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso
    >> images on disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.  --

Gary>  Googling gets this.
    Gary> http://www.bhamu.net/index.php/2005/06/15/fedora-core-4-floppy-disk-install

This seems far too complicated.

The way i did it before (I had a broken hard disk to repair too, that
time, which made it more interesting), was to boot a floppy, and then
select the drives to use.

But I don't remember the commands involved.

[Bruno Wolff III]

I actually did a no CD/DVD/Floppy/USB stick upgrade. Mounted the DVD image
as previously discussed, then copied over the boot image to /boot and edited
my grub.conf file to point to that image. (In addition to the normal one.) I
was having trouble getting my old instance detected and ended up trying three
differeny boot images. I think they all were usable in the end, as the problem
seemed to be related to which partition of a mirror I said the DVD iso was on.
The install went much slower than when I installed from the DVD (on another
faster, but not 7 times faster machine). I think this is because I was
updateing the disk that was supplying the update data. If I had been thinking
more clearly when I did that, I would have stuck the iso on the unmirrored
drive I was using for /tmp and things would have probably gone a lot faster.

I wanted to practice this on a machine I have easy access to, since I will be
doing something similar to a machine that I don't have easy access to and for
which the CD drive isn't normally powered because of a power supply limitation.

[Paul Howarth]

On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 09:42 +0000, Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
> disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Is this a working system with the ISO images on the hard drive?

Are you doing a fresh install or an upgrade?

Can the ISO images be put on a separate partition not needed during the
install?

Paul.

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "Paul" == Paul Howarth  writes:

Paul> On Sat, 2006-03-25 at 09:42 +0000, Colin Paul Adams wrote:
    >> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso
    >> images on disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Paul> Is this a working system with the ISO images on the hard
    Paul> drive?

That will be the case.

Paul> Are you doing a fresh install or an upgrade?

Upgrade.

Paul> Can the ISO images be put on a separate partition not needed
    Paul> during the install?

I should think I can do that.

[Ian Pilcher]

Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
> disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Do you already have Linux installed?  If so, you can do a hard disk
installation without even creating a boot floppy.

The main thing that you will need is a spare partition to hold the ISO
images.  This partition (obviously) needs to be formatted with a file-
system that the Fedora kernel can read; ext2/3 and FAT32 will certainly
work.

Assuming that you've got such a partition, and you've moved the ISO
files to it, the next step is to extract the installation kernel and
initrd from the first ISO and copy them to your /boot directory.

* mount -o ro,loop ISO_FILE MOUNT_POINT
  * mkdir /boot/fc5inst
  * cp MOUNT_POINT/isolinux/{vmlinuz,initrd.img} /boot/fc5inst/
  * umount MOUNT_POINT

Now edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and create a new entry called "INSTALL
Fedora Core 5".  It should be relatively straightforward to figure out
the root device and the path to the kernel and initrd.  (If it isn't,
you may want to use the boot floppy image that's located somewhere in
the first ISO.)  The only kernel parameters required are hardware-
specific stuff.

Now you can reboot your system and select a hard drive installation.
Point the installer to the partition and directory in which you've
placed the ISO images and proceed as normal.  You will get a pop-up
warning when the installer searches for existing installations; it will
try to mount the partition which contains the ISO images and complain
when the mount fails (because it's already mounted).

Hope this helps.

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "Ian" == Ian Pilcher  writes:

Ian> Colin Paul Adams wrote:
    >> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso
    >> images on disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Ian> Do you already have Linux installed?  If so, you can do a
    Ian> hard disk installation without even creating a boot floppy.

Ian> The main thing that you will need is a spare partition to
    Ian> hold the ISO images.  This partition (obviously) needs to be
    Ian> formatted with a file- system that the Fedora kernel can
    Ian> read; ext2/3 and FAT32 will certainly work.

Ian> Assuming that you've got such a partition, and you've moved
    Ian> the ISO files to it, the next step is to extract the
    Ian> installation kernel and initrd from the first ISO and copy
    Ian> them to your /boot directory.

Ian>   * mount -o ro,loop ISO_FILE MOUNT_POINT * mkdir
    Ian> /boot/fc5inst * cp MOUNT_POINT/isolinux/{vmlinuz,initrd.img}
    Ian> /boot/fc5inst/ * umount MOUNT_POINT

Ian> Now edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and create a new entry called
    Ian> "INSTALL Fedora Core 5".  It should be relatively
    Ian> straightforward to figure out the root device and the path to
    Ian> the kernel and initrd.  (If it isn't, you may want to use the
    Ian> boot floppy image that's located somewhere in the first ISO.)
    Ian> The only kernel parameters required are hardware- specific
    Ian> stuff.

Ian> Now you can reboot your system and select a hard drive
    Ian> installation.  Point the installer to the partition and
    Ian> directory in which you've placed the ISO images and proceed
    Ian> as normal.  You will get a pop-up warning when the installer
    Ian> searches for existing installations; it will try to mount the
    Ian> partition which contains the ISO images and complain when the
    Ian> mount fails (because it's already mounted).

Ian> Hope this helps.

Yes, thank you. That was exactly the procedure I needed reminding of.

It would be good if it was in the installation manual for FC6, as I
will need to do it again next time.

[Colin Paul Adams]

> > > > > "Ian" == Ian Pilcher  writes:

Ian> Colin Paul Adams wrote:
    >> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso
    >> images on disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

Ian> Do you already have Linux installed?  If so, you can do a
    Ian> hard disk installation without even creating a boot floppy.

Ian> The main thing that you will need is a spare partition to
    Ian> hold the ISO images.  This partition (obviously) needs to be
    Ian> formatted with a file- system that the Fedora kernel can
    Ian> read; ext2/3 and FAT32 will certainly work.

Ian> Assuming that you've got such a partition, and you've moved
    Ian> the ISO files to it, the next step is to extract the
    Ian> installation kernel and initrd from the first ISO and copy
    Ian> them to your /boot directory.

Ian>   * mount -o ro,loop ISO_FILE MOUNT_POINT * mkdir
    Ian> /boot/fc5inst * cp MOUNT_POINT/isolinux/{vmlinuz,initrd.img}
    Ian> /boot/fc5inst/ * umount MOUNT_POINT

Ian> Now edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and create a new entry called
    Ian> "INSTALL Fedora Core 5".  It should be relatively
    Ian> straightforward to figure out the root device and the path to
    Ian> the kernel and initrd.  (If it isn't, you may want to use the
    Ian> boot floppy image that's located somewhere in the first ISO.)
    Ian> The only kernel parameters required are hardware- specific
    Ian> stuff.

Ian> Now you can reboot your system and select a hard drive
    Ian> installation.  Point the installer to the partition and
    Ian> directory in which you've placed the ISO images and proceed
    Ian> as normal.  You will get a pop-up warning when the installer
    Ian> searches for existing installations; it will try to mount the
    Ian> partition which contains the ISO images and complain when the
    Ian> mount fails (because it's already mounted).

Ian> Hope this helps.

Well, it works up to a point, but then there doesn't appear to be an
upgrade option.

How do I do an upgrade?

[Paul Howarth]

Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> > > > > > "Ian" == Ian Pilcher  writes:
> Ian> Colin Paul Adams wrote:
> >> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso
> >> images on disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.
>
> Ian> Do you already have Linux installed?  If so, you can do a
> Ian> hard disk installation without even creating a boot floppy.
>
> Ian> The main thing that you will need is a spare partition to
> Ian> hold the ISO images.  This partition (obviously) needs to be
> Ian> formatted with a file- system that the Fedora kernel can
> Ian> read; ext2/3 and FAT32 will certainly work.
>
> Ian> Assuming that you've got such a partition, and you've moved
> Ian> the ISO files to it, the next step is to extract the
> Ian> installation kernel and initrd from the first ISO and copy
> Ian> them to your /boot directory.
>
> Ian>   * mount -o ro,loop ISO_FILE MOUNT_POINT * mkdir
> Ian> /boot/fc5inst * cp MOUNT_POINT/isolinux/{vmlinuz,initrd.img}
> Ian> /boot/fc5inst/ * umount MOUNT_POINT
>
> Ian> Now edit /boot/grub/grub.conf and create a new entry called
> Ian> "INSTALL Fedora Core 5".  It should be relatively
> Ian> straightforward to figure out the root device and the path to
> Ian> the kernel and initrd.  (If it isn't, you may want to use the
> Ian> boot floppy image that's located somewhere in the first ISO.)
> Ian> The only kernel parameters required are hardware- specific
> Ian> stuff.
>
> Ian> Now you can reboot your system and select a hard drive
> Ian> installation.  Point the installer to the partition and
> Ian> directory in which you've placed the ISO images and proceed
> Ian> as normal.  You will get a pop-up warning when the installer
> Ian> searches for existing installations; it will try to mount the
> Ian> partition which contains the ISO images and complain when the
> Ian> mount fails (because it's already mounted).
>
> Ian> Hope this helps.
>
> Well, it works up to a point, but then there doesn't appear to be an
> upgrade option.
>
> How do I do an upgrade?

You should automatically get an upgrade option if the installer finds 
your existign installation (I think it looks for /etc/fedora-release). 
If you're not getting the option, there's probably a problem seeing your 
existing partitions. Do you need any specific drivers for your existing 
setup? What is the partitioning arrangement?

Paul.

[Anil Kumar Sharma]

On 25 Mar 2006 09:42:47 +0000, Colin Paul Adams 
wrote:
> Could someone list the procedure to do this (I have the iso images on
> disc)? It's not in the Installation guide.

For a CD-Less installation U need these as a minimum
1. iso files on your hard disk / usb disc / usb stick
2. a *nix live CD / or as a  tomsrtbt http://www.toms.net/rb/ on a single
floppy.
3. Even if U have hdd that is blank or has guidos+free_partiton_space,
U can get FC5 operational

rest of the details available in this thread.

--
Anil Kumar Shrama

[Charles A. Crayne]

On Sat, 1 Apr 2006 20:29:43 +0530
"Anil Kumar Sharma"  wrote:

:For a CD-Less installation U need these as a minimum
:1. iso files on your hard disk / usb disc / usb stick

Because I do not have a broadband connection, I do not have iso files, but
have acquired the CDs. How can I build isos from the CDs, so that I can do
network installations on my other machines?

-- Chuck

[Tim]

On Sat, 2006-04-01 at 15:01 -0800, Charles A. Crayne wrote:
> Because I do not have a broadband connection, I do not have iso files,
> but have acquired the CDs. How can I build isos from the CDs, so that
> I can do network installations on my other machines?

dd if=/dev/cdrom of=image.iso

NB:  if = input file (specify your CD/DVD-ROM device)
     of = output file (specify the filename you want to use)

You could also copy the directory tree structure of each disc into one
big tree, and do network installs that way.  I get quite quick results
using my webserver for network installs.