grml2usb(8) ========== Name ---- grml2usb - install grml ISO(s) on usb device for booting Synopsis -------- grml2usb [ options ] ******************************************************************************* Important! The grml team does not take responsibility for loss of any data! ******************************************************************************* [[introduction]] Introduction ------------ grml2usb installs grml on a given partition of your usb device and makes it bootable. It provides multi-iso support, meaning you can specify several grml ISOs on the command line at once and select the grml flavour you would like to boot on the bootprompt then. Note that the *first* ISO specified on the grml2usb command line will become the default one (that's the one that will boot when just pressing enter on the bootprompt or wait until the boot timeout matches). [IMPORTANT] By default a compatible master boot record (MBR) is installed on the device (being for example /dev/sdX when executing 'grml2usb grml.iso /dev/sdX1') and grub is being used as default bootloader. Avoid installation of the default MBR using the '--skip-mbr' option or if you encounter any problems with the default MBR consider using '--syslinux-mbr' instead. [NOTE] Whereas grml2usb is the script to install recent grml ISOs (>=2009.10) the script grml2usb-compat supports older grml releases (<2009.10) as well. [[options]] Options ------- The ISO[s] should be the path to one or multiple grml-ISOs and/or the path to the currently running live-system (being /live/image). The device either might be a device name like /dev/sdX1 or a directory. When specifying a device name the device is mounted automatically. When specifying a directory grml2usb is assuming that you did set up a bootloader on your own (or don't need one) and a bootloader won't be installed automatically. The following options are supported: *\--bootoptions=...*:: Use specified bootoptions as default. *\--bootloader-only*:: Do *not* copy files but instead just install a bootloader. Note that the boot addons are copied to /boot/addons at this stage as well. If you want to skip copying the boot addons consider using the --skip-addons option. *\--copy-only*:: Copy files only but do *not* install a bootloader. *\--dry-run*:: Avoid executing commands, instead show what would be executed. Warning: please notice that the ISO has to be mounted anyway, otherwise identifying the grml flavour would not be possible. *\--fat16*:: Format specified partition with FAT16. **Important:** this will destroy any existing data on the specified partition! *\--force*:: Force any (possible dangerous) actions requiring manual interaction (like --fat16). *\--grub-mbr*:: Install grub into MBR (Master Boot Record) instead of PBR (Partition Boot Record). This option sadly had to be introduced because grub2 can not be installed to partitions (PBR) instead of MBR anymore. Check out <> for further details. *\--help*:: Display usage information and exit. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// *\--initrd=...*:: Install specified initrd instead of the default. You might want to specify option *--kernel* as well. (Be aware when using multiboot setup.) [Notice: not implemented yet.] ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// *\--kernel=...*:: Install specified kernel instead of the default. You might want to specify option *--initrd* as well. (Be aware when using multiboot setup.) [Notice: not implemented yet.] ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// *\--lilo-binary=...*:: Use specified lilo executable for installing master boot record (MBR) when using the '--syslinux-mbr' option. By default any system wide (from $PATH) lilo executable is taken. If there can not be find any lilo executable the statically compiled version of the grml2usb Debian package (see /usr/share/grml2usb/lilo/lilo.static.[amd64|i386]) is taken. *\--mbr-menu*:: Install master boot record (MBR) with integrated boot menu: interactively choose the partition to boot from, with a timeout to load the default partition, or boot from floppy. When NOT using the --mbr-menu option a MBR with LBA and large disc support but without an integrated boot menu is installed (so it's not visible at all but instead directly jumps to the bootloader - being grub or syslinux). Note: This options is available only when using the default MBR and won't have any effect if you're using the '--syslinux-mbr' option. *\--quiet*:: Do not output anything but just errors on console. *\--skip-addons*:: Do not install /boot/addons/ files (like dos, grub, memdisk,...). *\--remove-bootoption=...*:: Remove specified bootoption (could be a regex) from existing boot options. Use multiple entries for removing different bootoptions at once. (Note: this option is not support in grml2usb-compat.) *\--skip-grub-config*:: Skip generation of grub configuration files. By default the configuration files for syslinux *and* grub will be written so you've a working configuration file no matter whether you're using grub or syslinux as bootloader. *\--skip-mbr*:: Do not touch/install the master boot record (MBR). *\--skip-syslinux-config*:: Skip generation of syslinux configuration files. By default the configuration files for syslinux *and* grub will be written so you've a working configuration file no matter whether you're using grub or syslinux as bootloader. *\--syslinux*:: This option is deprecated and is being left only for backwards compatibility reasons. Syslinux is the default bootloader of grml2usb and therefore the '--syslinux' option doesn't have any effects. If you do not want to use syslinux as bootloader consider using the '--grub' option. *\--syslinux-mbr*:: Install syslinux' master boot record (MBR, which is booting from the partition with the "active" flag set) instead of the default one. If you encounter any problems with the default MBR you can try using the syslinux MBR instead. If that works for you please <> so we can adjust our default MBR accordingly. Note: When using the '--syslinux-mbr' option lilo is executed before the MBR is installed so the according partitions are set active. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// *\--squashfs=*:: Install specified squashfs file instead of the default. [Notice: not implemented yet.] ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// *\--uninstall*:: Uninstall grml ISO files. [Notice: not implemented yet.] ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// *-v*, *\--version*:: Return version and exit. *\--verbose*:: Enable verbose mode. Developers Corner ----------------- [[directory-layout]] Directory layout on usb device ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ boot/ -> |-- addons/ | |-- allinone.img [grub - all in one image] | |-- bsd4grml/ [MirBSD] | |-- balder10.imz [FreeDOS] | |-- memdisk [chainloading helper] | |-- memtest [memtest86+] |-- release/ | |-- grml/ | | |-- linux26 [Kernel] | | |-- initrd.gz [initramfs] | |-- grml64 | | |-- linux26 [Kernel] | | |-- initrd.gz [initramfs] | |-- grml-medium | | |-- linux26 [...] | | |-- initrd.gz | |-- grml64-medium | | |-- linux26 | | |-- initrd.gz | |-- grml-small | | |-- linux26 | | |-- initrd.gz | `-- grml64-small | |-- linux26 | |-- initrd.gz |-- grub/ | |-- grml.png [graphical bootsplash background image for grub2] | |-- grub.cfg [configuration file for grub2] | |-- menu.lst [configuration file for grub1] | |-- splash.xpm.gz [splash screen for grub1] `-- syslinux/ |-- grml.png [graphical bootsplash background image for syslinux] |-- syslinux.cfg [main configuration file for syslinux] `-- [....] [several further config files for syslinux] grml/ |-- grml2usb.txt [not yet implemented] |-- grml-cheatcodes.txt [list of bootoptions for grml] |-- grml-version.txt [file containing information about grml-version] |-- LICENSE.txt [license information] |-- md5sums [md5sums of original ISO] |-- README.txt [informational text] `-- web/ [browser related files] |-- index.html |-- style.css `-- images/ |-- button.png |-- favicon.png |-- linux.jpg `-- logo.png live/ |-- grml/ | |-- filesystem.module [module specifying which squashfs should be used for grml] | `-- grml.squashfs [squashfs file for grml] |-- grml-medium/ | |-- filesystem.module [module specifying which squashfs should be used for grml-medium] | `-- grml-medium.squashfs [squashfs file for grml-medium] |-- grml-small/ | |-- filesystem.module [module specifying which squashfs should be used for grml-medium] | `-- grml-small.squashfs [squashfs file for grml-small] `-- ... [[source]] Grabbing the source ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ % git clone git://git.grml.org/grml2usb.git [[debugging]] Developers Debugging Hints ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To play with grml2usb you can avoid using a real device via a loopback file setup, like: # dd if=/dev/zero of=~/loopback bs=1M count=100 # adjust size to your needs # losetup /dev/loop1 ~/loopback Then create according partitions either running for example: # echo -en "n\np\n1\n\n\nt\n6\na\n1\n w\n" | fdisk /dev/loop1 or: # parted /dev/loop1 -s "mkpart primary fat16 0 -1s mkfs 1 fat16" Finally create a filesystem and execute grml2usb as needed: # mkfs.vfat /dev/loop1 # grml2usb --bootloader-only /grml/isos/grml-small_2009.10.iso /dev/loop1 [[performance-tracing]] Performance tracing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # blktrace -d /dev/sdX -o - | blkparse -i - # grml2usb grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 [[troubleshooting]] Troubleshooting and Pitfalls when booting ----------------------------------------- Here is a list of common error messages from BIOS/bootloader when trying to boot from USB. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TODO: better list type for the error message / reason part? See http://www.methods.co.nz/asciidoc/userguide.html /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// [horizontal] *Error message*:: ran out of input data. System halted *Reason*:: Everything OK, except for the filesystem used on your usb device. So instead of fat16 you are using for example fat32. Fix: use the appropriate filesystem (fat16 for usb pens usually). The Bootsplash might be displayed, the kernel loads but you very soon get the error message. *Error message*:: Invalid operating system *Reason*:: the partition layout is not ok. Very probably there's no primary partition (/dev/sdX{1..4}) or none has the flag 'bootable' set. *Error message*:: Boot error. *Reason*:: Some BIOSses offer different modes for USB booting. The proper mode to boot a USB stick is USB-HDD. If that doesn’t work or is not supported by your system, you need to format your USB-Stick as USB-ZIP. To do this, syslinux contains an utility called mkdiskimage, which you can use to re-format your USB stick in USB-ZIP format running 'mkdiskimage -4 /dev/sdX 1 64 32'. Please be aware that this procedure will erase all data on your stick. After executing mkdiskimage just continue installing as usual (grml2usb ... /dev/sdX4). Note that this is not going to work for any device larger than 8 GB, since mkdiskimage only supports 1024c 256h 63s. For a more detailed explanation, refer to /usr/share/doc/syslinux-common/usbkey.txt. *Error message*:: No operating system found. *Reason*:: you forgot to set the boot-flag on the partition. Or there really isn't any operating system at all. :) *Error message*:: kernel-panic: unable to mount root-fs... *Reason*:: Kernel boots but fails to find the root filesystem. The root= argument in your kernel commandline is pointing to the wrong device. Adjust root=..., consider using root=UUID=.... *Error message*:: Could not find kernel image: ... *Reason*:: either a broken isolinux/syslinux version or a broken BIOS. Check out whether the vendor provides a BIOS update or if using bootloader grub instead of isolinux/syslinux fixes the problem. [[faq]] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) -------------------------------- [[download]] Where can I get grml2usb? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ grml2usb is available as Debian package via link:http://deb.grml.org/[the grml-testing Debian repository]. If you do not want to (or can't) use the grml2usb Debian package you can either use the grml2usb git tree running: git clone git://git.grml.org/grml2usb.git cd grml2usb make -C mbr sudo ./grml2usb ... or download the provided link:http://grml.org/grml2usb/grml2usb.tgz[http://grml.org/grml2usb/grml2usb.tgz] (link:http://grml.org/grml2usb/grml2usb.tgz.md5.asc[gpg signed md5 hash]). Download and extract the tarball and execute the provided script 'install.sh'. [NOTE] It is *NOT* enough to have just the grml2usb script itself without the according files provided either via the Debian package, the git tree or the file grml2usb.tgz. [[grml2hd-vs-grml2usb]] What's the difference between grml2hd and grml2usb? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ grml2hd installs a running grml system to a harddisk. When rebooting the harddisk installation can be modified and changes will find their way to the harddisk immediately. grml2usb copies just the compressed chroot filesystem (being the squashfs file), some further informational files and a bootloader to your device. This way you don't need as much space as with a harddisk installation (just a USB device with >=ISO size) and when rebooting the system your changes will be lost (unless you are using the persistency feature, see link:http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency[http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency]). Think of using a better CD version: booting is (usually) faster, you don't need to burn a new CD when a new ISO version arrives (just install the new ISO using grml2usb) and you can carry additional files on a writable medium with yourself. [[dd]] Why can't I just dd the ISO to a USB device? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well, you can. :) Starting with grml 2009.10 the ISOs are dd-able straight out-of-the-box. [IMPORTANT] Note that ANY existing data on your USB device will be destroyed when using the dd approach. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Grab a recent grml ISO and use link:http://syslinux.zytor.com/wiki/index.php/Doc/isolinux#HYBRID_CD-ROM.2FHARD_DISK_MODE[isohybrid from the syslinux project]: % isohybrid grml_2009.10.iso /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// This allows you to dd the Grml ISO to your USB device (use for example link:http://www.chrysocome.net/rawwrite[rawwrite] if you've just a Windows system available) running: % dd if=grml_2009.10.iso of=/dev/sdX where /dev/sdX is your USB device. Of course this doesn't provide such a flexible system like with grml2usb (no multi-ISO setup, no additional default bootoptions,...) but it's a nice way to get a working USB boot setup if you don't have grml2usb available. [[grml2usb-vs-dd]] What's the difference between grml2usb and just using dd? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ grml2usb does not remove any data from your USB device and does not alter the partition table at all. grml2usb provides multi-ISO support, support for adding default bootoptions and selecting the bootloader (syslinux vs. grub) without having to manually touch the ISO at all. [[grml2iso]] What's grml2iso? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ grml2iso is a script which uses grml2usb to generate a multiboot ISO out of several grml ISOs. See 'man grml2iso' for further details. [[grml2usb-compat]] grml2usb fails with "Fatal: file default.cfg could not be found." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are trying to install an older grml ISO (older than grml 2009.10) with a recent version of grml2usb then you might notice: Fatal: file default.cfg could not be found. Note: this grml2usb version requires an ISO generated by grml-live >=0.9.24 ... ... either use grml releases >=2009.10 or switch to an older grml2usb version. Please visit http://grml.org/grml2usb/#grml2usb-compat for further information Fatal: a critical error happend during execution (not a grml ISO?), giving up Breaking the backward compatibility was necessary to avoid maintainability hell. If you want to install older grml ISOs please use the grml2usb-compat script which provides support for older releases. [[menu-lst]] Why is there a menu.lst and a grub.cfg inside /boot/grub/? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ grml2usb supports grub version 1 (grub1) as well as grub version 2 (grub2). Whereas grub1 uses menu.lst the new version grub2 needs grub.cfg. Providing both files allows grml2usb to install grub on the target device no matter which grub version is available on the host where grml2usb is executed on. [[stage1]] grub-install fails with 'The file ../boot/grub/stage1 not read correctly"?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check whether the partition has the right partition type. For example do NOT use FAT16 (partition type 6) when using a ext3 filesystem on the partition but instead use the correct partition type ('83' - Linux) then. [[grub-install-xfs_freeze]] grub-install complains about /sbin/grub-install and/or xfs_freeze?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following message: You shouldn't call /sbin/grub-install. Please call /usr/sbin/grub-install instead! xfs_freeze: specified file ["/tmp/tmpqaBK6z/boot/grub"] is not on an XFS filesystem This is "normal". grub-install sends those messages to stderr. To avoid hiding any possible real error messages grml2usb doesn't ignore those messages. [[device-map]] grub-install complains about /boot/grub/device.map?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following message: grub-probe: error: Cannot open `/boot/grub/device.map' This is "normal" (at least with grub1). This isn't a problem, because the device.map file will be generated on the target device anyway. [[unary-operator]] grub-install complains about a unary operator?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following message: '/usr/sbin/grub-install: line 374: [: =: unary operator expected' This is "normal". Just ignore it. (It usually doesn't appear on the second invocation on the same device.) [[unknown-filesystem]] grub-install fails with grub-probe: error: unknown filesystem?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following message: grub-probe: error: unknown filesystem Auto-detection of a filesystem module failed. Please specify the module with the option `--modules' explicitly. usually means that the device partition table says something else than the filesystem on the device. For example using FAT16 as filesystem type and using FAT32 as filesystem on the partition will not work. Either set filesystem type to FAT32 or format the partition using FAT16. It is essential that device partition table and filesystem use the same filesystem type. [[mbr-vs-pbr]] grub-setup fails after Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR?! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following message: grub-setup: warn: Attempting to install GRUB to a partition instead of the MBR. This is a BAD idea. grub-setup: warn: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are UNRELIABLE and its use is discouraged. grub-setup: error: Cannot read `/grub/core.img' correctly appears because recent grub2 versions sadly introduced a regression which avoids that grub is being installed into a partition (PBR, Partition Boot Record) instead of MBR (Master Boot Record). To work around this issue you can install grub into the MBR (Master Boot Record) using the '--grub-mbr' option of grml2usb or switch to syslinux as bootmanager (just drop the '--grub' option). To fix this issue manually you can also execute (adjust '/dev/sdX' to your device of course): mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/test grub-install --force --recheck --no-floppy --root-directory=/mnt/test /dev/sdX [[splash-xpm]] I'm getting something like "Error: /usr/share/grml2usb/grub/splash.xpm.gz can not be read"!? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Looks like you've only the grml2usb script itself available. Please make sure you've the grml2usb Debian package installed. The most resent stable version is available via link:http://deb.grml.org/[the grml-testing Debian repository]. If you do not have a Debian system please see section <> in this FAQ. [[fat16]] Why do I have to use a FAT16/FAT32 filesystem? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Syslinux (currently) does not support any other filesystems besides FAT16/FAT32 (though that's a sane default if you want to share your files with other (operating) systems). If you want to use a different filesystem (like ext2/3) use the bootloader grub instead using grml2usb's '--grub' option. [NOTE] FAT32 is supported since syslinux version 3.0. [[cool-idea]] I think I've got a really cool idea! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Great! Please check out link:http://git.grml.org/?p=grml2usb.git;a=blob;f=TODO;hb=HEAD[the TODO file]. Feel free to <>. Patches highly appreciated. [[booting-from-usb]] I've problems with booting from USB. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check out <>. [[found-a-bug]] I've found a bug! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please <>. Please provide usage examples and output of your grml2usb commandline (consider using the "\--verbose" option). [[usage-examples]] Usage examples -------------- # grml2usb /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1. # grml2usb /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /home/grml/grml_small_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISOs on device /dev/sdX1 for multibooting ISOs. # grml2usb /live/image /dev/sdX1 Install currently running grml live system on device /dev/sdX1. # grml2usb /live/image /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install currently running grml live system and the specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 for multibooting. # grml2usb --fat16 /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 and format partition /dev/sdX1 with FAT16 filesystem. # grml2usb --grub --grub-mbr /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 and use grub as bootloader (instead of syslinux being the default) and install a master boot record (MBR) to the MBR of /dev/sdX. # grml2usb-compat /home/grml/grml_2009.05.iso /dev/sdX1 Install older grml ISO on device /dev/sdX1. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// # grml2usb --kernel=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-grml --initrd=/boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-grml \ /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 but use given kernel and initrd instead of the ones provided by the ISO. # grml2usb --squashfs=/grml/grml-live/grml_cd/live/grml.squashfs \ /home/grml/grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 but use given squashfs file instead of the one provided by the ISO. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// # grml2usb --bootoptions="lang=de ssh=mysecret" grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 and use "lang=de ssh=mysecret" as default bootoptions. # grml2usb --remove-bootoption="vga=791" --remove-bootoption="quiet" grml_2009.10.iso /dev/sdX1 Install specified ISO on device /dev/sdX1 remove vga=791 and quiet from existing bootoptions. [[ressources]] Online Ressources ----------------- Check out the link:http://grml.org/grml2usb/[grml2usb webpage] and the link:http://git.grml.org/?p=grml2usb.git[grml2usb git repository]. [[bugs]] Bugs ---- Please report feedback, bugreports and wishes <>. [[author]] Author ------ Michael Prokop ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=tips#multiboot_usb_pen http://www.startx.ro/sugar/isotostick.sh https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ http://www.tux.org/pub/people/kent-robotti/looplinux/rip/mkusb.sh https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/ /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////