Create bootable USB HD/Stick, only tested on Slackware 12.1, 12.2 and 13.0
Update 2010-02-08, Fixed typos...
Update 2009-11-06, New version for Slackware 13.0
Slackware 13.0
Note: Read the guide below for 12.1/12.2 before this one.. cd /boot mkinitrd cd initrd-tree rm bin/awk rm bin/cut oot@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libblkid.so.1 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libext2fs.so.2 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libc.so.6 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libuuid.so.1 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libcom_err.so.2 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/ld-linux.so.2 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libpthread.so.0 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libdl.so.2 lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# cp /lib/libm.so.6 lib/ cp /usr/bin/awk bin/ cp /sbin/blkid bin/ cp /bin/cut bin/ cd .. Install device files from the Slackware DVD: mount /dev/dvd /mnt/dvd installpkg -root /boot/initrd-tree /mnt/dvd/slackware/a/devs-2.3.1-noarch-25.t?z Replace init with modified version cp init_13.0.txt /boot/initrd-tree/init mkinitrd Continue with the same procedure as for 12.1/12.2..
Slackware 12.1 and 12.2
uname -a Linux darkstar 2.6.21.5 #2 PREEMPT Thu Nov 8 08:52:54 CET 2007 i686 Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.20GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux cd /boot Create a basic initrd with any modules needed: mkinitrd -c -k 2.6.21.5 -m reiserfs Label the root partition: reiser: reiserfstune --label USB-ROOT /dev/sda2 ext2/ext3: e2label /dev/sda2 USB-ROOT or use gparted to change the label.. Replace init with modified version cp newinit.txt /boot/initrd-tree/init Copy binaries (awk, blkid and cut) to bin: rm /boot/initrd-tree/bin/awk cp /usr/bin/awk /boot/initrd-tree/bin cp /sbin/blkid /boot/initrd-tree/bin cp /bin/cut /boot/initrd-tree/bin Copy libraries to lib ld-linux.so.2 libblkid.so.1 libc.so.6 libdl.so.2 libm.so.6 libuuid.so.1 cp /lib/ld-linux.so.2 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libblkid.so.1 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libc.so.6 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libdl.so.2 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libm.so.6 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libuuid.so.1 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ #Additional libs needed for Slackware 12.2 cp /lib/libext2fs.so.2 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libcom_err.so.2 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ cp /lib/libpthread.so.0 /boot/initrd-tree/lib/ root@localhost:/boot/initrd-tree# ll lib/ totalt 2206 drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 360 2009-09-10 21:25 . drwxr-xr-x 11 root root 488 2009-09-10 21:25 .. -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 131468 2009-09-10 21:25 ld-linux.so.2 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 37136 2009-09-10 21:25 libblkid.so.1 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1570593 2009-09-10 21:25 libc.so.6 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 8472 2009-09-10 21:25 libcom_err.so.2 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 13474 2009-09-10 21:25 libdl.so.2 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 165044 2009-09-10 21:25 libext2fs.so.2 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 180649 2009-09-10 21:25 libm.so.6 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 110684 2009-09-10 21:25 libpthread.so.0 -rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 11552 2009-09-10 21:25 libuuid.so.1 Install device files from the Slackware DVD: mount /dev/dvd /mnt/dvd installpkg -root /boot/initrd-tree /mnt/dvd/slackware/a/devs-2.3.1-noarch-25.tgz Create a new initrd which contains the modifications mkinitrd Copy the initrd to the USB disk and update Lilo/Grub: mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/tmp cp /boot/initrd.gz /mnt/tmp/boot kedit /mnt/tmp/etc/lilo.conf Test first: lilo -t -v -r /mnt/tmp If OK: lilo -v -r /mnt/tmp
lilo.conf
# LILO configuration file # generated by 'liloconfig' # # Start LILO global section boot = /dev/sda compact # faster, but won't work on all systems. prompt timeout = 50 # Normal VGA console vga = normal # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k # vga=791 # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k # vga=790 # VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256 # vga=773 # VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k # vga=788 # VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k # vga=787 # VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256 # vga=771 # VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k # vga=785 # VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k # vga=784 # VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256 # vga=769 # ramdisk = 0 # paranoia setting # End LILO global section # Linux bootable partition config begins image = /boot/vmlinuz initrd = /boot/initrd.gz append = "3 label="USB-ROOT" label = SW12.1-USB read-only # Partitions should be mounted read-only for checking # Linux bootable partition config ends
Replace Lilo with Syslinux:
Create a syslinux USB stick on sdc1 (FAT) for booting another partition by label.
mount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/zip
mount /dev/sdc2 /mnt/tmp
mkdir /mnt/zip/syslinux
cp /mnt/tmp/boot/vmlinuz /mnt/zip/syslinux/vmlinuz
cp /boot/initrd.gz /mnt/zip/syslinux/initrd.gz
kedit /mnt/tmp/syslinux/syslinux.cfg
default vmlinuz initrd=initrd.gz
Or more complex..
default BOOT_SW_CURRENT
prompt 1
timeout 1200
display message.txt
label BOOT_SW_CURRENT
#2.6.24.4-xxx
kernel vmlinuz1
append initrd=initrd.gz label=BOOT_SW_CURRENT
label USB-ROOT
#2.6.27.7
kernel vmlinuz2
append initrd=initrd.gz label=USB-ROOT
Create a file named message.txt:
kedit /mnt/tmp/syslinux/message.txt
Rescue Boot USB-HD
---------------------
Use BOOT_SW_CURRENT for kernel 2.6.24.4-xxx (Slackware 12.1)
Use USB-ROOT for kernel 2.6.27.7 (Slackware 12.2)
Default is BOOT_SW_CURRENT
Override label for root partition with e.g. BOOT_SW_CURRENT append label=XXXXX
Make rescue CD/DVD
mkdir -p isoimage/isolinux
mkdir -p isoimage/kernels
cp /usr/lib/syslinux/isolinux.bin isoimage/isolinux
Use the initrd and kernels from the USB resuce stick..
mount /dev/sdc /mnt/tmp
cp /mnt/tmp/syslinux/initrd.gz isoimage/isolinux/
cp /mnt/tmp/syslinux/vmlinuz1 isoimage/kernels
cp /mnt/tmp/syslinux/vmlinuz2 isoimage/kernels
cp /mnt/tmp/syslinux/message.txt isoimage/isolinux
kedit isoimage/isolinux/isolinux.cfg
default BOOT_SW_CURRENT
prompt 1
timeout 1200
display message.txt
label BOOT_SW_CURRENT
#2.6.24.4-xxx
kernel /kernels/vmlinuz1
append initrd=initrd.gz label=BOOT_SW_CURRENT
label USB-ROOT
#2.6.27.7
kernel /kernels/vmlinuz2
append initrd=initrd.gz label=USB-ROOT
mkisofs -o boot.iso -A "Rescue USB-HD" -iso-level 4 -v -N -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -b isolinux/isolinux.bin -c isolinux/isolinux.boot -V "Rescue USB-HD" isoimage
Burn it! Use k3b or whatever..
New version 2009-09-10. Bugfix, tested on Slackware 12.2.
Same as above but without any modules (smaller initrd)
Various stuff needs to be in the kernel and not as modules.
Working kernel configuration:
uname -a Linux darkstar 2.6.22.6 #6 PREEMPT Thu Nov 15 13:54:27 CET 2007 i686 Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.20GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux