Linux Format forums

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

Rhakios — Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:44 pm

Author: Rhakios

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:44 pm

There we go, set as solved properly.

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

serene — Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:52 pm

Author: serene

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:52 pm

Nelz, you're real good.

Cheers

[SOLVED]

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

nelz — Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:37 am

Author: nelz

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:37 am

Then I'd create a hybrid ISO, one that can be booted from CD or USB stick and give the client the ISO as well as the boot medium, that way they can check the integrity themselves.

Using the live CD approach can get everything down to two files, the kernel and the root filesystem as a squashfs.

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

serene — Sun Jul 22, 2012 4:11 am

Author: serene

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 4:11 am

Thanks Nelz.

The reason I wish to boot from a file is to eventually load all the OS into memory. I have a client that is attempting to verify boot file integrity via sha256sum for any corruption or tampering.

Cheers.

Serene

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

nelz — Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:58 pm

Author: nelz

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:58 pm

If you don't want to use an emulator, then most likely yes. the reason is that a bootloader can only boot from a restricted list of media types, most of which are physical devices. An ISO image is the only file type, AFAIK, that GRUB can boot from.

You could mount the file on another computer and set up network booting, but that is ridiculously complex for most uses.

Why do you have to boot from a file, why not a partition on your hard disk, or a USB device?

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

ajgreeny — Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:32 pm

Author: ajgreeny

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:32 pm

serene wrote:

Thanks ajgreeny.

Is it your opinion that the 'only' way to boot from a file is via .iso ?

I've no idea about that.

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

serene — Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:08 am

Author: serene

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:08 am

Thanks ajgreeny.

Is it your opinion that the 'only' way to boot from a file is via .iso ?

Re: Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

ajgreeny — Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:46 pm

Author: ajgreeny

Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:46 pm

I am not sure if either of these two links will help but they may give you some ideas that you can work on and adapt for your needs.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1838959
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1288604

Boot From Local File On Disk [SOLVED]

serene — Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:13 pm

Author: serene

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:13 pm

Hi.

What would be the best approach to booting a custom Debian Squeeze from a local file on disk ?

I've considered;
- .iso
- iscsi

I wish to also avoid virtualiztions, i.e. VirtualBox etc.

I'm not turning up much info on better alternatives to the above.

Thank you.
Serene