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Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive?

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  Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-04-28 17:20 +0200
    Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Nicolas George <george@nsup.org> - 2016-04-28 17:30 +0200
      Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-04-29 17:00 +0200
        Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Nicolas George <george@nsup.org> - 2016-04-29 17:10 +0200
          Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2016-04-29 17:20 +0200
          Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-29 18:10 +0200
            Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Nicolas George <george@nsup.org> - 2016-04-29 18:50 +0200
              Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-29 19:50 +0200
                Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Nicolas George <george@nsup.org> - 2016-04-29 19:50 +0200
    Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2016-04-28 17:40 +0200
      Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-04-29 17:20 +0200
    Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Curt <curty@free.fr> - 2016-04-28 18:40 +0200
      Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-04-28 21:30 +0200
        Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-29 15:30 +0200
          Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-04-29 21:00 +0200
            Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-29 22:00 +0200
              Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-04-30 20:10 +0200
                Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-05-01 17:00 +0200
                  Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-05-02 17:00 +0200
                    Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-05-02 20:00 +0200
                      Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2016-05-02 21:20 +0200
                      Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-05-02 21:20 +0200
                        Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-05-03 12:20 +0200
                          Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Lisi Reisz <lisi.reisz@gmail.com> - 2016-05-03 15:40 +0200
                            Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-05-14 14:10 +0200
                              Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Rodary Jacques <rodaryj@free.fr> - 2016-05-17 02:50 +0200
                          Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-05-03 15:50 +0200
                            Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-05-03 17:40 +0200
                              Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Piyavkin <piyavkin@gmail.com> - 2016-05-03 18:40 +0200
                          Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-05-04 17:40 +0200
                            Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-05-05 12:10 +0200
      Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-04-29 17:40 +0200
        Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-29 18:20 +0200
    Re: Multiple live iso's on a single bootable flash drive? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-28 21:30 +0200
    Extra links found on Ubuntu maullist Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-04-30 18:20 +0200
      Re: Extra links found on Ubuntu maullist Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> - 2016-04-30 18:30 +0200

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#167395

On Mon 02 May 2016 at 18:50:32 (+0100), Brian wrote:
> On Mon 02 May 2016 at 17:54:35 +0300, Piyavkin wrote:
> > On 01.05.2016 17:55, Brian wrote:

> > >Not a decent argument. Operations such as partitioning and formatting a
> > >USB stick and installing GRUB to its MBR all require root privilege.
> > 
> > Of course, but the point is: with which «case there are lesser chances» to
> > shoot in own leg:
> > 
> > Case 1: do sudo work and pay proper attention 1 time and fit for all.
> > 
> > Case 2: do it every time when you update your boot collection on the
> > USB-drive.
> 
> The events are independent. Carrying out an operation more than once
> does not change the probability of carrying it out correctly. I can
> claim I have used 'ls -l' fifty times in a day without error. :)

Er, you've switched argument. It's the probability of carrying
*them* (not *it*) out correctly which is important, and that
probability changes.

If you carry out an operation with a 99% success rate 23 times, the
likelihood of success overall drops to under 80%. Do it 69 times and
you're more likely to fail, than succeed overall.

> (Incidentally, a simple udev .rules file avoids having to be root to
> deal with a USB stick, so the issue doesn't arise for me).

That just makes it easier to accidentally wipe an important stick
(by shifting the point at which you take extra care).

Cheers,
David.

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#167396

On 02.05.2016 20:50, Brian wrote:
> On Mon 02 May 2016 at 17:54:35 +0300, Piyavkin wrote:
>
>> On 01.05.2016 17:55, Brian wrote:
>>> On Sat 30 Apr 2016 at 21:02:56 +0300, Piyavkin wrote:
>>>
>>>> What's wrong with it?
>>> Nothing, but a Ubuntu live ISO serves a different purpose from the
>>> Debian installer. Which is not to say enhancing a netinst ISO is not
>>> worthwhile and would benefit a few people. Patches to have iso-scan in
>>> these ISOs' initrds were provided a couple of years ago and booting an
>>> ISO with GRUB is on the installer team's list of feature requests.
>>> Meanwhile, there is hd-media and a extra stanza in grub.cfg.
>> Well, and that's a good part of the story.
>> As I can see, the all needed functionality is already here. It just waiting
>> for some reason to be incorporated in distros.
> Shall we compare like and like? Not a Ubuntu (or other live image) with
> the Debian installer but a Ubuntu live image with a Debian live image.
> All six of the Debian live images can be copied to a single partition
> and a selected one booted with GRUB. No difference compared with Ubuntu.
>
> Any of the running live images can be installed to hard disk, Again no
> difference compared with Ubuntu.
>
> Where's the problem for a new or experienced user? What need is there
> for iso-scan to be incorporated into a netinst initrd?

I thought exactly in the same way.
Though I had to have installer images on my USB-drive with distroes, 
because I'd repeatedly failed to do installation from Debian live images 
(I don't remember details now; as a live images they started fine in all 
other respects). So I have two different images of one distro for live 
play/demonstration, and other one for installation. And here with the 
second one the quest started (you already know the rest).

Never had such issue with Ubuntu, because they have the same image as a 
live and as an installer, and everything needed already have been 
bundled in here by default.
 From my personal point of view my user experience with Ubuntu install 
was much more simpler.

If in recent years everything was changed in better way, well, OK then.

>>> Not a decent argument. Operations such as partitioning and formatting a
>>> USB stick and installing GRUB to its MBR all require root privilege.
>> Of course, but the point is: with which «case there are lesser chances» to
>> shoot in own leg:
>>
>> Case 1: do sudo work and pay proper attention 1 time and fit for all.
>>
>> Case 2: do it every time when you update your boot collection on the
>> USB-drive.
> The events are independent. Carrying out an operation more than once
> does not change the probability of carrying it out correctly. I can
> claim I have used 'ls -l' fifty times in a day without error. :)

Pff! I can easily do 'ls -l' 62 times! )

> (Incidentally, a simple udev .rules file avoids having to be root to
> deal with a USB stick, so the issue doesn't arise for me).
>
> [...Snip...]
>
>> 3-rd, I guess, typical Debian user is not a total Linux newbie, who's
>> problem are an ordinary partitioning process or grub install. I guess, them
>> more interested in such capabilities as to boot multiple OS/versions from
>> one partition or to run installers from virtually any commont USB-drive
>> (properly prepared in advance and easily reconfigurable in use). And
>> unexplained complication here — that is a problem.
>>
>> As living illustration to the last point we may look at our real situation:
>> desirable multiboot from single flash drive (see subj of the thread). One
>> solution suggests doing partitioning and all the hard stuff just once. Other
>> — every time when new image added or old one changed and the complexity of
>> the solution is growing with the changes. OK, I see that mapping .iso to
>> stick is useful in some common situations (when you, for example, wish to
>> present ready to use flash drive installer to someone else). But why the
>> redundant work should be forced upon a user in a slightly more sophisticated
>> situations? Can it lead to the situation when a skilled user (the target
>> audience of the Debian) just be reluctant or simply tired repartitioning
>> their USB-drive with every release and settle down with Linux distribs that
>> do not demand to much without a reason?
> Nothing is forced upon a user. Six Debian live images. One partition.
> Add new images when necessary. Install if you wish. Multiboot without
> tears. The OP probably has it up and running by now.

I hop so (about the OP). There is no news from him. I'm worrying (for 
him and for his hdd).

>   
>> Resume: I advocate that both alternatives should be presented in Debian
>> distros. That'll make me happier.
> They are! You should be overjoyed.
>
> If you have gained the impression that isco-scan in a netboot initrd
> would not be unwelcome to me but I won't lose any sleep over its
> omission, then you have interpreted my feelings correctly.
>

OK, I'm overjoyed then.


Best regards,
Dmitry Piyavkin

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#167420

On 5/2/2016 2:15 PM, Piyavkin wrote:
> On 02.05.2016 20:50, Brian wrote:
>[snip]
>>The OP probably has it up and running by now.
>
> I hop so (about the OP). There is no news from him. I'm worrying
> (for him and for his hdd).
>

Actually I haven't. Life has a tendency to intrude. Even as a 
retiree one cannot attend to a hobby 24/7<chuckle>.

Seriously though, the delay itself may prove useful. This 
discussion is giving me some insight into another project I've 
been working on.

I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but 
not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level. 
Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.

As to my hdd, I bought a used laptop explicitly for my Linux 
experiments ;)

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#167430

On Tuesday 03 May 2016 11:11:45 Richard Owlett wrote:
> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but
> not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level.
> Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.

Or by "experts" for (those they consider) Noddies.  Power to your elbow!!  I 
hope you will post or publish the result.

Lisi

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#167869

On 5/3/2016 8:37 AM, Lisi Reisz wrote:
> On Tuesday 03 May 2016 11:11:45 Richard Owlett wrote:
>> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but
>> not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level.
>> Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.
>
> Or by "experts" for (those they consider) Noddies.  Power to your elbow!!  I
> hope you will post or publish the result.
>
> Lisi
>
>

It may have been already done. Replying to my "Creating a home 
network" thread mett mentioned a page of 
http://www.aboutdebian.com/index.htm . From a brief browse it 
looks good.

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#167929

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

Le samedi 14 mai 2016, 06:59:27 Richard Owlett a écrit :
> On 5/3/2016 8:37 AM, Lisi Reisz wrote:
> > On Tuesday 03 May 2016 11:11:45 Richard Owlett wrote:
> >> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but
> >> not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level.
> >> Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.
> > 
> > Or by "experts" for (those they consider) Noddies.  Power to your elbow!! 
> > I hope you will post or publish the result.
> > 
> > Lisi
> 
> It may have been already done. Replying to my "Creating a home
> network" thread mett mentioned a page of
> http://www.aboutdebian.com/index.htm . From a brief browse it
> looks good.
Look at "info dd". I am not an expert but I read the installation instructions and found this use of 
dd. 
See https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/index.en.html#write-usb
I should say that this should work:
"dd if=file1.iso of=/dev/sdx" 
where the x of sdx is *carefully chosen *to point to your USB stick;
"dd oflag=append if=file2.iso of=/dev/sdx" with the same x.
What I don't know is how to choose which iso file to boot from.
	Sorry for my English.
		Jacques 

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#167433

On 03.05.2016 13:11, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 5/2/2016 2:15 PM, Piyavkin wrote:
>> On 02.05.2016 20:50, Brian wrote:
>> [snip]
>>> The OP probably has it up and running by now.
>>
>> I hop so (about the OP). There is no news from him. I'm worrying
>> (for him and for his hdd).
>>
>
> Actually I haven't. Life has a tendency to intrude. Even as a retiree 
> one cannot attend to a hobby 24/7<chuckle>.
>
> Seriously though, the delay itself may prove useful. This discussion 
> is giving me some insight into another project I've been working on.
>
> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but not the 
> picture book style that seems prevalent at that level. Much Linux 
> documentation is written by experts for experts.
>
> As to my hdd, I bought a used laptop explicitly for my Linux 
> experiments ;)
>
>

I'm just kidding about hdd, sorry. ) If you pay proper attention to the 
process it is hardly that there'll be any problem.

Glad to hear that the discussion was in some way useful for you. May you 
share with us your resulted document?


Best regards,
Dmitry Piyavkin

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#167436

On 5/3/2016 8:41 AM, Piyavkin wrote:
> On 03.05.2016 13:11, Richard Owlett wrote:
>> On 5/2/2016 2:15 PM, Piyavkin wrote:
>>> On 02.05.2016 20:50, Brian wrote:
>>> [snip]
>>>> The OP probably has it up and running by now.
>>>
>>> I hop so (about the OP). There is no news from him. I'm worrying
>>> (for him and for his hdd).
>>>
>>
>> Actually I haven't. Life has a tendency to intrude. Even as a
>> retiree one cannot attend to a hobby 24/7<chuckle>.
>>
>> Seriously though, the delay itself may prove useful. This
>> discussion is giving me some insight into another project I've
>> been working on.
>>
>> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but
>> not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level.
>> Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.
>>
>> As to my hdd, I bought a used laptop explicitly for my Linux
>> experiments ;)
>>
>>
>
> I'm just kidding about hdd, sorry. )

<snicker> You have to know some my history. Sometime back I was 
chided for doing multiple installs per day when I was working out 
what I did/didn't want in an installation.

>  If you pay proper attention
> to the process it is hardly that there'll be any problem.
>
> Glad to hear that the discussion was in some way useful for you.
> May you share with us your resulted document?
>

That's my intention. But knowing my typical pace of completing 
projects it may be a while ;/

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#167440

On 03.05.2016 18:37, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 5/3/2016 8:41 AM, Piyavkin wrote:
>> On 03.05.2016 13:11, Richard Owlett wrote:
>>> On 5/2/2016 2:15 PM, Piyavkin wrote:
>>>> On 02.05.2016 20:50, Brian wrote:
>>>> [snip]
>>>>> The OP probably has it up and running by now.
>>>>
>>>> I hop so (about the OP). There is no news from him. I'm worrying
>>>> (for him and for his hdd).
>>>>
>>>
>>> Actually I haven't. Life has a tendency to intrude. Even as a
>>> retiree one cannot attend to a hobby 24/7<chuckle>.
>>>
>>> Seriously though, the delay itself may prove useful. This
>>> discussion is giving me some insight into another project I've
>>> been working on.
>>>
>>> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but
>>> not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level.
>>> Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.
>>>
>>> As to my hdd, I bought a used laptop explicitly for my Linux
>>> experiments ;)
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I'm just kidding about hdd, sorry. )
>
> <snicker> You have to know some my history. Sometime back I was chided 
> for doing multiple installs per day when I was working out what I 
> did/didn't want in an installation.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about. )
Multiboot USB-drive (flash) with .iso is a perfect tool for the case.

>
>>  If you pay proper attention
>> to the process it is hardly that there'll be any problem.
>>
>> Glad to hear that the discussion was in some way useful for you.
>> May you share with us your resulted document?
>>
>
> That's my intention. But knowing my typical pace of completing 
> projects it may be a while ;/
>
>

OK. I'm not really fast too. So I'm fine with it. Thanks in advance.


Best regards,
Dmitry Piyavkin

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#167469

On 5/3/2016 5:11 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> On 5/2/2016 2:15 PM, Piyavkin wrote:
>> On 02.05.2016 20:50, Brian wrote:
>> [snip]
>>> The OP probably has it up and running by now.
>>
>> I hop so (about the OP). There is no news from him. I'm worrying
>> (for him and for his hdd).
>>
>
> Actually I haven't. Life has a tendency to intrude. Even as a
> retiree one cannot attend to a hobby 24/7<chuckle>.
>
> Seriously though, the delay itself may prove useful. This
> discussion is giving me some insight into another project I've
> been working on.

I've just re-read the complete thread.
I found some links that were mentioned when persuing a similar 
question.

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html#Multi_002dboot-manual-config

This may be still be relavant although it refers to GRUB 1.98
http://members.iinet.net/~herman546/p20/GRUB2%20Bash%20Commands.html









>
> I hope the result will be a document aimed at the beginner but
> not the picture book style that seems prevalent at that level.
> Much Linux documentation is written by experts for experts.
>
> As to my hdd, I bought a used laptop explicitly for my Linux
> experiments ;)
>
>
>
>
>

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#167495

On 5/4/2016 10:38 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> [snip]
>
> I've just re-read the complete thread.
> I found some links that were mentioned when pursuing a similar
> question.
>
> http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub.html#Multi_002dboot-manual-config
>
>
> This may be still be relevant although it refers to GRUB 1.98
> http://members.iinet.net/~herman546/p20/GRUB2%20Bash%20Commands.html
>

There is a thread on debian-cd titled "Debian images and USB 
sticks" 
[https://lists.debian.org/debian-cd/2016/05/msg00001.html] that 
has interesting info and links.

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#167210

On 4/28/2016 11:31 AM, Curt wrote:
> On 2016-04-28, Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> wrote:
>>
>> I've some untried VAGUE ideas on how to accomplish.
>
> Maybe this would work if I'm understanding you correctly:
>
> http://www.pendrivelinux.com/boot-multiple-iso-from-usb-via-grub2-using-linux/#more-5352
>

I dimly recall encountering pendrivelinux when only wanting a 
single iso on a flash drive. IIRC there was a problem using 
Ubuntu oriented instructions when using a Debian iso.

However searching pendrivelinux.com for Debian specific items 
give several hits. More reading :)

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#167215

On Fri 29 Apr 2016 at 10:38:13 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:

> On 4/28/2016 11:31 AM, Curt wrote:
> >On 2016-04-28, Richard Owlett <rowlett@cloud85.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>I've some untried VAGUE ideas on how to accomplish.
> >
> >Maybe this would work if I'm understanding you correctly:
> >
> >http://www.pendrivelinux.com/boot-multiple-iso-from-usb-via-grub2-using-linux/#more-5352
> >
> 
> I dimly recall encountering pendrivelinux when only wanting a single iso on
> a flash drive. IIRC there was a problem using Ubuntu oriented instructions
> when using a Debian iso.

Not surprising considering Ubuntu and Debian live images are developed
by different teams and constructed from different software (casper vs
live).

> However searching pendrivelinux.com for Debian specific items give several
> hits. More reading :)

After reading Piyavkin's post, we hope. Its final section is not the
only way to proceed but it works well for what you want. Put all the
ISOs on the stick and construct GRUB stanzas for all of them. An hour's
work at most.

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#167180

On Thu 28 Apr 2016 at 10:18:18 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote:

> I have some specific use cases in mind.
> Case 1.
> Demo a variety of Debian DE's to friend having to carry only a single flash
> drive around rather than a stack of CDs. If they like one I would be able to
> an install then.

Would you like to narrow down the list of images you would like to boot?

For example: is

  http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/i386/iso-hybrid/

what you have in mind?

> Two questions:
> Has this been done before?

Definitely.

> Any comments?

Please see above.

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#167243 — Extra links found on Ubuntu maullist

http://tuxboot.org/
http://tuxboot.org/

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#167244 — Re: Extra links found on Ubuntu maullist

On 4/30/2016 11:18 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> http://tuxboot.org/
> http://tuxboot.org/
>

Oops, meant to send somewhere else ;/

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