My first trials were with archCD on a fat32 partition, and did not find a solution.
]]> mkdir /mnt/archCD
mount /dev/hda12 /mnt/archCD
mount -t iso9660 /dev/discs/disc0/part12 /src
and all is OK ! (except that I have troubles with some packages which stop installation process, but this is an other story)
Thanks to Vacant !
]]>1. I can boot archi from DOS without problem: loadlin.exe vmlinuz initrd=initrd.img fromhd=hda6 load_ramdisk=1
with /arch extracted from iso, put on hda6 (FAT32)
nb: I don't know how to use BOOTMEDIA option to replace cd by hda6
2. I can then launch installation menu with /arch/setup but I am stuck to find the packages to install;
What I still don't know with archi, is how inform the installation process where the packages the process will look for are placed (for me: hda6);
Do I have to pass this info with an option during boot process ? or do I have to mount hda6 partition at linux prompt ?
(I tried to mount hda6 without success may be because /etc/fstab is quite empty at this stage / I am not a specialist);
Can somebody explain how to mount hda6 at this stage, and what would be the next step ?
For your info, I just tried Beatrix distro, and within 2 mn (!) it works !
• What is so specific in archi which prevents the installation process to look for the package files on a HD partition instead of a CD of FTP ???
I don't know, but somebody should know.....
I just have had a look; seems interesting and very close to what I am looking for;
But.... you need a linux system already installed!I would appreciate to find something to be launched with loadlin under dos.
!
Yes, I felt the same as you, why burn a CD? I wrote the Wiki page and was hoping someone would add a bit for grub. If you get it working, please modify for loadlin!
I looked at the "/isolinux/isolinux.cfg" and adapted the boot parameters there to work with lilo.
]]>I would appreciate to find something to be launched with loadlin under dos.
It works pretty well for all distros I test (I just copy the kernel and the init + some options and that's generally so simple !)
I am pretty sure either a solution already exists (need to find the right guy), or will exist with very minimum effort....
Thanks anyway !
]]> 1. an iso file can be seen exactly like a cdrom with following code: mount -t iso iso9660 /../archi.iso /mnt/iso -o loop
2. or the files embedded in the iso can be fully extracted on the HD
3. there is a BOOTIMAGE=cd option (have a look to isolinux.cfg file), which we can suppose could be replaced by hd ? or hda ? or hdax ? instead of cd !! [not yet feedback on this point]
Then, why burning CDs just to try archilinux ? What does it bring ? Why setup files are only fetched only on a CD or FTP according to installation process, and not simply locally on the HD !!
This was the question !!
[... and when you don't have anymore CDs available of free CDrs, you are stuck, and cannot test archilinux !]
]]>If you don't easily find the answer, don't spend time on it especially if you don't find any interest to this installation method;
I will then try archilinux the day I will buy CD or CDrs (don't have any more CDs....).
Have a nice day.
]]>what I did not catch is that /arch/setup and setup in arch dir are not equivalent !!?? (very strange to me).
Only /arch/setup works !
Of course, I will install on a different partition (not hda6 where iso files are)
Thanks for the CDR proposal, but will not solve my problem because I would spend my time burning/erasing/burning again etc....
Furthermore, I am not 100% sure of the reliability of a bootsector on a CDR.
Will now continue installation process.
Thanks again !
if you really want I can mail you a blank CDR - they're like $0.10 or something.... hell I'll even burn you a copy of arch...
]]>
yes i understand all those discs add up, i got a pile myself
then i started using cdrw's if i dont like it i erase
as for>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
» to load from floppy disk: loaddisk /dev/floppy/0
» to load from CD : loaddisk /dev/CDROMS/CDROM0
» When you are ready, run /arch/setup to install Archi Linux.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
when you get to this part type
"/arch/setup" hit enter
that will bring you to installer
i believe thats the answer your looking for
now if im understanding correctly the way your installing
i dont think you will be able to install arch on the partition your installing from .... at least i wouldnt try it
• How to inform the installation process before executing the /arch/setup command, that the files are not on a CD, not on floppies, not FTP site, but simply locally on a partition of the hard drive !!
On hda6 FAT32 partition, I have archi.iso, and also extracted directories/files.
I tried to mount hda6 partition, but it seems that HD partitions are not yet accessible at this stage before setup.
Would a trick like this work [assuming that hda6 can be mounted] ?
1. creation of /mnt/hda6 and /mnt/iso
2. hda6 mounted
3. mount -t iso9660 /mnt/hda6/archi.iso /mnt/iso -o loop
Well, I can admit that my problem is may be a bit exotic, but prevents me having a look to Archilinux (I now stop burning distro CDs for a while....)
Solution should be easy.....
» to load from floppy disk: loaddisk /dev/floppy/0
» to load from CD : loaddisk /dev/CDROMS/CDROM0
» When you are ready, run /arch/setup to install Archi Linux.
At prompt, "ls" shows that /arch/setup exists, but setup command has no effect.
• What should I answer to loaddisk request ?
• How to launch installation process at this point ?
This can actually be very easily done with Knoppix, DSL, Feather distros....;
I'm bored to burn/waste CDs for each release just to have a look, and would find very convenient to find a similar process with Archi.
I then just wonder if the BOOTMEDIA option found in isolinux/isolinux.cfg file could be used as an option like:
loadlin.exe vmlinuz initrd=initrd.img fromhd=hda6 load_ramdisk=1 BOOTMEDIA=hd (or hda or hda6 ??)
My primary partition is DOS/WIN, which explains why I use loadlin as a starting point.
Of course, as soon as linux is properly installed, lilo or grub can be used.
All tricks in order to avoid CD burning is welcome !
Hope it helps to clarify.