Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

Krzysiek_W · 2005-12-16 19:22:37

Hi,
anyone tried this?
I had Arch Linux installed on hdd in my desktop, now I've connected this hdd to laptop via USB and I want to start system from it. I need to reinstall lilo, because I get kernel panic after booting from USB.
I don't know how to do this, I boot laptop from Archie Live CD and:

mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/m
chroot /mnt/m

editing /etc/lilo.conf

lilo

and I get error: Failed stat("/dev/dsa2")

Anyone know how to install lilo on hdd connected via USB?
thanks for any help

phrakture · 2005-12-16 19:26:34

You need to remount or bind /dev and /proc (and maybe /sys) before you chroot, otherwise nothing will work.

Krzysiek_W · 2005-12-16 19:38:42

before chroot I tried:

mount -t devfs none /mnt/m/dev

but I got:
devfs not supported or something like that (I don't remember exactly - I don;t have temp. internet at home, I'm writing now from work)

phrakture · 2005-12-16 19:43:56

That's because dvfs was removed from the kernel... you'll have to run udev on /mnt/m/dev before chrooting, I think (haven't looked through the docs, but it should be possible)

Krzysiek_W · 2005-12-16 19:57:50

running udev is mount -t udevfs none /mnt/m/dev or something?
or just run udev with some parameters?
(sorry I cant try now, I don't have my comp. here)

kth5 · 2005-12-16 20:08:23

Krzysiek_W wrote:

running udev is mount -t udevfs none /mnt/m/dev or something?
or just run udev with some parameters?
(sorry I cant try now, I don't have my comp. here)

no, wrong. much easier than that is:

mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc

if you run testing you should also:

cp /etc/mtab /mnt/etc

and edit it accordingly.

Krzysiek_W · 2005-12-16 20:11:43

thanks, I'll try today after work

rayjgu3 · 2005-12-16 22:03:46

yes i have successfully installed arch onto a usb drive got it to boot up
but cant seem to get another machine to boot it just where it was installed on
as far as chrooting into the system the only constant hangup i get is /dev/null
i should also mention you will need to run kernel-2.6.14.3-2 with mkinitrd from testing so you get the modules loaded to boot off usb
you can build it into kernel but i have not had success with that
the /dev/null problem comes into play when running mkinitrd so my work around was to copy the one i have on my scsi drive so as to have the /dev/sdaX as root
you may be able to work around this if you boot arch off your laptop change fstab so that sdaX is your root with a usb drive plugged in & mounted & have arch installed on both your laptop & usb then with the proper fstab & /etc/mkinitrd.conf run mkinitrd

i hope this clears things up a bit for you its taken me a bit to get where i got so far but im not giving up yet i wanna be able to have arch on the go
if your unsuccessful on you initrd26.conf endevour pm me

Krzysiek_W · 2005-12-22 01:54:57

hmmm,
I boot linux from live cd, then

mkdir /m
mount /dev/sda2 /m
mount --bind /dev /m/dev
mount --bind /proc /m/proc
cp /etc/mtab /m/etc/
chroot /m

edit lilo to this:

boot=/dev/sda
#i was tring also /dev/sda2 - the same result
#/dev/sda2 is set as boot partition


disk = /dev/sda   #without this I get
   bios = 0x80     #warrning that disk /dev/sda is not first disk

timeout=100

lba32
image=/boot/vmlinuz26
        label=arch
         root=/dev/sda2
         read-only

then

lilo
*arch

reboot

and system boots from old lilo, installed when disk was connected via IDE not USB, and it loads old kernel, and it gets kernel panic, something with "root="

where new lilo is installed?

crinimal · 2006-01-14 01:21:28

i know it's an old thread, but perhaps it'll help someone else later...

i first tried installing from cd, with some problems, using an arch 0.7 cd.
then i tried it with a newer one (arch 0.7.1) which did'nt recognize the external harddisk and my network device...

so i tried a ftp install from 0.7 cd - without problems.

then after trying to boot i got also this kernel panic, because the usb drive wasn't accessible like this.
with following steps i got it running:

boot from live cd (e.g. archie)

create a folder in /mnt/
mount usb drives partition with the installation there
chroot to mounted folder
edit /etc/mkinitrd.conf
configure it (usb,scsi,ide), there are useful comments in the file...
save it and run mkinitrd -auto
then edit and save /etc/lilo.conf as described in the wiki: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Initrd

installing lilo from the chrooted system doesn't work. so do this:

type exit (to leave chroot)
cd /
mv /etc/ /etcold/
mv /boot/ /bootold/
ln -s /mnt/yourmountfolder/boot
ln -s /mnt/yourmountfolder/etc
lilo

(if there's an other, easyer way to install lilo, let me know)

and then reboot...

Arch Linux

#1 2005-12-16 19:22:37

Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#2 2005-12-16 19:26:34

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#3 2005-12-16 19:38:42

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#4 2005-12-16 19:43:56

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#5 2005-12-16 19:57:50

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#6 2005-12-16 20:08:23

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#7 2005-12-16 20:11:43

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#8 2005-12-16 22:03:46

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#9 2005-12-22 01:54:57

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

#10 2006-01-14 01:21:28

Re: Install Arch on hard disk connected via USB

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