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Multiboot USB with syslinux: relative paths? (without memdisk)

syslinux multiboot live-usb

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#1 pr.nizar

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Posted 18 April 2013 - 06:06 PM

Hi guys!

Hope you're all doing fine.. Sorry to bother you!
So I'll get straight to the point..
I'm willing to make a multiboot usb with ubuntu, backtrack and mantra-os on it (all ubuntu as you can see)
Those are the steps I've done:
sudo su
unmount /dev/sdb1 # unmount the drive
mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n disqus /dev/sdb1 # Format the disk with vfat
syslinux -maf /dev/sdb1 # Install syslinux and the mbr
mkdir /media/disqus # Mount for the disk
mount /dev/sdb1 /media/disqus
mkdir /media/disqus/syslinux # Syslinux configuration folder
cp /usr/lib/syslinux/{vesamenu.c32,reboot.c32,poweroff.com} /media/disqus/syslinux
mkdir /media/disqus/syslinux/iso # A folder that will contain extracted isos
mkdir /media/disqus/syslinux/iso/ubuntu
mkdir /media/disqus/syslinux/iso/backtrack
mkdir /media/disqus/syslinux/iso/mantra-os

After that I mounted and copied files in the respective isos to folders I've made:

mkdir /media/iso
mount mount -t iso9660 -o loop,ro /home/nizar/Destkop/ubuntu.iso /media/iso
cp -r /media/iso/* /media/disqus/syslinux/iso/ubuntu
umount /media/iso/
mount -t iso9660 -o loop,ro /home/nizar/Destkop/backtrack.iso /media/iso
cp -r /media/iso/* /media/disqus/syslinux/iso/backtrack
umount /media/iso/
mount -t iso9660 -o loop,ro /home/nizar/Destkop/mantra-os.iso /media/iso
cp -r /media/iso/* /media/disqus/syslinux/iso/mantra-os
umount /media/iso/
rmdir /media/iso/

After that I filled on the configuration file syslinux.cfg in /media/diqus/syslinux with that:

DEFAULT Backtrack
PROMPT 0
allowoptions 0
TIMEOUT 100
UI vesamenu.c32
MENU TITLE Disqus: The Ultimate Disk
MENU BACKGROUND anon1.png
MENU COLOR border 30;44 #40ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR title 1;36;44 #9033ccff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR sel 7;37;40 #e0ffffff #20ffffff all
MENU COLOR unsel 37;44 #50ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR help 37;40 #c0ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout_msg 37;40 #80ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout 1;37;40 #c0ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR msg07 37;40 #90ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR tabmsg 31;40 #30ffffff #00000000 std
MENU WIDTH 80
MENU MARGIN 10
MENU ROWS 5
MENU VSHIFT 10
MENU TIMEOUTROW 13
MENU TABMSGROW 18
MENU CMDLINEROW 11
MENU HELPMSGROW 16
MENU HELPMSGENDROW 29

LABEL Backtrack
MENU LABEL Backtrack
kernel iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz file=/cdrom/preseed/custom.seed boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Ubuntu
MENU LABEL Ubuntu
kernel iso/ubuntu/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=iso/ubuntu/casper/initrd.lz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Mantra-OS
MENU LABEL Mantra-OS
kernel /mantra-os/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/mantra-os/casper/initrd.lz file=/cdrom/preseed/xubuntu.seed boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Reboot
MENU LABEL Reboot
COM32 reboot.c32
LABEL Power Off
MENU LABEL Power Off
COMBOOT poweroff.com

(anon1.png: 640x480 8bit png in /media/disqus/syslinux/)

 
Now everything is going alright and I'm able to boot, i have the syslinux menu and even load vmlinuz and initr! The os is actually loading (I have the splash screen) but then I have the error (something about busybox):
(initramfs) unable to find a medium containing a live file system

I'm not quite sure what's the problem but I think it's about relative paths and the CDROM "thing".. I've tested many of them (even relative and absolute) but nothing works..

 
Any help will be appreciated!
 
I had another question too: can we load an iso without memdisk?
 
Many thanks!
 
P.S: please the answer must not be about MultiBootUSB, MultiSystem, Yummi or any other tool; it must not be also about grub or grub2 or any other bootloader: I'M WILLING TO MAKE THAT WORK! ^_^
 
P.P.S: Sorry for my poor english it's only my third spoken language.. :-P


#2 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 08:28 AM

Which command (cheat code) is telling the booting system that the relative files are in:
/syslinux/iso/ubuntu
/syslinux/iso/backtrack
/syslinux/iso/mantra-os

:dubbio:

 

The .seed is pointed to a path that resolves to what?  file=/cdrom/preseed/<whatever>.seed :unsure:

BTW, at least one of your entries' path is also wrong (and cannot load the kernel or the initrd):

 

  1. kernel iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
  2. kernel iso/ubuntu/casper/vmlinuz
  3. kernel /mantra-os/casper/vmlinuz

 

  1. append initrd=iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz
  2. append initrd=iso/ubuntu/casper/initrd.lz
  3. append initrd=/mantra-os/casper/initrd.lz

:cheers:

Wonko



#3 coder

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 09:40 AM

casper canot find a live system on default locations (cdrom) then you have to tell where 
it is really located.
Why don't you try

 

kernel  /path1/path2/vmlinuz

append  initrd=/path1/path2/initrd.lz  boot=casper  live-media-path=/path1/path2/  ignore_uuid




#4 pr.nizar

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 03:23 PM

Sorry for the mantra-os you're right it's /syslinux/iso/mantra-os/.. 

:suda: I've tried for instance:

LABEL Backtrack
MENU LABEL Backtrack
kernel /syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz file=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/preseed/custom.seed boot=casper quiet splash --

 

with no luck!  :dubbio:
what would be the live-media-path in my case?


Edited by pr.nizar, 19 April 2013 - 03:35 PM.


#5 coder

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 03:35 PM

i.e.

 

kernel  /iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz

append  initrd=/iso/backtrack/casper/initrd.lz  boot=casper  live-media-path=/iso/backtrack  ignore_uuid

 

 

I do not remember if live-media-path path needs to end with a forward-slash or not (give it a try)



#6 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 03:57 PM

Verify that the version of Backtrack you are using supports that cheatcode, in any case the live-media-path has NO trailing slash AND points to the casper directory, like:

live-media-path=/iso/ubuntu/casper

see:

http://blog.mycila.c...tu-usb-key.html

 

:cheers:
Wonko



#7 pr.nizar

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 05:09 PM

I've tried those two with the same error message for all tested distros:
 

LABEL Backtrack
MENU LABEL Backtrack
kernel /syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/backtrack file=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/preseed/custom.seed ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Ubuntu
MENU LABEL Ubuntu
kernel /syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu file=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/preseed/ubuntu.seed ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Mantra-OS
MENU LABEL Mantra-OS
kernel /syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os file=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/preseed/xubuntu.seed ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

 

and

LABEL Backtrack
MENU LABEL Backtrack
kernel /syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/backtrack ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Ubuntu
MENU LABEL Ubuntu
kernel /syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Mantra-OS
MENU LABEL Mantra-OS
kernel /syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

 

Any suggestions?  :dubbio:



#8 pr.nizar

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 05:16 PM

Oh I see the error!!!!  :suda:  live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper!!!

 

Thank you very much coder and Wonko you guys rock!  :good: IT WORKED!!!  :clap: :yahoo: :crazyrocker:

I'm gonna actually use that piece of code to make a Zenity nice easy script including other distros than those ones too..  :afro:
This is the working syslinux.cfg file:
 

DEFAULT Backtrack
PROMPT 0
allowoptions 0
TIMEOUT 100
UI vesamenu.c32
MENU TITLE Disqus: The Ultimate Disk
MENU BACKGROUND anon1.png
MENU COLOR border 30;44 #40ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR title 1;36;44 #9033ccff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR sel 7;37;40 #e0ffffff #20ffffff all
MENU COLOR unsel 37;44 #50ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR help 37;40 #c0ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout_msg 37;40 #80ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout 1;37;40 #c0ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR msg07 37;40 #90ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR tabmsg 31;40 #30ffffff #00000000 std
MENU WIDTH 80
MENU MARGIN 10
MENU ROWS 5
MENU VSHIFT 10
MENU TIMEOUTROW 13
MENU TABMSGROW 18
MENU CMDLINEROW 11
MENU HELPMSGROW 16
MENU HELPMSGENDROW 29

LABEL Backtrack
MENU LABEL Backtrack
kernel /syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper file=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/preseed/custom.seed ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Ubuntu
MENU LABEL Ubuntu
kernel /syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper file=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/preseed/ubuntu.seed ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Mantra-OS
MENU LABEL Mantra-OS
kernel /syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper file=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/preseed/xubuntu.seed ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Reboot
MENU LABEL Reboot
COM32 reboot.c32
LABEL Power Off
MENU LABEL Power Off
COMBOOT poweroff.com

 

Cheers!  :beer:



#9 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 06:14 PM

You shouldn't need :unsure: the:

 

 

file=/syslinux/iso/<whatever>/preseed/<whatever>.seed

 

cheat code if you use the:

 

 

live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/<whatever>/casper ignore_uuid

 

one.

 

:cheers:

Wonko



#10 pr.nizar

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Posted 19 April 2013 - 08:25 PM

Alright then:

DEFAULT Backtrack
PROMPT 0
allowoptions 0
TIMEOUT 100
UI vesamenu.c32
MENU TITLE Disqus: The Ultimate Disk
MENU BACKGROUND anon1.png
MENU COLOR border 30;44 #40ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR title 1;36;44 #9033ccff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR sel 7;37;40 #e0ffffff #20ffffff all
MENU COLOR unsel 37;44 #50ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR help 37;40 #c0ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout_msg 37;40 #80ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR timeout 1;37;40 #c0ffffff #00000000 std
MENU COLOR msg07 37;40 #90ffffff #a0000000 std
MENU COLOR tabmsg 31;40 #30ffffff #00000000 std
MENU WIDTH 80
MENU MARGIN 10
MENU ROWS 5
MENU VSHIFT 10
MENU TIMEOUTROW 13
MENU TABMSGROW 18
MENU CMDLINEROW 11
MENU HELPMSGROW 16
MENU HELPMSGENDROW 29

LABEL Backtrack
MENU LABEL Backtrack
kernel /syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper/initrdf.gz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/backtrack/casper ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Ubuntu
MENU LABEL Ubuntu
kernel /syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/ubuntu/casper ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Mantra-OS
MENU LABEL Mantra-OS
kernel /syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/vmlinuz
append initrd=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper/initrd.lz live-media-path=/syslinux/iso/mantra-os/casper ignore_uuid boot=casper quiet splash --

LABEL Reboot
MENU LABEL Reboot
COM32 reboot.c32
LABEL Power Off
MENU LABEL Power Off
COMBOOT poweroff.com

 

Many thanks!  :1st:







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