Using Grub2 to boot URremix from an ISO file on a pendrive. (or hard drive) Not working (yet!)
I have made my own 'ultra' pendrive that i can boot Ubuntu 9.10, Kubuntu 9.10 and netbook remix 9.10 from, a pendrive with just using the iso files and grub2
configuration. However the same 'setup' i can not get the Ubuntu Rescue Remix iso to boot properly.
List of links i used to learn how to do this --> http://delicious.com/dr_willis/grub2
In short. You install grub2 to the pendrive (the filesystem can be fat32, or ext2/3/4) then copy the iso files over to a know location.
(i use /boot/iso in this case) Then create a proper grub.cfg file. The hardest part is getting the proper grub.cfg file going.
Here is my working for ubuntu iso files., but not rescue remix grub.cfg
-------------------------------------------------------------------
insmod fat
insmod loopback
menuentry "Ubuntu Live - /boot/iso/ubuntu.iso" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntu.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Kubuntu Live - /boot/iso/kubuntu.iso" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/kubuntu.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/kubuntu.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu Netbook Live - /boot/iso/netbook.iso" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/netbook.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/netbook.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu Alt - /boot/iso/ubuntu-alt.iso Dont work?" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntu-alt.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu-alt.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu rescue remix - /boot/iso/ubuntur.iso (Not working Properly)" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/netbook.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntur.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.gz
}
# NOTE the initrd.gz is NOT the same as the initrd.lz the other iso files use.
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Here just to be Complete is the /etc/grub.d/40_custom file to add similer entries to the above to a system installed to hard drive.
You will need to change your root=(hd#,#)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
menuentry "tinycore - tinycore.iso" {
set root=(hd2,1)
loopback loop /tinycore.iso
linux (loop)/boot/bzImage --
initrd (loop)/boot/tinycore.gz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu Live - ubuntu.iso" {
set root=(hd2,1)
loopback loop /ubuntu.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/ubuntu.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu Rescue - ubunturescue.iso" {
set root=(hd2,1)
loopback loop /ubunturescue.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/ubunturescue.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.gz
}
-----------------------------------------------------------
A large # of people in the IRC chat rooms are interested in this feature - So i will keep trouble shooting and hammering away till i figure it out.
but the Ubuntu Rescue release for some reason is having some issues. Its not booting competely and dropping out of the boot sequence.

Oh yea. the basic error when
Oh yea. the basic error when booting this is several 100 lines saying
Cant open /dev/sr0
then
(initramfs) unable to find a medium containing a live file system.
(initramfs)
Hmm. The rescue remix uses
Hmm. The rescue remix uses the same kernel and intrd as does the live cd. It's funny that Ubuntu 9.10 boots while the Remix doesn't.
Maybe it's because of the presence of mdadm? The mdadm package adds a script to the initrd to look for and assemble arrays at boot time...
EDIT. I just noticed that I renamed the initrd with a gz extension instead of lz. That may be the problem. Stay tuned...
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ub
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/casper/+bug/406192
This explains the "cannot open /dev/sr0" phenomenon.
Are you pointing your
Are you pointing your loopback to the wrong iso? See comment in quoted part of your first post:
Quote:
menuentry "Ubuntu rescue remix - /boot/iso/ubuntur.iso (Not working Properly)" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/netbook.iso <<--- Is this wrong? Should it be /boot/iso/ubuntur.iso?
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntur.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.gz
}
# NOTE the initrd.gz is NOT the same as the initrd.lz the other iso files use.
End Quote.
So, should the stanza look like this?:
menuentry "Ubuntu rescue remix - /boot/iso/ubuntur.iso (Not working Properly)" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntur.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntur.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.gz
}
that was a typo on my part.
that was a typo on my part. :) i got the right iso file on the actual entries. I got so many testing entries i cant keep them straight.
I even changed the name from 'ubuntur.iso' to ur.iso so its easier for me to spell/check now. Still trying to figure this out.
Stay tuned for Further Developments.
I have reproduced your
I have reproduced your problem.
I can use GRUB2 to boot the official Ubuntu iso but not the Remix from a USB stick..
It seems to throw the same errors on boot, but Casper is able to find the filesystem on the official ISO image where the remix cannot. I excluded the /.disk/casper-uuid-generic file since I didn't know it's purpose and it works fine without it, but I am rebuilding the iso with it and will see if that's what it's looking for. If that doesn't work, I will look for other possibilities.
What I did.
Installed grub-pc
determined that my particular usb drive is /dev/sdc and /dev/sdc1. Sdc1 is mounted in /media/disk
grub-install --no-floppy --root-directory=/media/disk /dev/sdc
Then, edited /media/disk/boot/grub/grub.cfg and added
menuentry "Ubuntu-Rescue-Remix 9.10" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/ubuntu-rescue-remix-9-10.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu-rescue-remix-9-10.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Ubuntu 9.10" {
loopback loop /boot/iso/brasero.iso
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/brasero.iso --
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
I copied the isos to the drive, too.
Note, I am working with a rebuilt iso that uses initrd.ls instead of gz.
No change. I notice that I
No change.
I notice that I didn't include lupin-casper:
Description: Add support for loop-mount installations to casper
I am adding that package to the iso image and will test that....
That worked! I will build it
That worked!
I will build it properly and upload a revision soon.
For now, the quick-and-dirty iso is here:
http://ubuntu-rescue-remix.org/files/URR/iso/ubuntu-rescue-remix-9-10-r2.iso
Glad i could help track down
Glad i could help track down a problem. :) Ive been posting similer suggestions/messages to other disrtos forums so Hopefully in a month or so Every disrto out can support this cool feature..
Too bad people cant agree on the proper kernel option to tell it where the iso file is. the 2 disrtos ive gotten it working with so far use diffrent named options. And Ubuntus option is a little.. odd.
iso-scan/filename=/boot/iso/ubuntu-rescue-remix-9-10.iso
Just seems a tad overkill. a / In the option name. :)
Well off to test this out.
I updated the release to use
I updated the release to use today's revision.
http://ubuntu-rescue-remix.org/node/195