email address openmamba bootusb-test

What is this?

Lets you boot the openmamba testcd ISO image from a USB Flash storage device thus allowing live use and installation on computer that don't have a CD/DVD-ROM reader. It can be used also if you don't want to use a CD/DVD-ROM media and if you want a faster system startup and installation.

Installation instructions:

1) USB storage device partitioning

  • insert the storage and identify its device name (e.g. /dev/sda)
  • make sure that no partitions are mounted for the device
  • run fdisk or cfdisk and create a partition that is at least 1GB large
  • mark the partition as "bootable"
  • identify the device corresponding to the partition (e.g. /dev/sda1)

2) Formatting the device 

mkfs.ext2 -b 2048 <partition device>
The filesystem (ext2) and the given option are recommended to fit the system on a 1 GB device.

3) Installing the cpio image 

mount <partition device> <mount point>
cd <mount point>
gunzip -c < openmamba-botusb-en-i586.cpio.gz | cpio -i

4) Installing extlinux bootloader

You need the syslinux package installed on your computer, then use the following command from the <mount point> directory: 

extlinux --install boot

5) Installing master boot record (MBR)

You need the mbr package installed on your computer, then use the following command: 

install-mbr <disk device>

6) Copying the ISO image file

Copy the ISO image file of an openmamba media (livecd, livestudio, installdvd...) in the devire root directory: 

cp <file ISO> <mount point>
Unmount the storage and that's all about installation.

7) Running the system

Reboot your computer with the USB storage inserted in.

Your computer maybe configured or not for booting from a USB Hard Drive/Storage device; check your bios configuration and wheter it supports booting from USB (many bioses are buggy!).

Download

Stable release:

Pre-release:

Weekly snapshot:

Build info