Re: d-i support for USB target media

[Geoff Soutter <gst@soutter.org>]

Geert Stappers wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 06, 2004 at 08:26:58PM +0000, Geoff Soutter wrote:
>
> > Hi ppl,
> >
> > I recently installed Sarge to a USB hard disk and had to jump through a 
> > few hoops to do it ... here's the install report.
> >
> > http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot/2004/11/msg01601.html
> >
> > Basically, d-i doesn't currently support installing to bootable USB 
> > devices, the appropriate USB modules are not automagically added to the 
> > target system's initrd so the disk is never found and the boot fails.
> >
> > I was wondering, is installing to a USB device something that the debian 
> > installer is supposed to do? Or have the USB modules been deliberately 
> > excluded for some reason?
> >
> > I looked on the Wiki and web site but this problem doesn't seem to be 
> > mentioned, so I'm not sure if it these USB modules are deliberately 
> > disabled or if it is a simple oversight.
> >
> > If it is something that d-i should support, and it's just a simple 
> > oversight, I would consider thinking about creating a patch for it (not 
> > that I have any idea about d-i particularly, but I can learn... ;-)
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Geoff
>
>
> Hello Geoff,
>
> <warning for="compliment" because="could be sarcastic, but is not">
>   Thank you for your compliment.
>   The debian-installer is modular by design
>   and you proved that one can use the modules that are available.
> </warning>

Like the XML. I could have used something like that in previous 
accidental flame wars ;-)

> As Far As I Known covers the "hd-media" image from USB devices.
> "hd-media" is different then the 'default' "netinst" image.
>
> You find it at
> http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/testing/main/installer-i386/current/images/hd-media/
> ( also linked at
> http://www.nl.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/ports-status )
>
> Please try that image at your hardware.
> And tell us if one can do an install with hoop jumping.

Hi Geert,

Thanks for the reply. I was beginning to think I smelt or something ;-).

I noticed the hd-media install when I was downloading.

I thought that hd-media was for installing *from* USB devices (USB 
memory sticks - thats why it's limited to 128MB apparently). My problem 
was with installing *to* USB devices (USB hard drive in my case).

I had no problems installing from USB CD-ROM - the installer kernel has 
the requisite USB modules by default, apparently.

The problem came trying to boot the installed USB HD - the installed 
kernel didn't have them. Which was slightly frustrating considering I 
just installed the entire OS to it from the installer! ;-)

Am I missing something obvious here?

Geoff