Bug#470061: network install starting from USB

[Geert Stappers <stappers@stappers.nl>]

retitle 470061 network install starting from USB
stop

Op 08-03-2008 om 23:08 schreef oc-spam66:
> Hello,
> 
> I would like to install a debian (network install) starting with a USB key. 
> The file : http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
> gives a link to : http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/etch/main/installer-i386/current/images/
> 
> From reading the MANIFEST file, I guess I then have to go in the 'hd-media' directory and I download :
> http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/etch/main/installer-i386/current/images/hd-media/boot.img.gz
> 
> I flash the USB key and boot the target computer with it. The
> installation runs and asks for and ISO image... apparently he did not
> understand that I want a NETWORK install ! I don't have an ISO image.
> 
> So I go in the next menu where I can ask to detect the network
> hardware. The installer says he can not detect my ethernet card (even
> though this is a working Realtek 8139 rev 10)
> 
> So, I did not manage to do the network install...
> Could you please tell how to make it work ?

For a network install starting from USB one has to do something like:
* copy the kernel to the USB stick
* copy the network install initial RAM disk ( "initrd" ) to the USB stick
* Install and activate a boot loader on the USB stick
* boot computer from USB stick


> (this gives me the strange feeling that the good things fade... I am
> pretty sure that I managed such a USB/netinstall one year ago on the
> same computer ...)

Use this bugreport for documenting it this time...


Cheers
Geert Stappers