Re: how to rescue boot from cd
On Wed, Feb 20, 2002 at 10:06:18AM -0500, David Roundy wrote:
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2002 at 01:58:57AM +0000, p wrote:
> > debs,
> >
> > i'm thinking of a new laptop from http://www.qlilinux.com. the new gen2:
> >
> > p4
> > 2.0 ghz
> > usb
> > firewire
> > combo dvd/cd-rw
> > (yada, yada, yada)
> >
> > my only resevation is that it ships with a usb floppy.
> >
> > in the event that i need to boot from a rescue floppy, i'd be sol 'cause
> > the usb floppy would only be recognized _after_ the box boots.
> >
> > questions:
> >
> > 1. what good is a usb floppy in linux?
>
> My guess is that with a minor kernel patch you can boot from the usb
> floppy. I have a usb cdrw drive (as my only removable drive), which has
> the same problem when it comes to booting, but a small patch (50 lines)
> fixes that, and will probably work for the floppy also.
>
> The issue (as you point out) is that usb devices are recognized
> asynchronously, which makes for a race between them and the mounting of the
> root file system. All one need do is add a loop before mounting the root
> fs to keep checking whether the root device is available. Let me know if
> you're interested in the patch.
>
> > 2. is it possible to make a boot cd (with the "mkboot" command)?
>
> Sure. I made one using bootcd, which (surprise!) makes a boot cd.
> Requires a tad of work, but definitely worth it. Also, the boot cd is a
> full debian, so no matter how how hosed your hard drive gets, you have all
> your tools available.
>
> Of course, you can also specify the root filesystem to be your hard disk,
> at boot time, so it can act as a normal boot disk.
> --
> David Roundy
> http://civet.berkeley.edu/droundy/
>
//
...nice.
with such encouraging news, i'm probably going to place my order. i'll
probably be asking you for the patch info once the box arrives.
thx.
bentley taylor
//
>
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