Re: [arch-general] [arch-dev-public] [draft] Install medium 2012.10.06 introduces systemd
The October release of the Arch Linux install medium is available for [Download](https://www.archlinux.org/download/) and can be used for new installs or as a rescue system. It contains a set of updated packages and the following notable changes:
Is there a way to boot the install medium over PXE similar to ArchBoot? -- дамјан
Am 07.10.2012 19:42, schrieb Damjan:
The October release of the Arch Linux install medium is available for [Download](https://www.archlinux.org/download/) and can be used for new installs or as a rescue system. It contains a set of updated packages and the following notable changes:
Is there a way to boot the install medium over PXE similar to ArchBoot?
Yes, it's on the wiki somewhere. If you have a fast internet connection (10MBit/s or more), you can use this: https://releng.archlinux.org/pxeboot/
Is there a way to boot the install medium over PXE similar to ArchBoot?
Yes, it's on the wiki somewhere.
If you have a fast internet connection (10MBit/s or more), you can use this: https://releng.archlinux.org/pxeboot/
As far as I understand that is an image that then downloads the install media from some server on the internet. We already have a PXE (dhcp/tftp) server in our hackerspace and a locale Arch mirror with the packages. I just need to add the install media so that we can install Arch even if offline (which happens). -- damjan
Am 08.10.2012 04:39, schrieb Damjan Georgievski:
Is there a way to boot the install medium over PXE similar to ArchBoot?
Yes, it's on the wiki somewhere.
If you have a fast internet connection (10MBit/s or more), you can use this: https://releng.archlinux.org/pxeboot/
As far as I understand that is an image that then downloads the install media from some server on the internet. We already have a PXE (dhcp/tftp) server in our hackerspace and a locale Arch mirror with the packages. I just need to add the install media so that we can install Arch even if offline (which happens).
You are right, this is mainly for one-time installations and such. The cleanest way (in my opinion) to do this is exactly the way that I did with the online pxeboot environment (there are other ways (like loop-mounting the whole ISO or using memdisk), but they all download more and use more memory). 1) Extract the ISO with bsdtar -x --exclude=arch/boot/syslinux --exclude memtest* --exclude pkglist.* -f archlinux-2012.10.06-dual.iso arch/ This will result in a directory structure exactly like this: ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/iso/2012.10.06/arch/ Put this on an http server. 2) Use a gPXE or iPXE-extended pxelinux version, like gpxelinux, or a custom version built from pxelinux and iPXE (for example, you can include native ethernet drivers to speed up the early download). You need this so you can use http downloads from the bootloader (you could put the kernel and initramfs on TFTP instead, but you need HTTP for the later stage anyway, so why bother). 3) Add the following to your pxelinux configuration: LABEL arch_x86_64 TEXT HELP Boot Arch Linux (x86_64) live medium. ENDTEXT MENU LABEL Arch Linux x86_64 LINUX http://servername/arch/boot/x86_64/vmlinuz INITRD http://servername/arch/boot/x86_64/archiso.img APPEND archiso_http_srv=http://servername/ archisobasedir=arch checksum=y ip=dhcp (Similar for i686) This will download the kernel from http and boot it, download the squashfs images into memory (about 200MB total) and boot the live system. I guess this will do what you are looking for.
The cleanest way (in my opinion) to do this is exactly the way that I did with the online pxeboot environment (there are other ways (like loop-mounting the whole ISO or using memdisk), but they all download more and use more memory).
1) Extract the ISO with
bsdtar -x --exclude=arch/boot/syslinux --exclude memtest* --exclude pkglist.* -f archlinux-2012.10.06-dual.iso arch/
This will result in a directory structure exactly like this: ftp://ftp.archlinux.org/iso/2012.10.06/arch/
Put this on an http server.
I'll actually loop mount the iso in the tftp/http boot dir. That way I'll save on space. I do the same with the Ubuntu PXE boot options.
2)
Use a gPXE or iPXE-extended pxelinux version, like gpxelinux, or a custom version built from pxelinux and iPXE (for example, you can include native ethernet drivers to speed up the early download). You need this so you can use http downloads from the bootloader (you could put the kernel and initramfs on TFTP instead, but you need HTTP for the later stage anyway, so why bother).
yes, I already use iPXE, and yes HTTP is much faster than TFTP, a great improvement.
3)
Add the following to your pxelinux configuration:
LABEL arch_x86_64 TEXT HELP Boot Arch Linux (x86_64) live medium. ENDTEXT MENU LABEL Arch Linux x86_64 LINUX http://servername/arch/boot/x86_64/vmlinuz INITRD http://servername/arch/boot/x86_64/archiso.img APPEND archiso_http_srv=http://servername/ archisobasedir=arch checksum=y ip=dhcp
Thanks, exactly what I needed (and didn't know about the archiso_http_srv option).
(Similar for i686)
This will download the kernel from http and boot it, download the squashfs images into memory (about 200MB total) and boot the live system.
Any option of NSF mounting a directory, and then mounting the squash from there? If I remember correctly Ubuntu does that.
I guess this will do what you are looking for.
Thanks, I've set it all, I'll need to go physically in the hackerspace to test it. BTW If anyone passe by, please feel welcome http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/KIKA -- damjan
Am 09.10.2012 20:53, schrieb Damjan Georgievski:
This will download the kernel from http and boot it, download the squashfs images into memory (about 200MB total) and boot the live system.
Any option of NSF mounting a directory, and then mounting the squash from there? If I remember correctly Ubuntu does that.
There's an option for that, I don't remember the name, but it's on the archiso wiki page. However, the latest version automatically downloads all files into memory, so I don't see what the difference is. (This may change in the future, there's some corner cases to be fixed first.)
I guess this will do what you are looking for.
Thanks, I've set it all, I'll need to go physically in the hackerspace to test it.
Have fun.
participants (3)
-
Damjan
-
Damjan Georgievski
-
Thomas Bächler