1: This describes how to install NetBSD (i386/amd64) using a Memory Stick instead of a CD-ROM Drive.
2:
3: **Contents**
4:
5: [[!toc levels=3]]
6:
7:
8: # With an downloaded image
9: From NetBSD 5.1.2 on for the i386 and amd64 ports it is possible to download a
10: memory stick image for installing instead of downloading and transforming a CD image.
11:
12: This section describes in detail how to use this method. If you want to create
13: an image yourself, please see below.
14:
15: ## Downloading the installation image
16: Installation images are available on the [NetBSD
17: mirrors](http://www.netbsd.org/mirrors/) under the images/ directory, their
18: filenames match the *install.img.gz pattern.
19:
20: For example if we want to download NetBSD 6.0 for i386:
21:
22: # ftp ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-6.0/images/NetBSD-6.0-i386-install.img.gz
23:
24: ## Copying the installation image to the memory stick
25: To prepare the memory stick under a Unix system you can just use
26: [[!template id=man name="dd" section="1"]].
27: Whenever using dd(1), remember to set the blocksize by specifying the
28: <code>bs</code> parameter in order to speed up the write to the installation
29: media a bit (e.g. 1m).
30: For example if the memory stick is recognized as sd0 (**Warning: this will
31: overwrite all the contents on your memory stick**):
32:
33: # gunzip NetBSD-6.0-i386-install.img.gz
34: # dd if=NetBSD-6.0-i386-install.img of=/dev/rsd0d bs=1m
35:
36: ## Installation process
37: After NetBSD is booted from the memory stick the installation process is
38: usual (you can find an example in
39: [The NetBSD Guide](http://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-exinst.html)).
40: Just pay attention when choosing the installation media: if you want
41: to install using the installation sets on the memory stick when
42: [choosing the installation
43: media](http://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/chap-exinst.html#exinst-choose-media)
44: select <code>g: local directory</code> and then clear the *base* (by default it points
45: to release/).
46:
47:
48: # Build your own image
49: Use <code>build.sh -U release install-image</code>
50: with your usual build settings from your src directory.
51:
52: Carry on with [the instructions after download](#index2h2) above.
53:
54:
55: # Manual method
56:
57: ## Make the Memory Stick bootable
58:
59: First, install the Master Boot Record (MBR):
60:
61: # fdisk -i /dev/rsd0d
62:
63: Then, create an fdisk partition for NetBSD:
64:
65: # fdisk -u /dev/rsd0d
66: Disk: /dev/rsd0d
67: NetBSD disklabel disk geometry:
68: cylinders: 974, heads: 128, sectors/track: 8 (1024 sectors/cylinder)
69: total sectors: 997375
70: BIOS disk geometry:
71: cylinders: 974, heads: 128, sectors/track: 8 (1024 sectors/cylinder)
72: total sectors: 997375
73: Do you want to change our idea of what BIOS thinks? [n] n
74: Partition table:
75: 0: Primary DOS with 32 bit FAT (sysid 11)
76: start 8, size 997367 (487 MB, Cyls 0-973/127/8)
77: 1: <UNUSED>
78: 2: <UNUSED>
79: 3: <UNUSED>
80: Bootselector disabled.
81: Which partition do you want to change?: [none] 0
82: The data for partition 0 is:
83: Primary DOS with 32 bit FAT (sysid 11)
84: start 8, size 997367 (487 MB, Cyls 0-973/127/8)
85: sysid: [0..255 default: 11] 169
86: start: [0..974cyl default: 8, 0cyl, 0MB] (RETURN)
87: size: [0..974cyl default: 997367, 974cyl, 487MB]
88: bootmenu: [] (RETURN)
89: Partition table:
90: 0: NetBSD (sysid 169)
91: start 8, size 997367 (487 MB, Cyls 0-973/127/8)
92: 1: <UNUSED>
93: 2 :<UNUSED>
94: 3: <UNUSED>
95: Bootselector disabled.
96: Which partition do you want to change?: [none] (RETURN)
97: We haven't written the MBR back to disk yet. This is your last chance.
98: Partition table:
99: 0: NetBSD (sysid 169)
100: start 8, size 997367 (487 MB, Cyls 0-973/127/8)
101: 1: <UNUSED>
102: 2: <UNUSED>
103: 3: <UNUSED>
104: Bootselector disabled.
105: Should we write new partition table? [n] y
106:
107:
108:
109: After that, set the NetBSD partition active (it's partition Number 0):
110:
111: # fdisk -a /dev/rsd0d
112: Disk: /dev/rsd0d
113: NetBSD disklabel disk geometry:
114: cylinders: 974, heads: 128, sectors/track: 8 (1024 sectors/cylinder)
115: total sectors: 997375
116: BIOS disk geometry:
117: cylinders: 974, heads: 128, sectors/track: 8 (1024 sectors/cylinder)
118: total sectors: 997375
119: Partition table:
120: 0: NetBSD (sysid 169)
121: start 8, size 997367 (487 MB, Cyls 0-973/127/8)
122: 1: <UNUSED>
123: 2: <UNUSED>
124: 3: <UNUSED>
125: Bootselector disabled.
126: Do you want to change the active partition? [n] y
127: Choosing 4 will make no partition active.
128: active partition: [0..4 default: 4] 0
129: Are you happy with this choice? [n] y
130:
131: Then, create the NetBSD disklabel and add the partitions "a" and "d":
132:
133: # disklabel -i -I sd0
134: partition> a
135: Filesystem type [?] [MSDOS]: 4.2BSD
136: Start offset ('x' to start after partition 'x') [0.0078125c, 8s, 0.00390625M]: 63
137: Partition size ('$' for all remaining) [973.991c, 997367s, 486.996M]: $
138: partition> d
139: Filesystem type [?] [unused]: (RETURN)
140: Start offset ('x' to start after partition 'x') [0c, 0s, 0M]: (RETURN)
141: Partition size ('$' for all remaining) [973.999c, 997375s, 487M]: (RETURN)
142: partition> W
143: Label disk [n]? y
144: Label written
145: We haven't written the MBR back to disk yet. This is your last chance.
146: Should we write new partition table? [n] y
147:
148: Next, create a new NetBSD filesystem on partition sd0a:
149:
150: # newfs /dev/rsd0a
151:
152: Now, make the partition sd0a bootable:
153:
154: # mkdir /stick
155: # mount /dev/sd0a /stick
156: # cp /usr/mdec/boot /stick
157: # umount /stick
158: # installboot -v -o timeout=1 /dev/rsd0a /usr/mdec/bootxx_ffsv1
159:
160:
161: ## Copy the installation sets to the Memory Stick
162:
163: For the installation you need an installation kernel and the installation sets. To get them, fetch for example a NetBSD CD-image file from a local FTP-Mirror [1](http://www.netbsd.org/mirrors/#ftp):
164:
165: $ cd /home/mark
166: $ ftp -a ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/iso/4.0.1/i386cd-4.0.1.iso
167:
168: Now mount the CD-image file:
169:
170: $ su
171: # mkdir /image
172: # vnconfig -c vnd0 /home/mark/i386cd-4.0.1.iso
173: # mount_cd9660 /dev/vnd0d /image
174:
175: And then, mount the Memory Stick and copy the **Install kernel** and **sets**:
176:
177: # mount /dev/sd0a /stick
178: # cp /image/i386/binary/kernel/netbsd-INSTALL.gz /stick/netbsd.gz
179: # cp -R /image/i386/binary/sets /stick/sets
180: # umount /stick
181: # rmdir /stick
182:
183: Now you can unmount the CD-image:
184:
185: # umount /image
186: # vnconfig -u vnd0
187: # rmdir /image
188:
189: The Memory Stick is now ready to boot the NetBSD-Install system. Just reboot and change your BIOS to boot the USB Memory Stick.
190:
191: ## The installation process
192:
193: If the Memory Stick boots fine, proceed with the Installation as usual, but the selection of the Install-sets is not quite intuitive:
194:
195: "Your disk is now ready for installing the kernel and the distributions sets [...]"
196: [...]
197: Install from
198: f: Unmounted fs
199:
200: Press RETURN and the following screen appears:
201:
202: "Enter the unmounted local device and directory on that device where the distribution is located. [...]"
203:
204: Choose the following options:
205:
206: a: Device sd0a
207: b: File system ffs
208: c: Base directory
209: d: Set directory /sets
210:
211: Yes, "c: Base directory" is left empty, because we had copied the distribution .tgz files to the /sets directory on the Memory Stick (9.)
212:
213: Now continue with the installation as usual. Good luck!
214:
215:
216: ## Alternative Method
217:
218: An alternative setup method saves space on the Stick at the expense of sysinst automation and is therefore more advanced. This method skips the sysinst tool by copying the sets and the **normal** GENERIC Kernel instead of the install-Kernel.
219:
220: Extract the sets from the harddisk directly on to the Memory stick (/mnt):
221:
222: # tar xvfzp sets.tgz -C /mnt
223:
224: Extract the Kernel to the target root:
225:
226: # tar xvfzp GENERIC-kernel.tgz -C /mnt
227:
228: All you need to do is now to create a valid /etc/fstab and modify /etc/rc.conf to RC_CONFIGURED=yes on the target root (/mnt) and reboot. All fine tuning can be done, when you're logged in.
CVSweb for NetBSD wikisrc <wikimaster@NetBSD.org> software: FreeBSD-CVSweb