Release candidate number two, mkusb8-rc2, with menus also to select input file

[Nio Wiklund]

Hi Mélodie,

This is described at several places in the Ubuntu community wiki. Also I
have described it, even uploaded such compressed iso files

http://phillw.net/isos/lubuntu-fake-pae/saucy/grub-n-iso/

and

http://phillw.net/isos/lubuntu-fake-pae/raring/grub-n-iso/

where there is even a Bento file. Do you remember?

- The main reason I made those compressed iso files was that some
computers wouldn't boot directly from the iso files via syslinux /
isolinux. But with the option forcepae that problem is solved.

- The problem with a script is that it must be maintained to fit new
versions of the software. Otherwise it can be convenient. A generic
script will not work for all iso files.

- The advantage with mkusb is that it will work in most cases. We need
hybrid iso files, and all current Ubuntu family iso files are hybrid iso
files (with the exception of Ubuntu 12.04 mini.iso).

Why do you want this? I think it is easy enough to re-use the pendrives
(install what you need for the moment). And there are several multiboot
systems available already.

Best regards
Nio


2014-07-22 17:11, meets at gmx.fr skrev:
> Hi Nio,
> 
> Some time ago I found an interesting method to have a  multiboot on USB using Grub2 : once
> Grub2 is installed and has a config file well garnished, it is very simple to add just
> iso images and edit the titles in the grub.cfg file. (To put it simple, is a boot to ISO
> in a usb stick). 
> 
> I was wondering if you could create a script to install just Grub2 and a
> generic configuration file to make that part easy?
> 
> Let me know if you think it could be possible, and if so if you need information about the
> command lines used?
> 
> Thanks and best regards,
> Mélodie
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:19:53 +0200
> Nio Wiklund <nio.wiklund at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Israel,
>>
>> I'm glad you like the idea behind it :-)
>>
>> Now let's see if you also like the implementation ;-)
>>
>> It is very important that someone else tests software, also in this case
>> even if it is basically quite simple. You will probably find some bugs
>> or at least some things that are not very intuitive.
>>
>> Two weak points are the drive- and file-selectors, where I use the
>> built-in tools from 'dialog'. They are different from what people are
>> used to, so they feel 'not intuitive'. Can they be used, or must I make
>> my own selectors based on more basic menu tools of 'dialog'?
>>
>> Who knows, after more improvment, mkusb might reach the repos :-)
>>
>> Best regards
>> Nio
>>
>> 2014-07-22 14:10, Israel skrev:
>>> Hi Nio,
>>> I downloaded it!  And looked through it for a brief moment.
>>> It looks incredible!  I will test it out, as I will be needing to make a
>>> dd image soon!  I just got a replacement HD for an older computer.
>>>
>>> DD is great, but also in the hands of a novice is terrible.
>>> This is the way I like to make USB so this tool is perfect for it!
>>>
>>> Maybe this will be in the repos one day!
>>>
>>>
>>> On 07/22/2014 01:06 AM, Nio Wiklund wrote:
>>>> Hi everybody,
>>>>
>>>> A second release candidate, mkusb8-rc2 is uploaded to
>>>>
>>>> http://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/mkusb/
>>>>
>>>> Check it with the corresponding signed md5sum file.
>>>>
>>>> -rwxr-xr-x. 1 nio nio 33407 21 jul 21.34 mkusb8-rc2
>>>> -rw-rw-r--. 1 nio nio   582 21 jul 21.37 mkusb8-rc2.md5.asc
>>>>
>>>> There is a menu system to select the input file in this release
>>>> candidate; the input file alias the source in the cloning process
>>>>
>>>> ' source file --> target drive'
>>>>
>>>> but it is still possible to enter the input file as a parameter. So the
>>>> command
>>>>
>>>> sudo path/mkusb8-rc2
>>>>
>>>> will start a menu system where you can select the input file and then
>>>> the target drive, while either of
>>>>
>>>> sudo path/mkusb8-rc2 file.iso
>>>> sudo path/mkusb8-rc2 file.img
>>>> sudo path/mkusb8-rc2 file.img.gz
>>>> sudo path/mkusb8-rc2 file.img.xz
>>>> sudo path/mkusb8-rc2 wipe-1
>>>>
>>>> will skip to selecting the target drive directly.
>>>>
>>>> The quick start manual is still valid, except the illustrations, that
>>>> will be updated later on with screenshots of the menus. See also the
>>>> wiki page for mkusb
>>>>
>>>> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb
>>>>
>>>> where there is a brief description plus several updated screendumps
>>>> including the new menus.
>>>>
>>>> Please give me feedback about this release candidate: help me find bugs
>>>> and suggest improvements!
>>>>
>>>> Best regards
>>>> Nio