frugal boot param

Forum: HD Install
Topic: frugal boot param
started by: lagerratrobe

Posted by lagerratrobe on Dec. 06 2005,22:55

Just curious, but what does the "frugal" boot param specification do on a HD installation od DSL?
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Posted by sarah on Dec. 07 2005,15:21

I don't know for sure, but my understanding is that it copies the compressed DSL OS image to the HDD, and on boot uncompresses and runs that image effectively the same as it would run a live CD. It is also known as a "poorman's install".
The difference is that a "proper" HD install requires (I think) 200MB+ and the frugal install only requires about 55MB. I've not yet had the luxury of being able to compare the differences. I suspect a full install would boot faster and would be easier to customise, but that's totally guesswork on my part.

Cheers and beers!
Sarah

Posted by mikshaw on Dec. 07 2005,16:52

You've properly described a frugal system, but that is different than the frugal boot option.
The boot option is used with a frugal DSL system. Normally the partition containing the CD contents will be mounted read-only, like a typical cdrom. The frugal boot option tells DSL that you are running a frugal install on the harddrive so it will remount the partition read-write, and will not prompt for removal of a non-existent CD during shutdown/reboot.

Posted by sarah on Dec. 08 2005,13:31

Thanks Mikshaw. I hadn't properly realised what the question meant, and read it in terms of doing the installation to HD from the boot prompt (obviously). Thank you for your answer - I feel encouraged and enlightened all at once :o)

Have I got it right that if I add that option when I'm booting it would mean I can alter or create files in /cdrom? Not that I would do that randomly, but it would have been useful to know that a couple of days ago when I wanted to change a config file and add in a module to suit my system specs.

I got around that problem, but if I have understood correctly what the frugal boot parameter does I'm glad to know it for future reference.

Cheers and beers,
Sarah

Posted by mikshaw on Dec. 08 2005,16:28

The ISO9660 filesystem is read-only by design, so a cdrom won't remount read-write. The frugal install would likely be on ext2, which can be mounted either way.
You can boot from a multi-session cdrom and write to the second session as long as it hasn't been closed, but you might need to use toram in order to do that (i haven't verified this myself).

btw...I like your sig. It sums up my forum experience...I like to help people (or maybe just prove that i'm smart?), but also expect that others will tell me when i'm wrong so i can be helped too =o)

Posted by lagerratrobe on Dec. 08 2005,17:24

Hi mikshaw,

Thanks for the explanation of the frugal boot param. DSL is new for me, and I'm going through the phase of picking everything apart to see how it works.

Thanks.
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Posted by LodeRunner on Dec. 09 2005,19:53

Quote

So how does one do a "proper" install? The USB pen drive installer apparently defaults frugal, because only 55 MB has been used and apps aren't lauching as fast as I expected.

And how much is "200+ MB"? On a 256 MB drive, it definitely makes a difference.