Howto Install DSL on a Compact Flash

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Howto Install DSL on a Compact Flash
started by: longnam

Posted by longnam on Jan. 19 2005,19:32

Hello all,
I'm just wondering if it is possible to install DSL on a Compact Flash SBC mainboard.
Thanks

Posted by JustAGuest on Jan. 25 2005,14:34

Hello,

Of course.
A Compact Flash Card is handled like a normal HD.

Mind your Diskspace.

Posted by evert on Sep. 15 2005,12:10

How does one proceed? I have a machine here that can write CF's and a (small) box that will be running of the CF.

Can I write the ISO-image to the CF, or should I proceed some other way to prepare the CF?

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Sep. 15 2005,17:38

For running from a CF, you will want to do a frugal install.

use the "dsl install" cheatcode and choose Frugal install and follow the prompts.

or, if you are already in X, Apps >> Tools >> Frugal Install.

-J.P.

Posted by evert on Sep. 15 2005,19:17

But how do I do this on a system that ONLY has a CF as 'hard drive'?

I a way that I can prepare a CF on a non DSL-system (Windows or Linux) and then I want to be able to insert that CF in the new system and boot from it... :cool:

Possible?

Posted by ke4nt1 on Sep. 15 2005,23:40

I hope I understand what you are describing... but..
You will need a copy of DSL on something.. CD, HD, Pendrive, etc..

Box A = windows/linux + cf
Box B = CF Only.

Boot box A with DSL CD, pendrive, or boot floppy+CD and CF installed.
Use the frugal instructions for installing DSL to CF
Power down, remove CF from box A , insert into Box B
Power up Box B, set bios to boot from CF (ide0) , enjoy..

DSL is not like windows..
You don't need to install it in the box you are going to run it in.
That same CF will work in most any computer that can boot from a CF.

I run a CF Only in my mini-ITX box.
Here's my method...

Boot miniITX from a DSL Pendrive, with the CF already installed on ide0.
( set bios to boot from USB-ZIP or USB-HDD )
Prepare CF with cfdisk to make a linux partition on it.
Run frugal install from menu, select hda1 as target.
Yes to format, Yes to proceed ..
When install is complete, shutdown and remove pendrive,
powerup, set bios to boot from ide0, enjoy..

A third way would be to open up the .iso, and copy the contents to CF.
Then work on getting grub installed on it for a working boot.

73
ke4nt

Posted by guest on Sep. 16 2005,11:09

Hello, I French and very intresting ... is not possible to copy cd-live of dsl to disk ?
Run the machine, bot on CF, load dsl to ram like whit a cdrom ?

Bonjour pour les Frenchis, je disais donc etre tres interesse... copier le contenu du Cd-live sur la CF
Booter sur la CF ( IDE / CF ) voila, cela me semble bien.

Posted by cbagger01 on Sep. 19 2005,05:05

Yes, but you need a CDROM and a CF drive connected at the same time to do it. So you might as well just boot up the DSL livecd and use the built-in frugal install script. This is why the script is there, to do the work for you including setup of the bootloader and R/W mounting of the CF drive for future backups. A straight copy of the livecd will not do this.

Posted by evert on Sep. 19 2005,07:14

So for installation on CF I should NOT use the -> USB-HDD option, but a Frugal one?

Posted by evert on Sep. 19 2005,08:33

I now got what I wanted, by using the USB-ZIP option. This installs perfectly on my CF, and backups/restores config on shutdown! :-)

Posted by TRENT310 on Oct. 11 2005,01:47

Is there any way to install it on a PCMCIA / CF card adapter on a laptop? This laptop doesn't like to boot from a PCMCIA device (I have another one that does).

Another thing, dsl tohd=/dev/hde1 does not work because DSL attempts to copy the image BEFORE cardmgr initializes the card so it says it's unmountable, which is a little bit annoying. Is there any way I can customize the init. so that cardmgr runs before copying the image to the card?

If that's not possible, then can I run it from CD while storing all my configuration settings on the CF card?

Posted by TRENT310 on Oct. 11 2005,23:44

Okay, just realized that if you back up the settings in the DSLPanel it will automatically use those settings on startup. I can live with booting from CD that way.