How to boot several CD iso files in a DVD


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    How to boot several CD iso files in a DVD

    How to boot several CD iso files in a DVD

    ------Edited 22/8/07 I used the same idea to boot the 7 iso off a USB pen drive and reported it in Post #5-------------------

    I wrote this thread because someone asked if it is possible to do such thing in another forum. I think it can be done, tried it out and documented result in JustLinux.

    Steps at a glance

    (1) Open a directory, say /iso.
    (2) Mount each iso file on a loop back device and copy its content to /iso directory
    (3) Copy Grub's stage2_eltorito into /iso directory
    (4) Write a Grub menu using the isolinux.cfg from each iso file
    (5) Use bash command mkisofs to create a large iso file from /iso directory
    (6) Burn the large iso file into a DVD using K3B


    Warning

    Not every iso is suitable to co-exist with others in a DVD. This is because they may use the same directory names.

    A little bit of theory

    Among about 95% of Linux iso meant to be booted from a CD or DVD will have the de facto boot loader called isolinux, written by Peter Anvin. It has a configuration file called isolinux.cfg. The isolinux syntax is very similar to Grub and so one can substitute isolinux with Grub.

    Isolinux can also multi-boots. I am just more comfortable with grub and know it can deliver what I want. Grub is preferred because we can communicate with Grub during boot time and correct any mistake as we go along. That is very useful with a read-only DVD. Isolinux does not offer this flexibility.

    Grub has only one file for booting a CD or DVD. This file is called stage2_eltorito available in every Linux that has Grub. It is stored in /boot/grub or /grub directory. The Grub Manual has steps showing how to create a CD or DVD booted by stage2_eltorito.

    Step 1

    This is just a big folder for storing several iso files. The iso files have to be expanded first into the normal format first. I use an existing directory in /abit ,rounded up 7 iso files and created the following subdirectories
    Code:
    mkdir /abit/iso
    mkdir /abit/iso/DSL-boot 
    mkdir /abit/iso/slax-boot
    mkdir /abit/iso/mepis-boot
    mkdir /abit/iso/grafpy-boot
    mkdir /abit/iso/ubuntu-boot
    mkdir /abit/iso/pmagic-boot
    mkdir /abit/iso/systemcd-boot
    for 7 distros of Damn Small Linux, Slax, Mepis, Grafpuppy, Ubunu, Parted Magic and SystemrescueCD. Their version numbers are stated in the menu.lst below.

    I use “-boot” for the folder names because some distros may have their own folders using the distro own names, for example slax and pmagic.

    Step 2

    I wrote a script called mountiso to execute the two lines of commands
    Code:
    saikee@saikee-desktop:~$ cat /abit/saikee/Desktop/mountiso 
    
    umount /mnt/cdrom 
    mount -t iso9660 -o ro,loop=/dev/loop0 $1 /mnt/cdrom 
    
    saikee@saikee-desktop:~$
    This allows me to mount any iso file by bash command, say for iso slax-6.0.0-rc5.iso
    Code:
    /bin/bash mountiso  slax-6.0.0-rc5.iso
    The Slax iso when expanded shows two directories of /boot and /slax inside
    Code:
    root@saikee-desktop:/abit/saikee/Desktop# ls /mnt/cdrom 
    boot  slax 
    root@saikee-desktop:/abit/saikee/Desktop#
    I can then copy the expanded iso file in /mnt/cdrom into the folder I created in Step-1
    Code:
    cp -R /mnt/cdrom/* /abit/iso/slax-boot/
    I have to repeat Step-2 for each iso file.

    Step-3

    The folder /abit/iso will be eventually a DVD iso and so to make it bootable by Grub we must have

    (a) a directory called /boot/grub
    (b) statge2_eltorito inside /boot/grub

    I was using an installed Ubuntu 7.04 to do the above work and so Ubuntu's /boot/grub has all the information I need. Therefore all I need to do is to copy the content of Ubuntu's /boot/grub directory into /abit/iso after creating the directories there first
    Code:
    mkdir /abit/iso/boot
    mkdir /abit/iso/boot/grub
    cp /boot/grub/* /abit/iso/boot/grub/
    at this stage all the Grub files will be available as shown below
    Code:
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# ls /abit/iso/boot/grub 
    default        fat_stage1_5  menu.lst~          stage1           xfs_stage1_5 
    device.map     jfs_stage1_5  minix_stage1_5     stage2 
    e2fs_stage1_5  menu.lst      reiserfs_stage1_5  stage2_eltorito 
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee#
    Step-4

    This is by far the most difficult thing to explain. I shall only do it by example. Slax in the above is the perfect system for this type of illustration. The above information shows it has two directories of “/slax” and “/boot” so the first thing I have to do is to move the /slax directory from /abit/iso/slax-boot to /abit/iso, leaving only the /boot there for reference only. This is because when the DVD is booted the installer has been written to search only the root directory whereas the /boot directory is the one I can control by telling Grub where to find it. I can't put /boot in the root directory because many distros have /boot too.

    I now show how to get the isolinux.cfg by repeating just the "ls" command going into deeper level each time.
    Code:
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# ls /abit/iso/slax-boot/ 
    boot 
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# ls /abit/iso/slax-boot/boot 
    bootinst.bat  bootlilo.sh  dos        isolinux  syslinux      vmlinuz 
    bootinst.sh   chain.c32    initrd.gz  mt86p     vesamenu.c32 
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# ls /abit/iso/slax-boot/boot/isolinux 
    isolinux.bin  isolinux.boot  isolinux.cfg 
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# cat /abit/iso/slax-boot/boot/isolinux/isolinux.cfg 
    PROMPT 0 
    TIMEOUT 200 
    DEFAULT /boot/vesamenu.c32 
    
    LABEL xconf 
    MENU LABEL Slax Graphics mode (KDE) 
    KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz 
    APPEND vga=769 initrd=/boot/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=xconf;kdm 
    
    LABEL pchanges 
    MENU LABEL Slax Graphics mode with Persistent Changes 
    KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz 
    APPEND vga=769 initrd=/boot/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw changes=/slax/slaxsave.dat autoexec=xconf;kdm 
    
    LABEL copy2ram 
    MENU LABEL Slax Graphics mode, Copy To RAM 
    KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz 
    APPEND vga=769 initrd=/boot/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw copy2ram autoexec=xconf;kdm 
    
    LABEL startx 
    MENU LABEL Slax Graphics VESA mode (1024x768) 
    KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz 
    APPEND vga=769 initrd=/boot/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=kdm 
    
    LABEL slax 
    MENU LABEL Slax Text mode 
    KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz 
    APPEND vga=normal initrd=/boot/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw 
    
    LABEL memtest86 
    MENU LABEL Run Memtest utility 
    KERNEL /boot/mt86p 
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee#
    The part of the isolinux.cfg that is of interest to me has only two lines I have highlighted in red

    I now show the end result of the Grub menu, which must be stored as /abit/iso/boot/grub/menu.lst, and the red is the conversion.
    Code:
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# cat /abit/iso/boot/grub/menu.lst 
    
    title DSL 4.0 
    kernel /DSL-boot/boot/isolinux/linux24 ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off vga=791 nomce noapic quiet BOOT_IMAGE=knoppix 
    initrd /DSL-boot/boot/isolinux/minirt24.gz 
    
    title Slax 6.0.0 rc5 
    kernel /slax-boot/boot/vmlinuz vga=769 ramdisk_size=6666 root=/dev/ram0 rw autoexec=xconf;kdm 
    initrd /slax-boot/boot/initrd.gz 
    
    title GrafPup 2.0 
    kernel /grafpup-boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/ram0 vga=0x312 loglevel=1 PMEDIA=idecd 
    initrd /grafpup-boot/initrd.gz
    
    title Mepis 6.9.5 
    kernel /mepis-boot/boot/vmlinuz init=/etc/init vga=normal quiet drvr=vesa 
    initrd /mepis-boot/boot/initrd.gz 
    
    title SystemrescueCD 0.3.7 label fb1024 
    kernel /systemcd-boot/isolinux/rescuecd root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc vga=791 looptype=squashfs loop=/sysrcd.dat dokeymap cdroot splash=silent splash=silent 
    initrd /systemcd-boot/isolinux/rescuecd.igz 
    
    title ubuntu 6.10 desktop safe ^graphics mode 
    kernel /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper xforcevesa ramdisk_size=1048576 root=/dev/ram rw quiet splash -- 
    initrd /casper/initrd.gz 
    
    title Parted Magic 1.8 
    kernel /pmagic-boot/isolinux/bzImage noapic root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk_size=100000 skip 
    initrd /pmagic-boot/isolinux/initrd.gz 
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee#
    You will see I have only changed “KERNEL” with “kernel” and correctly located the where about of the kernel “vmlinuz” to be found in directory /slax-boot/boot. Remember after you have brun the DVD iso the /abit/iso front end will disappear.

    The isolinux specifies the ram disk file as a parameter of the KERNEL statement with “initrd=/boot/initrd.gz” forming part of the command structure. In Grub I have separated it into a proper “initrd” statement. That is all I needed to change an iso booting with isolinux to booting with Grub. I do not touch other parameters at all.

    To summarize the step of converting an iso booting from isolinux to Grub the steps are

    • (i) copy the isolinux's KERNEL statement into Grub's menu.lst
    • (ii) changed “KERNEL” to “kernel”.
    • (iii) Adjust the directory name so that Grub can find the kernel
    • (iv) remove the “initrd=xxxxx” parameter in the KERNEL statement of ioslinux.cfg and use the same as a separate “initrd” statement in Grub's menu.lst. Do not forget to remove the “=” sign and amend the partition reference.


    I could have just done two iso to make the thread shorter but decided to put 7 iso files in because there are 6 examples showing how isolinux can be converted to Grub. One of the 7 has Grub already and I have shown how we could modify it too to multi-boot. The isolinux information is left at the rear of the thread in case any reader may find more information useful.

    Step-5

    This has to be the easiest thing in life for creating your own bootable DVD. Just follow the steps outlined in the Chapter 3.4 of Grub Manual.

    I wrote a script call makeiso just to do just that
    Code:
    root@saikee-desktop:/home/saikee# cat /abit/makeiso 
    root@saikee-desktop:/abit# mkisofs -R -b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -o grub.iso iso
    I issue the makeiso command in directory /abit. The end product of the about command is a large iso file call grub.iso

    Setp-6

    To burn the grub.iso I just called up K3B and clicked the file name. The DVD, with 1.8 Gb from the 7 distros, was ready in 6 minutes. I used a re-writeable DVD.

    Conclusion : I now have a DVD that boots 7 distros successfully.

    The above information is also useful/sufficient for any user wanting to create his/her customized bootable CD/DVD



    ---------------------------------------------------------- The following information are included just for the reference purpose only --------------------------------------------------



    For completeness I enclose the relevant parts of the isolinux.cfg from the other distros below. The menu.lst I wrote is already given at the above.

    DSL's isolinux.cfg is in /boot/isolinux directory. Its “KNOPPIX” directory should be available in the / directory
    Code:
    LABEL dsl
    KERNEL linux24
    APPEND ramdisk_size=100000 init=/etc/init lang=us apm=power-off vga=791 initrd=minirt24.gz nomce noapic quiet BOOT_IMAGE=knoppix
    Grafpuppy isolinux.cfg is in / directory. Its “image” directory plus all files ending with sfs should be available in the / directory
    Code:
    label grafpup
    kernel vmlinuz
    append root=/dev/ram0 initrd=initrd.gz splash vga=0x312 loglevel=1 PMEDIA=idecd
    Mepis uses Grub and its menu.lst is in /boot/grub directory. Its “mepis” directory should be available in the / directory.
    Code:
    title  Vesa (if display problem or if vmware)
    kernel /boot/vmlinuz init=/etc/init vga=normal quiet drvr=vesa
    initrd /boot/initrd.gz
    SystemrescueCD has isolinux.cfg in /isolinux directory. Its “bootdisk” directory and sysrcd.dat should be available in the / directory.
    Code:
    label fb1024
      kernel rescuecd
      append root=/dev/ram0 initrd=rescuecd.igz init=/linuxrc vga=791 looptype=squashfs loop=/sysrcd.dat dokeymap cdroot splash=silent
    Parted Magic isolinux.cfg is in /isolinux directory. Its “pmagic” file should be available in the / directory.
    Code:
    MENU LABEL ^1. Boot Parted Magic using the default settings
    TEXT HELP
    * version: 1.8, (C) 2007, Patrick Verner
    * http://www.partedmagic.com
    * Disclaimer: Author not responsible for any mishap caused by this software.
    ENDTEXT
    KERNEL bzImage
    APPEND noapic initrd=initrd.gz root=/dev/ram0 init=/linuxrc ramdisk_size=100000 skip
    Ubuntu is a difficult one as it has so many directories needed to be available in the / directory. I just copied everything. The isolinux.cfg is in /isolinux directory and I used only this portion
    Code:
      menu label ^Start or install Ubuntu
      kernel /casper/vmlinuz
      append  file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.gz ramdisk_size=1048576 root=/dev/ram rw quiet splash --
    Lastly the complete content of my /abit/iso (before turning into the iso), looks like this
    Code:
    root@saikee-desktop:/abit/saikee/Desktop# ls /abit/iso
    bin       DSL-boot      KNOPPIX      pool          sysrcd.dat     vesamenu.c32
    boot      graf_200.sfs  mepis        preseed       sysrcd.md5     zdrv_200.sfs
    bootdisk  grafpup-boot  mepis-boot   programs      systemcd-boot
    casper    img           pics         slax          ubuntu
    disctree  install       pmagic       slax-boot     ubuntu-boot
    dists     isolinux      pmagic-boot  splashpm.png  usbstick.htm
    root@saikee-desktop:/abit/saikee/Desktop#
    Last edited by saikee; 08-22-2007 at 06:27 PM.
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