Richard Owlett composed on 2020-09-17 04:25 (UTC-0500): > Anssi Saari wrote:
>> Richard Owlett writes: >>> The default of copying an ISO file to a device is inconvenient for my >>> peculiar goals. >>> I want an executable installer resident on an ext4 formatted partition. >>> It must be possible. A testable installer preceded ISO format. >>> I'm working thru https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch04s03, >>> in particular extracting steps for "Manually copying files to the USB >>> stick — the flexible way". >>> What reference am I missing? >> I've installed Debian a couple of times with debootstrap. Or actually >> grml-debootstrap since I had grml on a USB stick for rescue use >> anyways. It does need some kind of Linux environment to run in, not >> necessarily Debian though. > I unsuccessfully tried to us use debootstrap several years ago. > Right now I specifically want to use the normal Debian installer on an > editable file system. Did you happen to notice what I wrote in <https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2020/09/msg00441.html>? As long has you can have internet access for the process, all you need is a bootloader able to load two files from a mountable partition, installation kernel and installation initrd, which starts a net install, downloading the latest versions of only what is actually needed for your installation. Substantial pre-configuration is possible via the installation kernel's command line, some of which is evident in that list post. IIRC, these two files can also be used to start an installation from .iso or installation sources located locally. Details I don't know, as I've not tried this process in much too long ago to remember, but the latter sounds like a match for what you are looking for. -- Evolution as taught in public schools, like religion, is based on faith, not on science. Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks! Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/
