Slackware as a Linux rescue environment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:00, 16 July 2022

Download from one of the Slackware mirrors the kernel and initrd image, which Slackware uses for the installation:

https://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware64-15.0/kernels/huge.s/bzImage

https://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware64-15.0/isolinux/initrd.img

It is possible to use bzImage from a different Slackware version (e.g., -current), in this case the directory /lib/modules/X.X.X/ inside initrd.img must be upgraded to the same version (see next item for how to unpack initrd.img). This can be useful to support newer hardware.

If you have an access to the console and prefer to use it instead of a terminal via ssh, skip all steps related to changing initrd.img and don't use kbd= and nic= parameters in grub.cfg
Unpack initrd image (as root):

# mkdir dir
# cd dir
# xzcat ../initrd.img | cpio -di
# chroot .

Set a root password and do other changes if needed.
Exit chroot
Pack the modified initrd image: find . | cpio -o -H newc | xz -9fv -C crc32 > ../initrd.img
Install a Linux distribution that uses grub as boot loader on the remote server
Put bzImage and initrd.img to /boot/rescue/ directory on the remote server
Overwrite the content of the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg with the following, mutatis mutandis:

set default=0
set timeout=5

search --set=root --no-floppy --label ROOT

menuentry "Rescue (Installation Media)" {
  linux  /boot/rescue/bzImage load_ramdisk=1 prompt_ramdisk=0 rw \
    printk.time=0 SLACK_KERNEL=huge.s \
    kbd=us nic=auto:eth0:static:198.51.100.85:26:198.51.100.65
  initrd /boot/rescue/initrd.img
}

where the network configuration is [ip-address]:[netmask]:[gateway]. For more options see

http://docs.slackware.com/howtos:slackware_admin:booting_install_from_hdd and

http://alien.slackbook.org/blog/remote-installation-of-slackware-using-ssh/

Reboot
$ ssh root@198.51.100.85
source /etc/profile
Install Slackware in the usual way
The menuentry from the above grub.cfg can be preserved as a rescue boot option (possibly with unchanged initrd.img and without kbd= and nic= parameters).

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 :https://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware64-15.0/isolinux/initrd.img
 It is possible to use <code>bzImage</code> from a different Slackware version (e.g., -current), in this case the directory <code>/lib/modules/X.X.X/</code> inside <code>initrd.img</code> must be upgraded to the same version (see next item for how to unpack <code>initrd.img</code>).  This can be useful to support newer hardware.
-* If you have an access to the console and prefer to use it instead of a terminal via ssh, skip all steps related to changing initrd.img and don't use kbd= and nic= parameters in grub.cfg
+* If you have an access to the console and prefer to use it instead of a terminal via ssh, skip all steps related to changing <code>initrd.img</code> and don't use <code>kbd=</code> and <code>nic=</code> parameters in <code>grub.cfg</code>
 * Unpack initrd image (as root):
 <pre># mkdir dir
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 * <code>source /etc/profile</code>
 * Install Slackware in the usual way
-* The menuentry from the above <code>grub.cfg</code> can be preserved as a rescue boot option (possibly with unchanged initrd.img and without kbd= and nic= parameters).
+* The menuentry from the above <code>grub.cfg</code> can be preserved as a rescue boot option (possibly with unchanged <code>initrd.img</code> and without <code>kbd=</code> and <code>nic=</code> parameters).
 [[Category: Linux]]
 [[Category: Hardware]]

Slackware as a Linux rescue environment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:00, 16 July 2022

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