F8 installation in external usb disk (not USB key)

[John Austin]

On Mon, 2007-12-31 at 17:00 +0100, Miguel Blanco wrote:
> Ok, I'll try again this time writing down all the steps and repost
> with the exact error. But I'll check, as you propose, the devices
> in /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/grub.conf
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> Regards,
> Miguel
> 
> 2007/12/31, Mikkel L. Ellertson <mikkel at infinity-ltd.com>:
> > Miguel Blanco wrote:
> > > Yes, you are rigth about the standard install and the BIOS drives remaps!
> > >
> > > I tried configuring GRUB in the MBR of the external disk, and the procedure
> > > described in the refered paper failed at the last point, ie. the kernel output
> > > a lot of errors and failed to boot...
> > >
> > > Thanks for your comments!
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Miguel.
> > >
> > If you get to the point where the kernel loads, and produces errors,
> > then the problem is ether in /etc/fstab or in /boot/grub/grub.conf.
> > Without knowing the errors, it is hard to tell. It probably is a
> > problem with the root device passed to the kernel from Grub. If you
> > are not using LVM, then the root device is probably something like
> > /dev/sdb5 and needs to be changed to /dev/sda5. (The 5 may not be
> > correct.) You may need to do the same thing in /etc/fstab. The
> > reason for this is that the usb_storage module is loaded from
> > initrd, so it becomes the first SCSI controller.
> >
> > A better way to handle it is to give all the partitions on the USB
> > drive labels, and use the labels instead of the device names. That
> > way, it does not matter what drive letter is assigned to the drive.
> >
> > Mikkel
> > --
> >
> >   Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
> > for thou art crunchy and taste good with Ketchup!
> >
> >
> > --
> > fedora-list mailing list
> > fedora-list at redhat.com
> > To unsubscribe: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list
> >
> >
> 
Hi Miguel

As  Mikkel has stated F8 will install to an external USB by just using
expert mode.
95% of the reference is unnecessary now.

I tend not to use LVM but I do pre-partition, pre-format and pre-label
the disk BEFORE starting
the install and the DO NOT format the disk during installation. (which
deletes the labels !)

The only real decisions are to do with how to boot.

If the USB disk is to rely on the MBR of a main SATA/IDE type disk then
choose the /dev/sdxy device associated with the USB disk at install
time.
Then add an entry to grub.conf on the fixed disk.
title USB disk
	root (hdp,q)
	chainloader +1

In addition after install I would then configure grub on the MBR of the
USB disk as well such that I can boot the disk with and without the
presence of the "main", "fixed" disk.

I did the whole of this on an external USB disk yesterday !!!!

After first having learnt how to use jigdo to down load
Fedora-Unity-20071218-8-i386-DVD.iso !!!!!!!!

As stated by Mikkel I had to play with grub interactively to sort out
the correct (hdx,y) !!

John

who wrote 
http://www.vigla.eclipse.co.uk/usb_install.pdf