The Linux Bootdisk HOWTO
Tom Fawcett
Bootdisk-HOWTO@linuxdoc.org
Copyright © 1995-2002 by Tom Fawcett
v4.5, January 2002
This document describes how to design and build boot/root diskettes for Linux. These disks can be used as rescue disks or to test new system components. You should be reasonably familiar with system administration tasks before attempting to build a bootdisk. If you just want a rescue disk to have for emergencies, see Appendix A.1.
- Table of Contents
- 1. Preface
- 1.1. Version notes
- 1.2. To do list
- 1.3. Feedback and credits
- 1.4. Distribution policy
- 2. Introduction
- 3. Bootdisks and the boot process
- 3.1. The boot process
- 3.2. Disk types
- 4. Building a root filesystem
- 4.1. Overview
- 4.2. Creating the filesystem
- 4.3. Populating the filesystem
- 4.4. Providing for PAM and NSS
- 4.5. Modules
- 4.6. Some final details
- 4.7. Wrapping it up
- 5. Choosing a kernel
- 6. Putting them together: Making the diskette(s)
- 7. Troubleshooting, or The Agony of Defeat
- 8. Reducing root filesystem size
- 9. Miscellaneous topics
- 10. How the pros do it
- 11. Creating bootable CD-ROMs
- 11.1. What is El Torito?
- 11.2. How it Works
- 11.3. How to make it work
- 11.4. Create Win9x Bootable CD-Roms
- 12. Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) list
- A. Resources and pointers
- A.1. Pre-made Bootdisks
- A.2. Rescue packages
- A.3. LILO -- the Linux loader
- A.4. Ramdisk usage
- A.5. The Linux boot process
- B. LILO boot error codes
- C. Sample root filesystem listings
- D. Sample utility disk directory listing
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