/boot partion (solved)

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megaflow · Post by **megaflow** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 2:06 pm

can a set the boot partion on a usbstick ?
My system is a dell xps7 , and already have 3 partions. dell boot - dell backup and windows
I dont want to install a bootmanager on the prime harddisk
so i wonder if a can partion on this way
/dev/sda - is the harddisk
/dev/sdb the usbstick

/boot --> on /dev/sdb1
/var --> on /dev/sdb2 ( not sure if 4g is enoff for compling )
/usr and home on sda

i need to build the usb drivers in the kernel , using lilo for boot
anyting els i need to preform

purak · Post by **purak** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 2:16 pm

Yes, you must embed USB drivers to kernel. If not, you must build a consistent initramfs to load USB drivers on the fly. You should install boot manager such as syslinux or grub on the USB key. linuxrc script that located into initramfs will find your system and boot it. The configuration file(grub.cfg/menu.lst or syslinux's conf file) should like this:

Code: Select all

... root=/dev/sda1 ...

You read man pages of genkernel or dracut.

Post by **NeddySeagoon** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 4:09 pm

megaflow,

You are not restricted to four partitions.
True, you can only have four primary partitions. However, one of the primary partitins can be an Extended partition. Inside the extended partition you can create at least 11 logical partitions. You can install Gentoo in logical partitions if you like.

Boot on USB works. Put everything else on the HDD. Building Gentoo on a USB stick will kill the FLASH memory, which only has a limited number of writes.
4G is enough for most packages. LibreOffice currently needs 9G if you want to build it yourself.

Do not use a journalled filesystem on USB. Its slow and on such a small filesystem, its not needed.
ext2 is fine, ext4 with the journal off is fine.

Depending on your BIOS, your USB stick may become /dev/sda when you boot from it, even if its not when you install.

megaflow · Post by **megaflow** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:43 pm

Hi

ty for the answer
got the base system install. No probs sofar

I use the usb disk for boot and swap

Building Gentoo on a USB stick will kill the FLASH memory, which only has a limited number of writes

good thing that i dit not set /var on the usbdisk

boot and swap will be fine - i tink (8g ram will prob never use swap)

Oo and the usbdisk still named sdb - even booting with this

I do this 1 so i kill not mbr - solong i still have warranty from dell
i now i can backup mbr - but still