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https://github.com/Mexit/MultiOS-USB

Boot operating systems directly from ISO files
https://github.com/Mexit/MultiOS-USB

bios boot bootable-usb gpt grub2 iso-files iso-image linux liveusb loopback multiboot network-boot uefi uefi-boot uefi-secureboot usb windows winpe

Last synced: 3 months ago
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Boot operating systems directly from ISO files

Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/Mexit/MultiOS-USB
Owner: Mexit
License: gpl-3.0
Created: 2020-01-28T11:13:11.000Z (almost 5 years ago)
Default Branch: master
Last Pushed: 2024-08-12T10:18:32.000Z (3 months ago)
Last Synced: 2024-08-12T12:53:43.695Z (3 months ago)
Topics: bios, boot, bootable-usb, gpt, grub2, iso-files, iso-image, linux, liveusb, loopback, multiboot, network-boot, uefi, uefi-boot, uefi-secureboot, usb, windows, winpe
Language: Shell
Homepage:
Size: 18.7 MB
Stars: 232
Watchers: 9
Forks: 26
Open Issues: 1
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Funding: .github/FUNDING.yml
- License: LICENSE
- Security: docs/Security_Volation.png
- Support: docs/Supported_OS.md

Awesome Lists containing this project

jimsghstars - Mexit/MultiOS-USB - Boot operating systems directly from ISO files (Shell)

README

# MultiOS-USB

One device with multiple ISO files. Easy to use: install once, add ISO files and boot computers from it

![Main menu](docs/main_menu.png)

## Features:

- BIOS and UEFI support
- Secure Boot support (boot, manage uefi keys)
- Load UEFI drivers
- Launch .efi executables and other boot loaders
- Boot Linux from .iso files
- Boot Windows 10/11 installer from ISO (currently, SB must be disabled during installation)
- Boot Linux installer from network (experimental)
- Boot locally installed systems: Linux, Windows
- Automatically update configuration files
- Without background services
- exFAT file system support
- Automatic detection of compatible ISO images (GRUB loopback)
- Support for systems without loopback support
- Allows customisation of ISO boot menu (for example: custom kernel options)
- Support for USB, SSD, nvme, mmcblk, loop, nbd and virtual disks
- Support for x86, x86_64

## Tested ISOs

List of tested ISO images: [new](docs/Supported_OS.md), [(old)](docs/exfat_loopback_support.md)

## Installation:

Go to [Releases](https://github.com/Mexit/MultiOS-USB/releases), download the latest version and unpack the downloaded archive.

### Linux console

Check and install the required packages (in most cases they should be installed by default):
- tar, bzip2, xz
- sgdisk, wipefs
- mkfs.fat, mkfs.exfat, ...

Go to the directory where you extracted the files and run the following at the console
```sh
$ ./multios-usb.sh -l
```
This command will show you the USB devices available on your system.
To install MultiOS-USB, type the following command, replacing `/dev/sdX` with your chosen device path.
For example:
```sh
$ sudo ./multios-usb.sh /dev/sdX
```

### Image based installation (experimental)

Recommended installation method for Windows. Go to [Releases](https://github.com/Mexit/MultiOS-USB/releases) and download the appropriate file.
Installation details can be found [here](docs/README_image) and in the downloaded archive.

## First use

After installation, copy your ISO files to the `/ISOs` directory and boot your computer from USB.
You can also add your own configuration files to the `/MultiOS-USB/config_priv` directory. They will not be deleted during the automatic MultiOS-USB update.
If you want to change the configuration for a given ISO - copy the one you have chosen from the [config](config) folder, paste into [config_priv](config_priv) and update it according to your needs.
The updated configuration will be detected automatically.

On the first boot with Secure Boot enabled on each new computer, a MultiOS USB certificate must be installed.

![Press OK](docs/Security_Volation.png)
Press Enter

![Choose: Enroll key from disk](docs/Enroll_key.png)
Select: Enroll key from disc

Select `MultiOS-EFI` as partition, then browse to the `EFI/cert` directory and select `MultiOS-USB.cer`, `Continue` and confirm (`Yes`) key enrolling.
You can also immediately add certificates (keys) from popular distributions in the same way.
If you want to add a certificate later, you can do it by selecting in the Main Menu:
`EFI Tools -->` and then `Add UEFI key or hash`.

## Update MultiOS-USB:

You can add support for new operating systems. No need to reinstall.
[Download](https://github.com/Mexit/MultiOS-USB/archive/master.zip) and unpack MultiOS-USB repository

##### Automatic update
To update configuration files, simply type the following command, replacing `/dev/sdX` with your chosen device path.
```sh
$ ./multios-usb.sh -u /dev/sdX
```

##### Manual update
- Remove all files and directories on your USB in `/MultiOS-USB/config/`
- Copy the downloaded files and directories from `config` to the above directory.