https://github.com/genosse-einhorn/dracut-ntfsloop
https://github.com/genosse-einhorn/dracut-ntfsloop
Last synced: 4 months ago
JSON representation
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/genosse-einhorn/dracut-ntfsloop
- Owner: genosse-einhorn
- Created: 2016-01-30T16:41:15.000Z (over 10 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2019-11-10T14:56:23.000Z (over 6 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2024-05-08T00:39:59.044Z (about 2 years ago)
- Language: Shell
- Size: 6.84 KB
- Stars: 8
- Watchers: 2
- Forks: 4
- Open Issues: 1
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Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
- awesome-initramfs - dracut-ntfsloop
README
dracut-ntfsloop: Mount image on NTFS partition
==============================================
This dracut module allows you to use a root system located inside
a disk image on a NTFS partition, similar to how Wubi worked.
## Requirements
* dracut (tested with Fedora 23)
* fuse, ntfs-3g, kpartx, losetup
* fuse and loop kernel modules available
The disk image should contain a full partition table. You'll usually create this
by installing your linux distro of choice in qemu.
## Installation
* copy the `90ntfsloop` directory to `/usr/lib/dracut/modules.d`
* regenerate your initrd using `dracut --force`
* add to your kernel command line: `rd.ntfsloop=/PATH/TO/DEVICE:PATH/TO/IMAGE/IN/PARTITION`
where `/PATH/TO/DEVICE` can be like `/dev/sda1` but also `UUID=...`.
You'll want to do this while your system is still running inside qemu.
## Booting
To boot the final system, your `/boot` partition will need to be accessible
by your boot loader of choice. You can use grub2's ntfs support combined with
its ability to access partitions on a loopback image to make this a breeze.
I installed grub2 onto a flash drive (
`grub2-install --no-floppy /dev/sdX --boot-directory=/mount/point/of/sdX`) and
set up a config file (`grub2/grub.cfg`) similar to this:
loopback l (hd0,msdos1)/PATH/TO/DISK.img
configfile (l,msdos1)/grub2/grub.cfg
By the way: Your disk image is still bootable in qemu, and could be made
bootable in VirtualBox/VMWare too by constructing a suitable `vmdk` file.
## Performance
Not great, because ntfs-3g is involved. Could be improved by calculating the image
file offset on the disk and creating the loop device directly, but that is quite
risky, especially when the image file is fragmented.