Remaster to create an ISO image to be used with dd

[mbertrand]

I'm able to remaster. Create multiple rmfs's and so on. I also followed the remastering on wiki. My question is can I produce an iso image that can then be used by dd. I need to be able give someone my image and have them run dd. They have the same hardware. The image id for booting of hard drive.
Thanks

[genec]

I'm able to remaster. Create multiple rmfs's and so on. I also followed the remastering on wiki. My question is can I produce an iso image that can then be used by dd. I need to be able give someone my image and have them run dd. They have the same hardware. The image id for booting of hard drive.
Thanks

Assuming you're using ISOLINUX as your bootloader, it sounds like a general Syslinux question.  ISOHYBRID as the last step after composing the ISO should be the answer.

That said, I don't know what remaster system you use but the Syslinux extension for TC does include it and I spin my own ISOs and UFDs without a remaster system and without using ISOHYBRID so I don't know its syntax without looking.

[mbertrand]

Thanks

[coreplayer2]

I use a remastered ISO installed to USB's frequently, but honestly don't know if dd can effectively perform all the needed tasks (AFAIK).

I use  dd to wipe the USB
then fdisk to create a partition
then mkfs.msdos to format it
then dosfslabel to label the usb
then dd to install the mbr.bin
then I use syslinux to install the bootloader
lastly I copy the contents of the remaster to the USB


kinda complex but works everytime

[Lee]

I'm not trying to say "you shouldn't do that", but I don't see the point of installing an ISO, hybrid or otherwise, to a USB stick - or for that matter of using an installer.

coreplayer's procedure seems similar to mine except for differences that no doubt derive from his different circumstances/requirements.

I don't generally wipe a stick with dd unless it is giving me trouble.
partition is                 (fdisk)
format it (with label)  (mke2fs)
install bootloader      (grub4dos)
copy the kernel and initrd (I generally use the stock ones from the web site)
set up the tce directory (mine's little complex, but most of it just gets copied over from the running system)

I've only dabbled a little with remastering so I'm no authority, but doesn't the process produce an initrd that you can just grab and use?

No ISO involved.  No installer involved either - though if I were doing it from a running MS Windows system it might be a different matter.

As coreplayer2 said, "kinda complex but works every time".

[coreplayer2]

Am still curious of the original question,  if a remastered iso remains a hybrid and is bootable after being copied to USB using DD. ?

[genec]

if a remastered iso remains a hybrid

A remaster will only be hybrid if the remaster does a hybridization.  The hybrid status of the source of the remaster doesn't matter.

[coreplayer2]

Interesting, thanks

[genec]

The reason is simple: a hybrid doesn't leave the first 16 sectors blank (as is default; sector size is 2048B).