ISO boot from FAT/NTFS/USB (GRUB.exe, grldr from boot.ini)

[ruymbeke]

Hello,
Please find below the link to a new version (even smaller: 8MB) using the latest VMware tools (build 34685):
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/vmk501_34685.zip
Have fun, and please provide some feedback...
Gilles

Hello,
I have created a VMware virtual machine (vm) for Knoppix 5.01
with the VMware tools already installed using the ISO boot technique, cf the following 11MB zip file:
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/VMK501.ZIP
cf: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/554
You can try it using the VMPlayer from vmware, cf: http://www.vmware.com/download/player/
This is a very nice way to try Knoppix within windows without any risk.
Knoppix running in a vm is actually the fastest Xserver for Windows I have found so far
including cygwin and some other quite pricy ones ...
Have fun,
Gilles

PS: Please update the cdrom image path to match the location of your Knoppix 5.01 CD or DVD iso file.
After the boot process is complete, please use the full screen mode or resize the vmware application window
to match your needs. The guest X server will change the display settings of the Knoppix 5.01 window
to fit the vmware application window (if the Autofit guest and Resize guest options are enabled in the preferences)

FYI: How does it work ?
I have setup a knoppix.sh in a virtual hdd decompressing in the Knoppix ramdisk a tgz file
including all the vmware tools during the boot process just before the init execution. Thanks the unionfs
the vmware tools are "patching" the Knoppix iso with the ramdisk and are then launched by the init process.
I use grub as a boot loader in the virtual hdd to load the Knoppix kernel and the minirt_usb6.gz boot ramdisk
allowing to change the hostname, patch a couple of bugs and finally boot from the VMware virtual cdrom
mounted from the official Knoppix 5.01 cd or dvd iso. The VMware tools include some key features as:
transparent mouse, fast graphics, shared directories (workstation only), ...

[ruymbeke]

Hello,
Please find below the link to a zip including the kernel and minirt required to boot Knoppix 5.1.0 from the iso file:
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/kno510.zip
Have fun and as usual, please provide some feedback...
Cheers, Gilles

PS: Be very careful to match the pathname casing of the menu.lst and what is really on the disk
(especially in the bootfrom= path ) It looks like that the ntfs-3g (used now) is case sensitive...

PS2: There is some interesting technical discussion about this vm in here:
http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtop...=110186#110186

[Harry Kuhman]

Hello,
Please find below the link to a zip including the kernel and minirt required to boot Knoppix 5.1.0 from the iso file:
.....

Amazing, most people have no managed to download the ISO yet and you already have the boot stuff worked out! Would it be too much to ask for a 5.1 virtual machine (or does the 5.t0.1 work for 5.1 also?)

[ruymbeke]

Hi Harry,
Good to read that you like the vm...
The 5.01 vm add-on will not work on 5.1 since it is kernel dependant.
I will work on it as soon as the vm tools will support the new 2.6.19 kernel.
Best Regards,
Gilles

Hello,
Please find below the link to a zip including the kernel and minirt required to boot Knoppix 5.1.0 from the iso file:
.....

Amazing, most people have no managed to download the ISO yet and you already have the boot stuff worked out! Would it be too much to ask for a 5.1 virtual machine (or does the 5.t0.1 work for 5.1 also?)

[kirol]

Please find below the link to a zip including the kernel and minirt required to boot Knoppix 5.1.0 from the iso file:
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/kno510.zip

Gee, you're fast, Gilles! Do you mean the "bootfrom" cheatcode only works with this (I took it for granted) ? I can only repeat that these and your USB support work should be included in the base knoppix system. It's a little sad to see the effort dispersed between knoppix, kanotix, sidux and perhaps even mepis. Of course I am still very thankful to Klaus, but one cannot help dreaming about what these guys could offer if only they worked together...

Enough ranting; happy new year everyone!

Edit: I've now downloaded the 5.1 CD image, and have had no problem whatsoever adding it to my grub boot menu using your minirt and bootfrom. Neat!

No beryl for me, though, as the "nv" driver is not accelerated. Does anyone know how to persist the nvidia driver across reboots, so I can try this?

[ruymbeke]

My add-on is only required to boot from the ISO file (and using the bootfrom cheatcode).
The original minirt.gz file do not allow for the double loop back (iso & KNOPPIX files)
Happy New Year !
Gilles

Please find below the link to a zip including the kernel and minirt required to boot Knoppix 5.1.0 from the iso file:
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/kno510.zip

Gee, you're fast, Gilles! Do you mean the "bootfrom" cheatcode only works with this (I took it for granted) ? I can only repeat that these and your USB support work should be included in the base knoppix system. It's a little sad to see the effort dispersed between knoppix, kanotix, sidux and perhaps even mepis. Of course I am still very thankful to Klaus, but one cannot help dreaming about what these guys could offer if only they worked together...

Enough ranting; happy new year everyone!

[ruymbeke]

...Would it be too much to ask for a 5.1 virtual machine ?...

Here it is (7.4MB): http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/Vmk510_36983.zip
cf: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/662
Have fun, and as usual please provide some feedback...
Gilles

Hello,
Please find below the link to a new version (even smaller: 8MB) using the latest VMware tools (build 34685):
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/vmk501_34685.zip
Have fun, and please provide some feedback...
Gilles

Hello,
I have created a VMware virtual machine (vm) for Knoppix 5.01
with the VMware tools already installed using the ISO boot technique, cf the following 11MB zip file:
http://s94002264.onlinehome.us/grub/VMK501.ZIP
cf: http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/554
You can try it using the VMPlayer from vmware, cf: http://www.vmware.com/download/player/
This is a very nice way to try Knoppix within windows without any risk.
Knoppix running in a vm is actually the fastest Xserver for Windows I have found so far
including cygwin and some other quite pricy ones ...
Have fun,
Gilles

PS: Please update the cdrom image path to match the location of your Knoppix 5.01 CD or DVD iso file.
After the boot process is complete, please use the full screen mode or resize the vmware application window
to match your needs. The guest X server will change the display settings of the Knoppix 5.01 window
to fit the vmware application window (if the Autofit guest and Resize guest options are enabled in the preferences)

FYI: How does it work ?
I have setup a knoppix.sh in a virtual hdd decompressing in the Knoppix ramdisk a tgz file
including all the vmware tools during the boot process just before the init execution. Thanks the unionfs
the vmware tools are "patching" the Knoppix iso with the ramdisk and are then launched by the init process.
I use grub as a boot loader in the virtual hdd to load the Knoppix kernel and the minirt_usb6.gz boot ramdisk
allowing to change the hostname, patch a couple of bugs and finally boot from the VMware virtual cdrom
mounted from the official Knoppix 5.01 cd or dvd iso. The VMware tools include some key features as:
transparent mouse, fast graphics, shared directories (workstation only), ...

[00schmu]

Hello,

I tried VMPlayer on XP, 5.0.1 is running, but I have no internet access on the VM and I cannot find a shared folder or something to pass files between VM and XP.

Please help.

00

[ruymbeke]

Hello,
I don't know why you do not have any internet access on the vm
since it is working for me. Did you check you network settings ?
The vm will be looking for the network parameters from the local
dhcp server, do you have a dhcp server on your local network ?
Shared folders between host and vm is a feature only supported
in the workstation not the vmplayer.
Best Regards,
Gilles

Hello,
I tried VMPlayer on XP, 5.0.1 is running, but I have no internet access on the VM and I cannot find a shared folder or something to pass files between VM and XP.
Please help.
00

[kirol]

Have fun, and as usual please provide some feedback...

Hi Gilles, the VM works fine here for the CD-image, with sound and internet access no problem (I have a dhcp-capable router). The only minor glitch is the long list of useless virtual resolutions offered, as already reported but that's easily worked around.

Thanks & happy new year.