UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I'm trying to create a customized debian installer on a USB key.
I found a tutorial on how to create the usb key.
After the USB key is prepared, all you have to do is to copy the iso file to the stick.

So what I need to do now is to be able to modify the content of the iso file before copying it to the usb stick.

I found how to mount iso file to a mount poinr but I can't find a way to change it.

<edit>
By the way, I thought it would be much easier to have the installation files just copied to the flash drive (instead of inside a iso file inside the flash drive).
That would make edition of installation files much simplier.
Is this possible?
</edit>

Can anyone help me ?
Santiago

One easy way is to use the GUI tool called ISO Master

If you want to modify the ISO from the command line, here is How to edit a Linux Live CD ISO

...in other words, you almost never do. The ISO9660 file structure is not designed for modification, everything has a strictly defined place with no room to extend files or directories. (not the same thing as multisession.) You copy the whole file structure it somewhere else, modify that, and build a new image from it.

Thanks for your answers.

@fpmurphy, I tried the command line procedure following your link but got stuck at #10.
First I don't have any initrd.img but only initrd.gz:

Code:

xxxxxxx:~# find debian-506-i386-netinst/ | grep initrd
debian-506-i386-netinst/pool/main/k/kickseed/initrd-kickseed_0.50_all.udeb
debian-506-i386-netinst/install.386/gtk/initrd.gz
debian-506-i386-netinst/install.386/initrd.gz
xxxxxxx:~#

Anyway, I unzipped it:

Code:

xxxxxxx:~# gunzip -c debian-506-i386-netinst/install.i386/initrd.gz > debian-506-i386-netinst/install.i386/initrd
xxxxxxx:~#

But couldn't find a way to mount it:

Code:

xxxxxxx:~# mount -o loop debian-506-i386-netinst/install.i386/initrd /tmp/initrd
mount: you must specify the filesystem type
xxxxxxx:~#

Could you point me in the right direction?

You don't mount an initrd either. It's not even a filesystem of any sort, it's a CPIO archive. Here is more info on what an initrd is and what it does and how to make one.

I'm not sure that's really what you want to do however. What exactly are you trying to modify where why to do what? That file is in the ISO, not seperate from it.

Hi Corona688 and thanks for your concern.

What I'm trying to do is too make a Debian instalation USB key unattended.

o I want to pre-answer questions like language, name, packges, partitionning, etc...
o I want to store those answer in a file (I guess) on the USB key
o I want to modify the boot process to start installing using the answer file

Cheers
Santiago

You'll need to find where those questions are asked and answered before you start modifying. I have my doubts that it's in the initrd.