NASLite Network Attached Storage

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 Post subject: USB boot help
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:01 am 
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Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:49 pm
Posts: 1
I can not get my computer to boot from usb. I have tried super floppy and partition setting on SanDisk Kruzer 512MB and a Kingston Data Traveler 512MB. Neither work. I disabled all IDE devices in the BIOS, and booted from the USB drive. I keep getting an error message telling to insert boot media. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, I am using an e-machines T3882 with a celeron d processor


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:45 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2004 4:11 pm
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Location: Server Elements
NASLite+ for USB Flash v1.1, available now, uses a modified MBR so compatibility should be greatly improved.


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PostPosted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:08 pm 
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Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:00 pm
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I am getting the same problem after attempting the same solutions using v1.4 (downloaded 11/5/05).

I am using a 256Mb Lexar Jumpdrive on a machine with an AMD Athlon (custom built).

Would it be easier to just break down and buy the CD version? I'm not concerned with not having the extra IDE connector.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:55 am 
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Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:50 am
Posts: 37
I went through every suitable motherboard I own, and none of them will boot from a USB device (either format). Would it be possible to construct a "kicker disk" boot floppy to mount and boot from USB for systems without bios support?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:25 pm 
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Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:50 am
Posts: 37
I tried to make a boot floppy for nasllite+usb, but I'm stuck on an out of memory error.

Basically, it's a dos boot floppy with a usb driver and loadlin. It starts decompressing the kernal, outputs a couple naslite messages and an out of memory error, system halted.

config.sys:
Code:
lastdrive=Z
device=USBASPI.SYS /v /slow
device=ASPIDISK.SYS


autoexec.bat
Code:
REM Attempt to load Naslite
A:\loadlin C:\naslite.01 root=/dev/ram0 rw initrd=C:\naslite.02


Terminal Error:
Code:
Uncompressing NASLite Kernel...
Ok, booting the kernel
Uncompressing NASLite Kernel...


Out of memory


 -- System halted



My objective is to get the naslite+ feature set without sacrificing an IDE port on a motherboard without USB-Boot support.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 11:22 am 
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Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2004 4:11 pm
Posts: 1771
Location: Server Elements
I'm not sure that what you are attempting to do will work. I don’t know if loadlin can boot the NASLite kernel due to it's size. There are a number of things to consider before giving up though.

I’d disable everything in the BIOS that is not necessary for NASlite to run. Most importantly, power management. Some boards need DOS mode USB enabled and also USB keyboard enabled. I don’t know why, but they do. I’d try adding more RAM and using different RAM. With some boards, increasing the RAM wait state will allow inferior RAM to function properly.

Other than that, if the kernel boots properly, the rest should follow through as necessary. Let me know how it goes and if you are successful in booting using the kicker floppy.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:43 am 
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Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:50 am
Posts: 37
Success!

The magic pixie dust turned out to be linld.com version 0.97.

Autoexec.bat
Code:
REM Not Needed


Config.sys
Code:
REM Load USB Drivers
device=USBASPI.SYS /v /slow
device=ASPIDISK.SYS

REM Launch NASLite+USB
shell=A:\linld.COM image=C:\naslite.01 initrd=C:\naslite.02 cl=@A:\lincmd.txt


lincmd.txt
Code:
root=/dev/ram0 rw



The OS is FreeDos, the USB driver is from panasonic, and the aspi driver is from adaptec.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:56 am 
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Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2004 4:11 pm
Posts: 1771
Location: Server Elements
Quote:
Success!

I can now confirm that lusid's approach does in fact work. We'll take a closer look at it in the next few days.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 10:05 pm 
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Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:28 am
Posts: 31
Hello lusid,

Any chance of putting together a howto on this subject. I have been fiddling with what you have posted here but havent got it going yet.

How do you setup the usb drive. How do you get your NAS+ image on there?

Can it be done with a normal DOS boot disk created by windows?

This would be a very useful thing if I can replicate what you have done.

Tony...did you get a chance to take a closer look?

Thanks


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:55 am 
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Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2004 4:01 pm
Posts: 801
Location: ServerElements
We'll be releasing a USB kicker floppy shortly, you'll be notified by email when it's available.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:53 am 
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Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:50 am
Posts: 37
Thats great.

Mine was based on boot2pup (http://www.goosee.com/puppy/boot2pup.htm), with the changes I posted above. Boot2pup has the drivers on a bootable floppy image. linld.com can be hard to track down. the official download site is usually down. Nothing special setting up the usb drive. Just make it with the boot cd.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:00 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:58 am
Posts: 1
Hi,

I'm searching for a floppy that lets me boot from a USB drive. Can I download your floppy somewhere?

I don't use youre NAS solution, I just wanna use it on my pc for a special OS, GeeXboX

Thanks!


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:09 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:26 am
Posts: 428
Location: UK
I am sure this has been commented on the GeeXboX forums. you can always follow lusids instructions and build a floppy that will boot a usb device.


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