Live USB Puppy on iMac: test results

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icake
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri 27 Jul 2012, 00:58

Live USB Puppy on iMac: test results

#1 Post by icake »

For the last few weeks, I test run Puppy linux on an iMac (early 2008 model) with OS X 10.11. Here are my findings:

A. Puppy live cd on iMac
A number of Puppy Linux live cd can run on the iMac, including:

64 bit:
fatdog64 701
simplicity Desktop64 15.4 final

32 bit:
precise 5.7.1, 5.4
racy 5.5
simplicity Desktop 13.7, 13.10
slacko 6.3.0, 5.3.3t, 5.3.3 4g

B. Puppy live usb on iMac
Because newer Apple computers do not have cd/DVD readers, my next test was to run live usb Puppy Linux on the iMac.

I. The 5 minutes setup of live USB Puppy linux on iMac
If you are in a hurry and just want the job done, here is my 5 minutes solution to setup a Puppy live USB on iMac:

1. format a usb pendrive with FAT 32 file system
The minumum size of the USB is 0.25 to 8G, depending on which and how many Puppy systems you want to put on the live USB.
In this 5 minutes setup example, I use the smallest Puppy system that can usb live boot the iMac: unicorn-6.0 (135 mb) and so the minimum usb size is 250 mb.

2. create 2 folders on the usb:
/efi/boot/

3. download the current stable i386 clonezilla-live iso (186 mb) from: http://clonezilla.org/downloads.php
extract 2 files from the iso file:
/efi/boot/grub.cfg (5 kb)
/efi/boot/bootx64.efi (1007 kb)
and put them in the usb folder /efi/boot/

4. create a new folder /live01/ on the usb

5. downloaded the Puppy unicorn-6.0.iso (135 mb) from: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2071hgqycf1o ... iZxHa?dl=0
extract 4 files from the iso file:
and copy them to the /live01 folder
initrd.gz
puppy_unicorn_6.0.sfs
vmlinuz
zdr_univorn_6.0.sfs

6. now your usb should have these 6 files:
/efi/boot/
bootx64.efi
grub.cfg
/live01/
initrd.gz
puppy_unicorn_6.0.sfs
vmlinuz
zdr_univorn_6.0.sfs

7. setup the grub.cfg file
a. open the /efi/boot/grub.cfg file with a text editor

b. add these 6 lines (the last line is a blank line) at the bottom of the file:
menuentry "Puppy linux live unicorn 6.0"{
search --set -f /live01/vmlinuz
linux /live01/vmlinuz boot=live
initrd /live01/initrd.gz
}

c. save your file and your Puppy live USB is now ready to boot the iMac

8. To use
a. put the usb in the iMac usb slot, power on with "option" or "Alt" pressed-down
b. when the efi boot option is up, select the EFI icon representing your usb and press return
c. the grub menu will display, select the Puppy linux live unicorn 6.0 system and press return.

II. additional information for more serious users:
1. Instead of the current version, you can use older versions of i386 clonezilla live files.
You need to extract the same 2 files (bootx64.efi and grub.cfg). Older versions of i386 clonezilla live can be found here:
http://free.nchc.org.tw/clonezilla-live/old/

2. to add more live Puppy systems on the USB:
a. create a new folder for each additional Puppy system (e.g. /live02, /live03... etc)

b. copy the 3 or 4 Puppy files from the Puppy iso to the corresponding new folder created (e.g. /live02)
the required Puppy files are the same as the required 3 types of frugal install Puppy files, usually call:
i) initrd.gz ( or initrd.xz, initrd )
ii) vmlinux
iii) Puppy_name-version_number.sfs (e.g. puppy_tahr_6.0.2.sfs, zdrv_tahr_6.0.2.sfs)

c. create a new section in the grub.cfg file similar to those 6 lines under section I7b, remember to use the correct names that match the new Puppy system:
i) Puppy name (e.g. vivid-6.5)
ii) folder name (e.g. /live02)
iii) initrd.gz name (e.g. initrd.gz)
iv) vmlinux name (e.g. vmlinux)
v) Puppy_name-version_number.sfs name (e.g. vivid-6.5.sfs)

3. I have tested about 80 Puppy systems and found these 22 can usb live boot my iMac:

Names of Puppy -- Names of iso (size mb)

64 bits:
fatdog64 7.0.1 -- Fatdog64-701.iso (260 mb)
fathouse64 602 -- Fathouse64-602.iso (649 mb)
jl64 604 -- JL64-604-noefi.iso (360 mb)
slacko64 5.8.7 -- slacko64-5.8.7.iso (181 mb)

32 bits:
brutalpuppy 2015 -- vivid-beta2-BrutalPuppy-EngHun-2015-nov.part01(to 09).rar (4434 mb)
desktop 15.10 -- Desktop1510Final2.iso (620 mb)
emsee tahr 6.0.1 -- emsee-tahr_6.0.1.iso (734 mb)
emsee ultra 09-15 -- EmSee-Ultra-09-15.iso (2398 mb)
lazyUnicorn 001 -- LazYUnicorn-001-Grub4DOS.iso (615 mb)
lxpup 15.11.03 -- LxPup-15.11.03-s-pae.iso (231 mb)
lxpupsc 15.12.01 -- LxPupSc-15.12.01-pae.iso (256 mb)
lxpupsc 15.12.04 -- LxPupSc-15.12.04-pae.iso (256 mb)
lxpuptahr 15.05.2 -- LxPupTahr-15.05.2-nopae.iso (219 mb)
lxpuptahr 15.12.01 -- LxPupTahr-15.12.1-nopae.iso (222 mb)
lxpupVivid 15.05.1 -- LxPupVivid-15.05.1-pae.iso (496 mb)
Netbook 15.10 final -- Netbook1510Final-2.iso (387 mb)
offlinegames -- offlinegames.iso (871 mb)
SLegOPen 2.0 -- SLegOPen-2.0-k4.2.5-noPAE-Eng.iso (208 mb)
tahr 6.0.2 -- tahr-6.0.2_noPAE.iso (201 mb)
unicorn 6.0 -- unicorn-6.0.iso (135 mb)
vivid 6.5 -- vivid-6.5_noPAE.iso (215 mb)
xtahr 1b3 -- x-tahr-1b3.iso (270 mb)

4. In my test runs, these other Puppy systems cannot boot up my iMac:

64 bit:
april64 7.2
Desktop64 157 final, 154 final
fatdog64 633, 511
fotopup64
lxpup64 15.05.01, 14.12.00
lxpupthar64 15.10.2, 15.10.01
slacko64 6.3.0
tahr64 6.0.2
wary64 6.99

32 bits:
april 7.2.1
can bike 5.7.1
carolite 1.2
ce 4
desktop 13.10
emsee vivid beta 2
librepup 6.0.2.2
lupu 5.2.8
lxpup 14.03
lxpupUnicorn 15.02.1, 15.1.00
lxQtpup 14.12.1.s
ob raring 3.9.9.2
precise 5.7.1, precise 5.7.1RetroCsPupFINALEngHun2015Oct, precise 5.4.3 Barbones, preciseSLIMS, 5.4
pup 4.3.1 max
pup 4.3.2 v3 plus updated
pup rescue 2.3, pup rescue precise
racy 5.5
raring 5.6.94, 3.9.9.2
saluki NOP 023r2
simplicity 13.10, 13.7
slacko 6.3.0, 6.1.0.1, 6.0.8.1, 6.0.7.4, 5.9.3, 5.7-2016, 5.7-2015fd, 5.7.0, 5.3.3.t, 5.3.3 4g
slim 6
thin slacko 5.4 XZ
vincentvanpup-3992
vlina R2
X1510Beta2
wary 5.3.3 BabyBarbones, 5.3.3 Barbones
xprecise 2.3
xslacko 3b7

If you have time and have access to a mac computer, please repeat some of the above tests and share your success story with us.
Last edited by icake on Wed 13 Jan 2016, 00:59, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
don570
Posts: 5528
Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2010, 19:58
Location: Ontario

#2 Post by don570 »

Note to icake ---> You should give the Intel processor model
since there were quite a few imac models introduced by Apple.
_____________________________________________

Also if you have the time you could experiment with the pmirror application
in puppy linux to make a clone copy of partitions ( fat and ext3) from one
hard drive to another and see if mac OS X will recognize the partition.

I have done this successfully and my windows XP computer will open them
up , the fat32 partitions at least since XP needs an extension to read ext3.
I have cloned Ubuntu and it will still boot up.
_____________________________________________________

icake
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri 27 Jul 2012, 00:58

live usb Puppy on iMac

#3 Post by icake »

You should give the Intel processor model
since there were quite a few imac models introduced by Apple.
OS X El Capitan version 10.11.2
iMac (20-inch, Early 2008)
Processor 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 3 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128 MB

icake
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri 27 Jul 2012, 00:58

live usb Puppy on iMac

#4 Post by icake »

update as of Jan 3, 2016:

1. 2 more 32-bits Puppy systems to successfully usb-live-boot the iMac, their names (iso file name with size):
a. lxpupsc 15.12.05 -- LxPupSc-15.12.05-pae.iso (250 mb)
b. unicorn 6.2.1.91 -- unicorn-6.2.1.91.iso (232 mb)

giving a total of 20 32-bits and 4 64-bits Puppy systems bootable from the live-usb

2. 3 more non-bootable Puppy systems from the usb-live drive:
a. lxpup64 16.01.01
b. lxpuptahr64 15.09.04
c. quirky werewolf64 7.4

3. I discovered that the fatdog64 system can provide another platform to usb-live-boot other Puppy systems on my iMac.
references used:
a. Installing Fatdog64 on a flash drive for UEFI and BIOS bootingt:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/fatdog/web/fa ... drive.html
http://distro.ibiblio.org/fatdog/web/fa ... rive2.html
b. Ted Dog's No-format install for UEFI based machines Win8 & MacTel:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 727#818727

The steps I used are:
I. extract all the files inside "efiboot.img" included in any one of these 9 versions of fatdog64.iso
701, 700, 700b2, 700a1, 631, 630r2, 630r1, 630, 621 (e.g. Fatdog64-701.iso)

(there are 60 files and 3 folders inside efiboot.img)

I used uextract-3.15.pet (57 kb) to extract files from efiboot.img
more information: http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=87864
download uextract-3.15.pet:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 2f9dca749d

usage:
a) open terminal in folder with efiboot.img
b) type "uextract -o /root/dir_name efiboot.img"
c) hit return

You may also use MagicISO Maker 5.5.2.81 trial version to extract files from the img file. Download site:
http://magiciso-maker.en.softonic.com/

II. format an usb with fat32 filesystem (at least 0.5 G)

III. copy the 3 folders and 60 files in step (a) to the usb

IV. copy an fatdog64 iso file (e.g. Fatdog64-701.iso) on the main level of the usb

V. for each live boot Puppy system, create a new folder on the usb (e.g. /live01)

VI. copy the required frugal install Puppy system files to the new folder (e.g. /live01)
e.g. using unicorn-6.0, the required files are:
initrd.gz
puppy_unicorn_6.0.sfs
vmlinus
zdrv_unicorn_6.0.sfs

VII. add an grub.cfg file to the usb (main level), with a section for Fatdog64-701 and one section for each additional live Puppy system
e.g. here is a sample grub.cfg file used to multiboot Fatdog64-701 and 5 different Puppy systems

Code: Select all

insmod png
background_image /fatdog.png
set timeout=10

menuentry "Start Fatdog64-701.iso" {
loopback loop0  (hd0,msdos1)/Fatdog64-701.iso
linux (loop0)/vmlinuz
initrd (loop0)/initrd
}

menuentry "Puppy live Pup Tahr 6.0.2 noPAE"{
  search --set -f /live01/vmlinuz
  linux /live01/vmlinuz rootfstype=ramfs boot=live vga=788
  initrd /live01/initrd.gz
}

menuentry "Puppy live unicorn-6.0"{
  search --set -f /live02/vmlinuz
  linux /live02/vmlinuz rootfstype=ramfs boot=live vga=788
  initrd /live02/initrd.gz
}

menuentry "Puppy live unicorn-6.2.1.91"{
  search --set -f /live03/vmlinuz
  linux /live03/vmlinuz rootfstype=ramfs boot=live vga=788

}

menuentry "Puppy live Pup vivid-6.5_noPAE"{
  search --set -f /live04/vmlinuz
  linux /live04/vmlinuz rootfstype=ramfs boot=live vga=788
  initrd /live04/initrd.gz
}

menuentry "Puppy live fatdog 701"{
  search --set -f /live05/vmlinuz
  linux /live05/vmlinuz rootfstype=ramfs boot=live vga=788
  initrd /live05/initrd
}
menuentry "---" { true; }
menuentry "Firmware configuration" {
	fwsetup
}
menuentry "Shutdown" {
	halt
}
menuentry "Reboot" {
	reboot
}
VIII. your usb should now have these files/folders in the main level:
Fatdog64-701.iso
grub.cfg
Shellx64.efi
/drivers/
/EFI/
/keys/
/live01/
/live**/ for each additional live Puppy system

this usb is now ready to boot the iMac

IX. to use:
a) plug in the usb to the iMac
b) power on the iMac, at the same time press down the "option" or "Alt" key
c) when the rEFInd screen shows up, select the FatDog option and press return
d) when the next grub screen shows up, wait for it to automatically change to the next level of grub
e) when the 2nd grub screen shows up, select the required Puppy live system and press return

icake
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri 27 Jul 2012, 00:58

live usb Puppy on iMac

#5 Post by icake »

update as of Jan 5, 2016

A. I found another platform which can be used to usb-live-boot Puppy on my iMac. This is based on the ubuntu installation iso.
Detailed steps:
1. download the current version of 64 bits ubuntu iso (ubuntu-14.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso 1G) from: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

2. extract 2 files from the iso:
/efi/boot/grubx64.efi
/boot/grub/grub.cfg

3. format an usb drive (at least 0.5G) using fat32 filesystem

4. create 4 folders on the usb
/efi/boot/
/boot/grub/

5. copy the 2 ubuntu files to the usb, keeping the folder names the same

6. rename the file: /efi/boot/grubx64.efi to /efi/boot/bootx64.efi

7. create a new folder /live01/ on the usb

8. downloaded the Puppy unicorn-6.0.iso (135 mb) from: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2071hgqycf1o ... iZxHa?dl=0
extract 4 files from the iso file:
and copy them to the /live01 folder
initrd.gz
puppy_unicorn_6.0.sfs
vmlinuz
zdr_univorn_6.0.sfs

9. now your usb should have these 6 files:
/efi/boot/
bootx64.efi
/boot/grub/
grub.cfg
/live01/
initrd.gz
puppy_unicorn_6.0.sfs
vmlinuz
zdr_univorn_6.0.sfs

10. setup the grub.cfg file
a) open the /boot/grub/grub.cfg file with a text editor

b) add these 6 lines (the last line is a blank line) at the bottom of the file:
menuentry "Puppy linux live unicorn 6.0"{
search --set -f /live01/vmlinuz
linux /live01/vmlinuz boot=live
initrd /live01/initrd.gz
}

c) save your file and your Puppy live USB is now ready to boot the iMac

11. To use
a) put the usb in the iMac usb slot, power on with "option" or "Alt" pressed-down
b) when the efi boot option is up, select the EFI icon representing your usb and press return
c) the grub menu will display, select the Puppy linux live unicorn 6.0 system and press return.

B. additional information for more serious users:
1. Instead of the current version, you can use older versions of ubuntu iso files.
You need to extract the same 2 files (bootx64.efi and grub.cfg).

2. to add more live Puppy systems on the USB:
a) create a new folder for each additional Puppy system (e.g. /live02, /live03... etc)

b) copy the 3 or 4 Puppy files from the Puppy iso to the corresponding new folder created (e.g. /live02)
the required Puppy files are the same as the required 3 types of frugal install Puppy files, usually call:
i) initrd.gz ( or initrd.xz, initrd )
ii) vmlinux
iii) Puppy_name-version_number.sfs (e.g. puppy_tahr_6.0.2.sfs, zdrv_tahr_6.0.2.sfs)

c) create a new section in the grub.cfg file similar to those 6 lines under section I-10-b, remember to use the correct names that match the new Puppy system:
i) Puppy name (e.g. vivid-6.5)
ii) folder name (e.g. /live02)
iii) initrd.gz name (e.g. initrd.gz)
iv) vmlinux name (e.g. vmlinux)
v) Puppy_name-version_number.sfs name (e.g. vivid-6.5.sfs)

icake
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri 27 Jul 2012, 00:58

live usb Puppy on iMac

#6 Post by icake »

update as of Jan 12, 2016:

1. tested and found 1 more non-bootable Puppy system from the usb-live drive:
a. lxpup64 16.01.02

2. I discovered that the usb-pack_efi tools released by sysmatck here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2276498
can provide another platform to usb-live-boot other Puppy systems on my iMac.

Please see the above site for more details.

rmprep
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun 06 Jan 2013, 15:08

#7 Post by rmprep »

On 5.7.1 you can boot from ISO + extract the .sfs file (use 7zip to extract it, make sure name is lower case) and place it in a level1 folder of any name.

Puppy will search all folders to one level deep to find the sqfs file.
Works for FAT32 and NTFS drives. No extra cheat code needed.

I am unable to get pure iso booting working (tried many cheat codes)
Visit [url]http://www.rmprepusb.com[/url] for over 100 USB boot tutorials!

User avatar
mikeslr
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Joined: Mon 16 Jun 2008, 21:20
Location: 500 seconds from Sol

xenialpup64-7.0.8.5-uefi.iso on an iMac

#8 Post by mikeslr »

Just a link to Billtoo's post: "It's very fast, works great on this 9 year out Imac desktop." http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 102#967102

mikesLr

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Max Headroom
Posts: 421
Joined: Wed 28 Jun 2006, 07:17
Location: GodZone Kiwi
Contact:

#9 Post by Max Headroom »

G'day People I've got an Early 2006 iMac, w/ intel 1.83 GHz Yonah Core Duo CPU, 2 GB RAMemory OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard on 160 GB Sata Hard Dr & Firefox 47 ( the Latest Version it can Run ), it Plays yoUTube OK, But I'm Anxious about 4 How much Longer???... Hence My interest in Dual Booting a Frugal Puppy on the Local Sata Dr. Will it even be Possible? Wot w/ the Native Mac GPT Partitioning & HFS+ File System.... How will Grub 4 DOS like it?

Feedback Please!

:)K
PC is Not Political Correctness :P , it's a Personal Computer! Boycott the Evil M$ & Google!

User avatar
bigpup
Posts: 13886
Joined: Sun 11 Oct 2009, 18:15
Location: S.C. USA

#10 Post by bigpup »

Code: Select all

rootfstype=ramfs boot=live vga=788

Not sure why you are putting this code on the kernel line of the boot loader menu entry.
Puppy menu entries should not require this and not even sure the boot process knows what to do with this code.
Should only need this:

Code: Select all

menuentry "Puppy live Pup Tahr 6.0.2 noPAE"{
  search --set -f /live01/vmlinuz
  linux /live01/vmlinuz 
  initrd /live01/initrd.gz
}
Also if you are going to test the newest versions of Puppy.
Test the latest ones. Older versions do have bugs.
http://puppylinux.com/
The things they do not tell you, are usually the clue to solving the problem.
When I was a kid I wanted to be older.... This is not what I expected :shock:
YaPI(any iso installer)

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