multiboot-usb

Create a multiboot USB stick.

usage

• Copy iso images to boot into the subdirectories to be used by the memdisk method or the dd method. I'd recommend to try memdisk method first. However, since this method should by working with any images it is the default mode.
• Set configurations in config.
• Start tool from command line: sudo start.sh.

memdisk method

These images will be copied to the stick and will be loaded via memdisk. This will boot the iso images, but not all will work. If the system needs to access the image after the first start - i.e. after loading kernel and initial ramdisk - they will fail. This is because they cannot access the loaded image after start. This is a known problem with memdisk, afaik it's not a bug.

I'd recommend to try this method first. If it does not work, try to use the dd method.

dd method

These images will be copied to an own partition on the stick via dd. These partitions are bootable themselfes and will be chainloaded by syslinux.

I'd recommend to try the iso method first.

extracting method

These images will be mounted, their contents will copied on the stick. Then, the isolinux.cfg-files will be modified to be loaded by the stick. This may not work if the image is a hybrid image, i.e. if it has more than one partition. You can check this via fdisk -l . If partitions are shown, this method will probably fail.

Currently, this method fails. I stopped development of this method since the dd method works.

Alternative: The images may be extracted to an own partition, like in the dd method. The main difference to the latter is that the partition size can be set manually - and the partition can be writable. Theirfore, changes can be made on the image, e.g. the filesystem.squashfs can be modified, e.g. by installing updates.

If this variation of the extracting method shall be used, syslinux must be installed on that partition, too. Maybe it is needed to rename the directory isolinux and / or to rename isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg. Then, the partition can be chainloaded from syslinux on partition 1.

tested with

working with memdisk method

• clonezilla-live-2.5.2-31-amd64: CloneZilla Live
• dban.iso: Darik's Boot and Nuke
• hirens-boot-cd.iso: Hiren's Boot CD, version 15.2
• kali-linux-mini.iso: Kali Linux Netinstall
• plpbt.iso: Plop Boot Manager
• rescatux.iso: RescATux
• riplinux.iso: RIPLinuX 11.7

working with dd method

• lubuntu-16.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso: Lubuntu install disc
• kali-linux-2018.2-amd64.iso: Kali Linux 2018.2

see also

only some of many pages with information:

• https://blog.sleeplessbeastie.eu/2015/12/07/how-to-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive/
• https://theartofmachinery.com/2016/04/21/partitioned_live_usb.html