Difference between revisions of "Pre-installation Tasks"

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(trying to fix punctuation & capitalization for the sentences about Balena and Rufus.)
 
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=== Back Up Your Data ===
 
=== Back Up Your Data ===
  
Back up all important data on the target computer where GhostBSD will be installed. The GhostBSD installer will not ask before making changes to the disk, but once the process has started it cannot be undone.
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Be sure to back up all important data on the computer before installing GhostBSD. The GhostBSD installer will not provide a prompt before making changes to the hard disk drive. Once the process has started, changes to the hard disk drive cannot be undone.
  
 
=== Check for FreeBSD Errata ===
 
=== Check for FreeBSD Errata ===
  
GhostBSD is based on FreeBSD. Although the FreeBSD Project strives to ensure that each release of FreeBSD is as stable as possible, bugs occasionally creep into the process. On very rare occasions those bugs affect the installation process. As these problems are discovered and fixed, they are noted in [http://www.freebsd.org/releases/11.1R/errata.html ''11.1-RELEASE Errata'' page on the FreeBSD web site]. Check the errata before installing to make sure that there are no problems that might affect the installation.
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GhostBSD is based on Trueos, and TrueOS is based on FreeBSD. Although the TrueOS Project strives to ensure that each release of TrueOS is as stable as possible, bugs occasionally creep into the process. On very rare occasions those bugs affect the installation process. As these problems are discovered and fixed, they are noted in [https://www.freebsd.org/releases/12.0R/errata.html ''12.0-RELEASE Errata'' page on the FreeBSD web site]. Check the errata before installing to make sure that there are no problems that might affect the installation.
  
 
=== Prepare the Installation Media ===
 
=== Prepare the Installation Media ===
  
The GhostBSD installation media is available in <code>.iso</code> (DVD) or <code>.img</code> (USB flash drive) file formats. Copies of GhostBSD installation media are available for free at the [http://www.ghostbsd.org/download GhostBSD download page].
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The GhostBSD installation media is available as a <code>.iso</code> file. Copies of GhostBSD installation media are available for free at the [http://www.ghostbsd.org/download GhostBSD download page].
  
 
=== Creating a bootable USB Flash Drive ===
 
=== Creating a bootable USB Flash Drive ===
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==== Introduction ====
 
==== Introduction ====
  
After downloading the appropriate USB .img file, you must copy it to a USB flash drive using one of the methods described below. Since the image itself can be slightly above 2 GB in size, we suggest you use at least a 4 GB flash drive.
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After downloading the appropriate .iso file, copy it to a USB flash drive using one of the methods described below. Depending on the operating system, issue one of the following appropriate commands:
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 +
==== On BSD ====
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: <code>dd if=/path/to/GhostBSD19.04.iso of=/dev/da0 bs=4m conv=sync</code>
  
 
==== On Linux ====
 
==== On Linux ====
  
Depending on the image filename, issue one of the following commands:
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: <code>sudo dd if=GhostBSD19.04.iso of=/dev/sdf bs=4M conv=sync</code>
: <code>sudo dd if=GhostBSD11.1-mate-amd64.img of=/dev/sdf bs=1M conv=sync</code>
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or
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: <code>sudo dd if=GhostBSD11.1-xfce-amd64.img of=/dev/sdf bs=1M conv=sync</code>
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==== On BSD ====
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==== On Mac ====
  
Depending on the image filename, issue one of the following commands:
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: <code>dd if=/path/to/GhostBSD19.04.iso of=/dev/disk2 bs=10240 conv=sync</code>
: <code>dd if=/path/to/GhostBSD11.1-mate-amd64.img of=/dev/da0 bs=1m conv=sync</code>
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or
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: <code>dd if=/path/to/GhostBSD11.1-xfce-amd64.img of=/dev/da0 bs=1m conv=sync</code>
+
  
 
==== On Windows ====
 
==== On Windows ====
  
This solution comes from [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromImgFiles#Windows Ubuntu help site], but it applies to GhostBSD as well. You can use one of two tools to create a bootable USB flash drive on Windows.
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# Download the desired .iso file
 
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===== Graphical tool =====
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# Download the desired .img file
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# Download Disk Imager from http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
 
# Download Disk Imager from http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
 
# Insert your USB flash drive
 
# Insert your USB flash drive
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# Remove your USB flash drive when the operation is complete
 
# Remove your USB flash drive when the operation is complete
  
===== Command prompt tool =====
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==== Other USB Flash writer tools for Windows ====
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Balena Etcher  [https://etcher.io] works for Windows, MacOS, & Linux.
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Rufus  [https://rufus.ie]  works just for Windows; needs a checkbox selected to do a pure write of .ISO image file.
  
# Download the desired .img file
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==== ISO CD / DVD writer tool ====
# Download flashnul from http://shounen.ru/soft/flashnul
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ISORecorder  [http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/]  works from Windows Menu to write a .ISO file into a CD or DVD
# Attach your USB flash drive
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# Run flashnul -p
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# Note the physical device number for the USB drive
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# Run flashnul <number obtained in prior step> -L \path\to\downloaded.img
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# Answer "yes" if the selected destination device is correct
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# Remove your USB flash drive when the command completes
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==== Conclusion ====
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=== Conclusion ===
  
After completing the above steps, the USB flash drive should hold a bootable GhostBSD system. Just reboot your machine, and make sure you boot from USB - it should then start a live session.
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The steps described above will create a bootable GhostBSD system on a USB flash drive. To start a live session, connect the USB thumb drive into the computer and reboot the computer. Further information can be found [https://wiki.ghostbsd.org/index.php/Starting_GhostBSD_Live_Media here].
  
 
[[Category:Handbook]]
 
[[Category:Handbook]]
 
[[Category:Installing GhostBSD]]
 
[[Category:Installing GhostBSD]]

Latest revision as of 18:11, 9 August 2021

Previous: Hardware Requirements Return to Table of Contents Next: VirtualBox Configuration
Pre-installation Tasks


Back Up Your Data[edit]

Be sure to back up all important data on the computer before installing GhostBSD. The GhostBSD installer will not provide a prompt before making changes to the hard disk drive. Once the process has started, changes to the hard disk drive cannot be undone.

Check for FreeBSD Errata[edit]

GhostBSD is based on Trueos, and TrueOS is based on FreeBSD. Although the TrueOS Project strives to ensure that each release of TrueOS is as stable as possible, bugs occasionally creep into the process. On very rare occasions those bugs affect the installation process. As these problems are discovered and fixed, they are noted in 12.0-RELEASE Errata page on the FreeBSD web site. Check the errata before installing to make sure that there are no problems that might affect the installation.

Prepare the Installation Media[edit]

The GhostBSD installation media is available as a .iso file. Copies of GhostBSD installation media are available for free at the GhostBSD download page.

Creating a bootable USB Flash Drive[edit]

Introduction[edit]

After downloading the appropriate .iso file, copy it to a USB flash drive using one of the methods described below. Depending on the operating system, issue one of the following appropriate commands:

On BSD[edit]

dd if=/path/to/GhostBSD19.04.iso of=/dev/da0 bs=4m conv=sync

On Linux[edit]

sudo dd if=GhostBSD19.04.iso of=/dev/sdf bs=4M conv=sync

On Mac[edit]

dd if=/path/to/GhostBSD19.04.iso of=/dev/disk2 bs=10240 conv=sync

On Windows[edit]

  1. Download the desired .iso file
  2. Download Disk Imager from http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
  3. Insert your USB flash drive
  4. Note the drive letter assigned to your flash media
  5. Start Disk Imager
  6. Select the downloaded file and target device, and click "Write"
  7. Remove your USB flash drive when the operation is complete

Other USB Flash writer tools for Windows[edit]

Balena Etcher [1] works for Windows, MacOS, & Linux. Rufus [2] works just for Windows; needs a checkbox selected to do a pure write of .ISO image file.

ISO CD / DVD writer tool[edit]

ISORecorder [3] works from Windows Menu to write a .ISO file into a CD or DVD

Conclusion[edit]

The steps described above will create a bootable GhostBSD system on a USB flash drive. To start a live session, connect the USB thumb drive into the computer and reboot the computer. Further information can be found here.