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How to Netboot BDisk
I update this server with images and iPXE images you can use to netboot my personal spin of BDisk.
You can download a demo of the iPXE functionality. Note that your computer needs to be connected to a valid Internet connection via ethernet and be able to get a DHCP lease for it to work.
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Note
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Advanced users, you can verify it against the GPG signature (ASC, BIN). My key can be found in ASC or BIN format. Proofs of identity can be found in the footnotes of this blog post. Note that while this project is in flux, I may be signing with temporarily-generated throwaway keys. |
Once downloaded, you can follow the appropriate steps based on your operating system:
Windows
CD/DVD
Simply put a blank CD/DVD-R (or RW, RW+, etc.) in your optical media drive. Find where you downloaded the above file (it should be named bdisk-mini.iso). Right-click and select Burn disc image.
USB
You’ll most likely want to download a program caled USBWriter. Unzip it (or just open it via double-clicking) and copy the USBWriter.exe program somewhere you’ll remember- your desktop, for instance.
Next, make sure your USB stick is inserted in your computer and formatted/"initialized" already.
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Caution
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Formatting a disk/partition will destroy any and all data on that device! Make sure there is nothing on your USB drive you want to keep, as formatting BDisk to it will delete any data on it. |
Now right-click on the USBWriter icon and select Run as administrator. You may get a warning pop up asking for permissions for USBWriter. It’s safe to click Yes.
Select the proper USB flash drive from the Target device dropdown menu. If your USB drive isn’t showing up, try clicking the Refresh button and looking again. (If it still doesn’t show up, you may need to reboot your computer.)
Click the Browse… button and find where you saved bdisk-mini.iso. Once you’ve found it, double-click it. Then click Write. It might take a little bit of time depending on how fast your USB interface is, so give it some time. When it finishes, click Close. You now have a bootable USB thumbdrive.
Booting
Booting differs depending on each and every hardware, but typically you should get a message when you first start up for "Setup" and/or "Boot options" or the like. The terminology differs here. It will probably be an F# button (usually F2, F4, F10, or F12) or the Delete key. While rebooting, try to hold or press repeatedly this key and you should come across an option somewhere with a list of devices to boot from or an order you can set. Make sure the USB (or CD/DVD, whichever media type you’re using) is set as first, and save.
Mac OS X/macOS
CD/DVD
USB
Booting
The instructions here don’t differ too much than from Windows, though it’s always the same key. For OS X/macOS hardware, I believe it’s the c key or the b key. From it being in a shutdown state, power on your Macbook Pro (or whatever it is you have) and hold the c key if it’s CD/DVD. The b key should bring up a boot menu that will let you select a USB device to boot from.