Background

Need to quickly install Linux.

In this case, CentOS.

Version

The current version is 8.

Artifacts

Mirrors

Install Images are available from various mirrors; listed here:-

1. Mirrors
   • US
     Link
   • World Wide
     Link

Metadata

Here are some metadata :-

1. Image Size :- 7.5 GB

Burn ISO Image to USB

Options

Here are some of the options available to burn an ISO onto a USB Key :-

How to Set Up a USB Key to Install CentOS
https://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/InstallFromUSBkey ( Link )

1. Fedora LiveUSB Creator
2. dd for Windows
3. Win32 Disk Imager
4. Rawrite32

Option – Fedora LiveUSB Creator

Artifacts

Fedora LiveUSB Creator binary is availed through a couple of sources.

The sources are:

1. Community
   • mbriza.fedorapeople.org
     • Listing
       https://mbriza.fedorapeople.org/ ( Link )
     • Files
       • File – liveusb-creator.zip
         • Version :- 3.93.3-12
         • Date Released :- 2016-May-2nd
2. Luke Macken
   • GitHub
     • GitHub Releases
       • Version :- 3.95.2
         Date Released :- 2016-July-21st
         Link

Install

Community

The version available at mbriza.fedorapeople.org is a bundled compressed file.

Simply unzip to use.

Once compressed, please run the executable file.

Luck Macken

The version available from Luke Macken’s github repository is an actual installer.

Please run FMW-setup.exe.

Usage

Community

The version available via the community web site was not stable.

BTW, the bugged version is 3.93.3-12.

Luck Macken

The version available from Luke Macken’s GitHub site appears to be stable.

The good version number is v3.95.2.

Images

Wipe DVD

Reclaim Space – 01

Reclaim Space – 02 ( Your Drive Was successfully restored! )

Custom OS

Custom OS – Choose Live ISO – Open File Dialog

Custom OS – Choose Live ISO – ISO File Chosen

Custom OS – Write Custom OS

Custom OS – Write Custom OS – 01

Custom OS – Write Custom OS – 03

Custom OS – Write Custom OS – 04 ( Finished )

Option – dd for Windows

Artifacts

Install Image is availed here:-

1. chrysocome.net
   • dd
     • Read Me
       https://mbriza.fedorapeople.org/ ( Link )
     • Files
       • File – 0.6beta3
         • Date Released :-
           Link

Install

Command Line executable.

Usage

Outline

1. List Drives
2. Wipe Drive
3. Burn Drive

List Drives

List Drives

Syntax

dd --list

Sample

dd --list

Output

Output – Text

>dd --list
rawwrite dd for windows version 0.6beta3.
Written by John Newbigin
This program is covered by terms of the GPL Version 2.

Win32 Available Volume Information
\\.\Volume{88c35540-89b3-408e-a827-15671d730454}\
  link to \\?\Device\HarddiskVolume3
  fixed media
  Mounted on \\.\c:

\\.\Volume{e37bb954-b1d2-4ac8-901f-59bf8e8589a3}\
  link to \\?\Device\HarddiskVolume4
  fixed media
  Mounted on \\.\d:

\\.\Volume{06e48c18-56db-4c72-af64-49f3f1015938}\
  link to \\?\Device\HarddiskVolume5
  fixed media
  Mounted on \\.\e:

\\.\Volume{a183d626-3b11-498e-899f-29d1e23e84e5}\
  link to \\?\Device\HarddiskVolume6
  fixed media
  Not mounted

\\.\Volume{d5bfcf09-c95b-11e8-88ee-302432b445e6}\
  link to \\?\Device\HarddiskVolume10
  removeable media
  Mounted on \\.\f: 

Output – Image

Explanation

1. We want to target the removable media
   • In our case is it mounted as drive F:
   • \\.\f

Wipe Drive

Syntax

dd if=%_imageSource% of=%_imageDestination%  bs=%_blockSize%

Sample

setlocal

set "_imageSource=/dev/zero%"

set "_imageDestination=\\.\f:"

set "_blockSize=1M"

dd if=%_imageSource% of=%_imageDestination%  bs=%_blockSize% --progress

endlocal

Burn Drive

List Drives

Syntax

dd if=%_imageSource% of=%_imageDestination%  bs=%_blockSize%

Sample

setlocal

set "_folderSource=C:\downloads\Linux\CentOS\v8.1.1911\x64"

set "_fileSource=CentOS-8.1.1911-x86_64-dvd1.iso"

set "_imageSource=%_folderSource%\%_fileSource%"

set "_imageDestination=\\.\f:"

set "_blockSize=1M"

dd if=%_imageSource% of=%_imageDestination%  bs=%_blockSize%  --progress

endlocal

Output

Output – Image

Known Issues

1. Lack of reformat capabilities.
2. Lack of file compression support

Option – Win32 Disk Imager

Artifacts

1. SourceForge.net
   • sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager
     • Readme
       sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager ( Link )
     • Files
       Files
     • Files
       • v1.0.0
         • File – win32diskimager-1.0.0-install.exe
         • Date Released :- 2017-March-8th
2. launchpad.net
   • Image Writer
     • Image Writers Dev
       Link
     • Source Code
       Link

Install

SourceForge.net

Please download the installer from SourceForge.net

Usage

Images

Once downloaded, please run the installer.

Image – Select A Disk Image

Image – Select A Disk Image – *.Img

Only Img files are auto-selected

Image – Select A Disk Image – *.Img

Avail all files

Image – Complete – Write Successful

Evaluation

We evaluated against a Microsoft Windows 10 system; specifically Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB.

 

Summary

Win32 Disk Image

The Win32 Disk Image was the most reliable tool for us.

Fedora LiveUSB Creator

Next came Fedora LiveUSB Creator.

Unfortunately the version available via mbriza.fedorapeople.org did not work.

Yet, redeemed by the version available at Luck Macken’s github repository.

dd

1. Slowest when it came to wiping our USB Clean.
2. Reformat option not available if USB has already been used