How to Install Oracle VM Server 3.2 and 3.3 from USB Key

Jephe Wu - http://linuxtechres.blogspot.com


Objective:  to install Oracle VM server 3.2.8 or 3.3.2 from USB key for those server without DVD/CDROM drive

Steps on Linux Mint 17 

Preparing USB key

Make partition by fdisk /dev/sdb1, make it as W95 FAT32 (b) type

fdisk /dev/sdb

L , b , wq

format it by running mkfs -t vfat /dev/sdb1

use unetbootin 

install unetbootin software from Mint 17 software manager. 

copy ISO file into /dev/sdb1

mount /dev/sdb1 under Linux mint , copy OVS3.2.8 iso file to it directly, without creating any folder.

boot from USB to install OVMS 3.2.8

choose installation method 'Hard drive', selection partiton /dev/sdb1 which contain installation image 

at partition type screen, deselect sdb

at 'boot loader configuration' screen, choose 'change drive order' to use sda, then use sda to install MBR

Steps on Windows

Install unetbootin

format USB key as FAT format

use unetbootin to write iso file to it as above

copy iso file into USB key directly

FAQ

format it as ext2 or ext3 and use unetbootin to write iso file doesn't boot if you didn't install extlinux package from Mint software manager.

Notes

The size of OVM 3.3 iso file size is now doubled compared to OVMS 3.2.9. 1GB USB key is now not able to fit.