Tell me more ×
Unix & Linux Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for users of Linux, FreeBSD and other Un*x-like operating systems.. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

I'd like to try Gentoo (again...). I know that many steps require a lot of configuration and much more time. I'd like to do something else on computer during long waiting, because of that I would like to install it using VirtualBox and then move it to an partition and use it as normal OS.

Update:

I know how to chroot from live to HDD, "restore" GRUB bootloader. I need especially to know how to have my Gentoo installed to real HDD partition using VirtualBox.

share|improve this question

2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Sounds like you want to use a real disk, and not a "Virtual Disk" (aka .vdi for VirtualBox).

Note: on some systems the "vboxmanage" command is case sensitive and would be spelled VBoxManage.

vboxmanage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename /my-vbox-real-disk.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/your_disk

"filename" points to a "link" file that you will attach to the Virtual Guest. "rawdisk" is the physical disk you want to use, such as /dev/sda or /dev/sdc.

Now the disk can be placed in a new machine (bare metal) after the Gentoo install is finished.

share|improve this answer
I would like to use partition instead of whole disk. – Miro Aug 18 '12 at 9:49
On the physical disk or in a virtual disk, do you know what you are asking? You aren't clear. – Tim Aug 20 '12 at 13:34
I want to install Gentoo with VirtualBox, but after installation I want to have it installed on certain physical partition. I don't care if I use virtual disk for installation or I install it directly on physical partition (not disk). – Miro Aug 20 '12 at 18:43
up vote 1 down vote

Use Ubuntu installation LiveCD to install Gentoo. While you are installing, you can browse the web etc. That is how I used to do it. Most of the steps are the same as Gentoo.

http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Gentoo-Linux-from-Ubuntu

Here is some guide lines for it, but I usually move on to Gentoo Handbook somewhere between step 10 and 15.

share|improve this answer
+1 Good idea. It provides alternative solution, but it doesn't answer the question. – Miro Aug 16 '12 at 16:17
Well, you could install it in Virtualbox, then mount the .vdi image and do cp -r /pathtovdi/* / . It should work. – user1271422 Aug 16 '12 at 16:29
Actually installing from ubuntu CDs are not recommended. Gentoo based CDs are better to prevent issues during installation (mainly uid mismatches that occur during stage extraction). Yes it can be done, but you'd have to use the alternate installation guide. – Patrick Aug 16 '12 at 21:54

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.