Debian 12 Install CD from GRUB - can't find install media

I have tried about a dozen ways to try and get a Debian 12 Install media (CD/DVD) to boot on a VPS through GRUB. In every case I can get it to boot, but somewhere between Debian 10 and 12 the install CD's media detection logic seems to have been lobotomized and it can't detect the install media.

I've tried:

1. Set GRUB to boot the file in loopback loading it off an ext4 partition, but the install CD's initrd no longer has any filesystem on it other than fat and isofs.
2. I DDed the the disk image directly on a partition, /dev/vda5, which boots just fine, but the detection logic only tries to mount whole disks, not partitions. It tried /dev/vda, but not /dev/vdaN.
3. I opened up a shell and mounted /dev/vda5 on /media, and then went back in to detect media, but it still fails - it looks like it actually UNMOUNTS media first before trying.
4. I even tried just chaining to the image's own bootloader and seeing if something there would magically work, but grub really doesn't want to chain to it. At least, I can't get it to work

This is my current GRUB config:First of all, is there any way to actually do this? I even tried chaining the bootloader to the image, but that still doesn't work. I've tried every kernel switch I can think of to tell the installer where to find the install media (see above). Is there something I'm missing?

Secondly, why in heavens was the installer lobotomized? Debian 10 had fantastic search logic, it would search for images directly and image files indirectly on any mountable partition anywhere. The installer itself would do everything short of offering to go out and buy you a CD.

Statistics: Posted by VA1DER — 2024-07-15 20:49 — Replies 0 — Views 29

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