InstallerForWindows

Revision 11 as of 2007-04-30 07:09:50

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Note: spec revamped for Feisty. Related specs exist in the wiki and LP for specific technical solutions. Please keep this spec neutral until a technical approach has been selected.

Summary

A simple install procedure for Ubuntu initiated in Windows.

Rationale

Windows users are often more comfortable with downloading a small ubuntu.setup.exe file than downloading and burning an ISO. Some laptops do not have a CD drive and many systems are configured to boot from the HD first.

Use Cases

Scope

Select the most suitable technical solution.

Design

TODO: Select from one of several possible technical solutions.

Windows installers for Ubuntu

Several Windows-based installers for Linux (including Ubuntu) have appeared recently, each using different methods. The common goal of these is to provide a simple path to Ubuntu that starts with downloading a small executable installer, and removes the need to use a CD. The three main approaches are:

  1. Repartition and install

  2. Install on a loop mounted disk image

    • downloads packages or ISO
    • Gathers information from Windows and simply asks for a user name and password
    • Adds Ubuntu entry to the Windows bootloader
    • Reboots to start an install process (non-interactive)
    • Reboot again to start Ubuntu (or Windows)
    • Painless removal of Ubuntu of desired
    • Implementations: [http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/index.html Wubi]

  3. Install a virtual machine

    • Installer contains a copy of Virtualbox and downloads a pre-made virtual machine of Ubuntu
    • Simple NSIS install and launch VM directly without reboot
    • Simple unistall
    • Has to share resources so performance will be reduced and hardware support may be limited
    • Implementations: [http://www.virtualbox.org/ Virtualbox], [http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~qemu-win/ QUEMU]

An overview of existing implementations follows.

win32-loader

Summary: Download a small executable which downloads the netboot files, modifies the NT bootloader and reboots.

Links: http://goodbye-microsoft.com/

Advantages

  • Fast download in first installer stage (netboot stuff only)
  • A real ubuntu install on a real partition

Disadvantages

  • Mistakenly grabbed the 64-bit version on a 32-bit virtual system and failed to boot (admittedly an odd test case)
  • Leaves the bootloader behind
  • No accessibility support in alternate installer
  • Does not work with Vista

instlux

Summary: same principle as win32-loader, but a slightly cleaner implementation usability-wise.

Advantages

  • Fast download in first installer stage (netboot versions)
  • A real ubuntu install on a real partition
  • Cleans up the NT bootloader after install

Disadvantages

  • Text-based install (could use graphical d-i)
  • No accessibility support in alternate installer
  • Does not work with Vista
  • Does not work on Win9x
  • Only currently supports Ubuntu 6.06 and older

Wubi-netboot

Summary: A stripped-down version of Wubi which allows for installation to a real partition without a CD using the netboot installer, but lacks the ability to autodetect Windows settings or install on a loopmounted partition. Wubi-netboot is a temporary fork of Wubi which will be discontinued once Wubi implements support for installation on a real partition.

Advantages

  • No download needed in first installer stage (initrd and kernel come bundled in 8.5 MB package)
  • A real ubuntu install on a real partition
  • Cleans up the NT or Win9x bootloader after install

Disadvantages

  • Text-based install (could use graphical d-i)
  • No accessibility support in netboot installer
  • Does not work with Vista

Wubi

Summary: An Ubuntu community project the Windows Ubuntu Installer uses method 2, a look mounted disk. Download a simple .exe file which launches an NSIS installer. It asks for your user name and password and reboots to install. Ubuntu is actually installed on a loop-mounted drive stared as an image file within the Windows file system. Previously known as 'install.exe' in the wiki. Current development is taking place within the [http://launchpad.net/lupin lupin] (back-end) and [http://launchpad.net/wubi wubi] (front-end) projects hosted on Launchpad. There is a proposal to merge most lupin features within Ubuntu https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/lupin.

Links: [http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup website], [http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=234 forum], [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/install.exe wiki], [http://launchpad.net/lupin lupin], [http://launchpad.net/wubi wubi]

http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/screenshots/wubi3.jpg

Advantages

  • No disk resizing or partitioning required
  • Easy to remove Ubuntu from the system
  • Runs at native speeds using all system resources (provided the loop mounting is efficient)
  • Asks very few questions during the install as it gathers info from Windows.

Disadvantages

  • Does not yet work with Vista
  • Uses alternate disc to install from
  • Fixed size disc image (would be nice to have a dynamic image or manual resize option)

Work oustanding

  • Needs a dash of usplash in a few places
  • Needs a graphical installer front-end to d-i
  • Better post-install management features. A control panel running in windows that lets you resize discs, make backups, select between different installed systems

Outsanding questions

  • How efficient is the loop mounted drive?
  • How easy would it be to move such an install out from under windows to a separate partition (perhaps an improved version of the migration tool could be used?)

VirtualBox

Summary: The GPL version of Virtualbox can be packaged and distributed on the net and on 3rd party CDs.

Link: http://www.virtualbox.org/

Advantages

  • Simple install with no need to reboot
  • Simple unistall
  • Dynamic disk images that lets users install and explore more software
  • Runs in parallel with the Windows session, allowing you to switch back and forth
  • Several distro flavours can be installed simultaneously
  • Runs under Vista

Disadvantages

  • Poor peformance
  • Driver problems, no support for Beryl/Compiz
  • GPL version lacks some features like USB support

Implementation

Depends on the design choice.

Outstanding Issues

Pick a design.

BoF agenda and discussion

Discuss at UDS Seville.


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