[syslinux] Installing extlinux into a disk image without being root?

[Ady]

> Is it possible to install extlinux into a disk image, without being
> root ?
> 
> It seems like extlinux --install absolutely requires the specific block
> device in which extlinux should be installed to be mounted. This
> prevents from doing an extlinux installation as non-root, which is
> annoying for build systems such as Buildroot [1] that build a complete
> Linux system from source, without being root, and aim at producing
> ready to flash disk images, also without being root.
> 
> I have tried:
> 
>   extlinux --device disk.img --install boot/extlinux
> 
> but extlinux complains:
> 
> ./output/host/sbin/extlinux: path boot/extlinux/ doesn't match device disk.img
> 
> Am I missing something in what options we have to install extlinux ?
 
 
I think that you are misusing the options.

Depending on what exactly "disk.img" actually is, you _might_ (perhaps) get to 
install the bootloader by means of other options.

As of not using "root" privileges, there is the "syslinux-mtools" (aka 
"mtools/syslinux") installer, but it also depends on what exactly "disk.img" 
actually is.

Please see the "Install" wiki page in the Syslinux wiki.

Additionally, some Linux distributions have additional features incorporated in 
some of their "Syslinux-related" installers.

Regards,
Ady.