Create USB stick (real or for qemu)
$ qemu-img create -f raw ubuntu_efi_inst.img 2G
Formatting 'ubuntu_efi_inst.img', fmt=raw size=2147483648
Create an EFI System Partition (ESP) on it
[steve@steve-GA-880GMA-UD2H archlinux]$ gdisk ubuntu_efi_inst.img
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.1
Partition table scan:
MBR: not present
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: not present
Creating new GPT entries.
Command (? for help): n
Partition number (1-128, default 1):
First sector (34-4194270, default = 2048) or {+-}size{KMGTP}:
Last sector (2048-4194270, default = 4194270) or {+-}size{KMGTP}:
Current type is 'Linux filesystem'
Hex code or GUID (L to show codes, Enter = 8300): ef00
Changed type of partition to 'EFI System'
Command (? for help): w
Final checks complete. About to write GPT data. THIS WILL OVERWRITE EXISTING
PARTITIONS!!
Do you want to proceed? (Y/N): y
OK; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to ubuntu_efi_inst.img.
Warning: The kernel is still using the old partition table.
The new table will be used at the next reboot or after you
run partprobe(8) or kpartx(8)
The operation has completed successfully.
Format it
$ sudo losetup --partscan --show --find ubuntu_efi_inst.img
/dev/loop3
$ sudo mkfs -t vfat /dev/loop3p1
mkfs.fat 3.0.28 (2015-05-16)
unable to get drive geometry, using default 255/63
Mount it
$ sudo mkdir /mnt/target
$ sudo mount /dev/loop3p1 /mnt/target
Loop mount the installation iso
$ sudo mount -o loop Downloads/ubuntu-16.04.2-server-amd64.iso /mnt/loop/
mount: /dev/loop4 is write-protected, mounting read-only
Copy files needed for EFI boot
$ sudo cp -vr /mnt/loop/EFI /mnt/target/
$ sudo cp -vr /mnt/loop/boot /mnt/target/
$ sudo cp -vr /mnt/loop/install /mnt/target/
Copy the ISO on to it (work-around for installer issues)
Copy the iso file onto the partition, needed during ubuntu install to mount CD
$ sudo cp Downloads/ubuntu-16.04.2-server-amd64.iso /mnt/target/
Patch grub and linux cmd line, to use serial console
$ sudo vi /mnt/target/boot/grub/grub.cfg
#add the lines below, at the top of the file
serial --speed=115200 --unit=0 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
terminal_input --append serial
terminal_output --append serial
#subsequent terminal entries need to also use --append eg.
terminal_output --append gfxterm
#edit any wanted linux entries to use console as below
linux /install/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-server.seed earlycon=uart,io,0x3f8 earlycon=uart,io,0x3f8 console=uart,io,0x3f8 ---
Boot from the prepared drive
#now boot using qemu or real system (with mnt/target written to usb storage device)
#for qemu we need to make a destination for the ubuntu install
$ qemu-img create -f qcow2 ubuntu2.qcow2 16G
Formatting 'ubuntu2.qcow2', fmt=qcow2 size=17179869184 encryption=off cluster_size=65536 lazy_refcounts=off refcount_bits=16
#optionally run with -nographic,or switch to serial view (ctrl-alt-3)
sudo qemu-system-x86_64 -smp 2 -enable-kvm -m 1G -hda ubuntu2.qcow2 -drive file="ubuntu_efi_inst.img",index=1,media=disk,format=raw -bios /usr/share/edk2/ovmf/OVMF_CODE.fd -nographic
Ubuntu installation process begins
Complete localization options
# on seeing error "Your installation CD-ROM couldn't be mounted."
# skip retry, exit to shell
# mount disk
~ # mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /media
~ # mount -o loop /media/ubuntu-16.04.2-server-amd64.iso /cdrom
~ # exit
# now detect CD-ROM
# don't unmount partitions that are in use (the CD is mounted from here)
# do guided install on other disk (sda in this example)
# after the step 'Install grub bootloader' you should get the 'Installation complete' message
# this is a good point to drop back into the shell, and review what has been done
Review grub setup on target drive
~ # cat /target/boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu/grub.cfg
search.fs_uuid 6b25fe16-1db7-49c2-91a8-15bd590dade8 root hd0,gpt2
set prefix=($root)'/boot/grub'
configfile $prefix/grub.cfg
~ # grep terminal /target/boot/grub/grub.cfg
terminal_input --append serial
terminal_output --append serial
terminal_output --append gfxterm
~ # grep serial /target/boot/grub/grub.cfg
serial --speed=115200 --unit=0 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
terminal_input --append serial
terminal_output --append serial
~ # grep console /target/boot/grub/grub.cfg
linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-62-generic.efi.signed root=/dev/sda2 ro earlycon=uart,io,0x3f8 console=uart,io,0x3f8
#now exit, and reboot
#good luck!
