SD Card Burning on a Mac
Jul 15, 2015 19:19:32 GMT -8
Post by N6HKH on Jul 15, 2015 19:19:32 GMT -8
Courtesy of Lyn Haddock/KC8I:
As I mentioned on [the Round Table] the other night, there is a single-line terminal command that will burn an image file to a USB or and SD card attached to the Mac. What I neglected to recall was the preparation I did some time ago to facilitate using this command.
Included below is info about burning SD cards using your Mac Terminal application. I'm passing it along for your information, but after remembering all the things that have to be put in place and learned, I doubt that you will want PAPA to offer it for public consumption unless you post some IN YOUR FACE disclaimers and warnings. [Reader: Be so warned!]
Using the Terminal command line a simple process for me, because I have worked out the password issues and know where I need to put the image file to get at it from the Unix command line. Also, when I open a new Terminal session on the Mac, it remembers a bunch of my last terminal commands and they are accessible using the Up-Arrow keys. Once I determine the Unix designation of the SD card (I use the Unix command "diskutil list”), all i have to do is Up-Arrow until if find the “dd” command string I used for the last SD card burn. Then I do a couple of quick mods to that command line, hit enter, type in the root password and walk away.
The specific mods to the command line referred to above are:
(1) Enter (or Paste) in the new image file name (replacing the previously burned one).
(2) Double-check and (if necessary) change the disk designation at the end of the command string.
The SD card volumes(s) must be "UnMounted", but the card must NOT have been “Ejected”. I use Mac OS Disk Utility to accomplish this.
Obviously, it’s pretty easy for me to use this technique, but I’m already across the mine-field!
Notes Regarding ApplePi-Maker
I have tried the program briefly with some success, but still have issues to work out. The latest version 1.6 works OK when used in my admin account which already has the root password enabled. This new version has a revised authentication system, according to the website, and the author is looking for user input.
The earlier version 1.5 is also available on the the website. It works on my normal user account, but as I recall, I had to change the user type from “Standard” to “Admin” in System Preferences to burn a card.
There are other apparent security and file access issues that need to be sorted out, too. I’ll play with ApplePi-Baker some more and perhaps contact the author, wince he is asking for input. I’ll advise if I come up with useful information.
This begins my writeup regarding the Mac SD Burning process……………………..
Root Password
The major preparation involved enabling the root user and setting up a root password (for sudo). This link offers some instructions:
support.apple.com/en-us/HT204012
I set this up in my admin user account and used the same password for root as used for the usual admin account login. Unfortunately, when I try things out now, I don’t know if they work because I typed in the root password or because I typed in the (identical) admin account password. From the above link, it appears that I can change the root password, which may try.
My normal user account is not an administrative account, and the root password will not work from that account. I have to download or move the image files to my admin user directory and work from there to have success in burning the SD cards. I don’t know if I could also set up a root password to use from my non-admin account.
Locating the image file from Unix command line
Another issue is finding the image file you want to use once you have started a terminal session. I’m not too slick at maneuvering around in Unix to get myself to the right directory, so I use the following technique.
First I make sure the image file is directly on the Desktop of my admin user directory. then I use Finder to access the Desktop prior to opening Terminal. Once terminal is open you should be in the Desktop directory in Unix. You can check by using the command ls <enter> (Lima Sierra <enter>) which should list the same files shown on the desktop in Finder. (Now is a good time to highlight and Copy image filename so you can paste it into the Unix command string later, rather than trying to correctly type it in.)
Running the Unix “dd” command to burn the SD card
I found instructions for burning the SD card on the ApplePi-Maker software web site, and they are as good or better than anything I could do myself. (Plus if they are wrong, it’s not my fault!) Here are some links.
ApplePi-Maker Home:
www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/raspberry-pi/macosx-apple-pi-baker/
Find the subtle link on the first line of the first paragraph in the link above, which will take you to the instructions for use Terminal to burn an SD card. (“How to get an Operating System on a SD-Card“).
That link takes you to the instructions here:
www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/raspberry-pi/install-img-to-sd-card/
Scroll way down the page, noting the Mac OS notes along the way, until you find this heading: IMG to SD-Card under MacOS X
Especially note the WARNINGS along the way about reformatting your Mac hard disk with a simple typo (disk designation in the Unix dd command).
ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO PROCEED?
If you aren’t deterred yet, or you are just looking for an excuse to buy a new Mac, proceed, AT YOUR OWN RISK, with the instructions and burn an SD card. Here it the command that does the deed, assuming you have successfully completed all the appropriate instructions to get this far.
Please note that you must have the SD card volumes(s) "UnMounted", but the card must NOT have been “Ejected”. I use Mac OS Disk Utility to accomplish this, as well as repartitioning or erasing (formatting) the card if necessary.
I mentioned earlier that you might want to Copy the complete image file name from Finder. I you have it in the mac Paste buffer, you can paste insert if instead of “file.img” in the example command line above. Whatever you do, make sure the “of=/dev/…” information entered is correct for the SD Card you want to burn. This Is where one wrong digit or letter can format your Mac HD or other important storage device.
I haven’t tried the CTRL-T suggestion, yet. I just open Activity monitor and watch the Mac disk activity, which will drop off when the Unix command prompt comes back in Terminal, after the “dd” process completes.
02/04/15 by Lyn Haddock KC8I [radiokc8i@icloud.com]
As I mentioned on [the Round Table] the other night, there is a single-line terminal command that will burn an image file to a USB or and SD card attached to the Mac. What I neglected to recall was the preparation I did some time ago to facilitate using this command.
Included below is info about burning SD cards using your Mac Terminal application. I'm passing it along for your information, but after remembering all the things that have to be put in place and learned, I doubt that you will want PAPA to offer it for public consumption unless you post some IN YOUR FACE disclaimers and warnings. [Reader: Be so warned!]
Using the Terminal command line a simple process for me, because I have worked out the password issues and know where I need to put the image file to get at it from the Unix command line. Also, when I open a new Terminal session on the Mac, it remembers a bunch of my last terminal commands and they are accessible using the Up-Arrow keys. Once I determine the Unix designation of the SD card (I use the Unix command "diskutil list”), all i have to do is Up-Arrow until if find the “dd” command string I used for the last SD card burn. Then I do a couple of quick mods to that command line, hit enter, type in the root password and walk away.
The specific mods to the command line referred to above are:
(1) Enter (or Paste) in the new image file name (replacing the previously burned one).
(2) Double-check and (if necessary) change the disk designation at the end of the command string.
The SD card volumes(s) must be "UnMounted", but the card must NOT have been “Ejected”. I use Mac OS Disk Utility to accomplish this.
Obviously, it’s pretty easy for me to use this technique, but I’m already across the mine-field!
Notes Regarding ApplePi-Maker
I have tried the program briefly with some success, but still have issues to work out. The latest version 1.6 works OK when used in my admin account which already has the root password enabled. This new version has a revised authentication system, according to the website, and the author is looking for user input.
The earlier version 1.5 is also available on the the website. It works on my normal user account, but as I recall, I had to change the user type from “Standard” to “Admin” in System Preferences to burn a card.
There are other apparent security and file access issues that need to be sorted out, too. I’ll play with ApplePi-Baker some more and perhaps contact the author, wince he is asking for input. I’ll advise if I come up with useful information.
This begins my writeup regarding the Mac SD Burning process……………………..
Root Password
The major preparation involved enabling the root user and setting up a root password (for sudo). This link offers some instructions:
support.apple.com/en-us/HT204012
I set this up in my admin user account and used the same password for root as used for the usual admin account login. Unfortunately, when I try things out now, I don’t know if they work because I typed in the root password or because I typed in the (identical) admin account password. From the above link, it appears that I can change the root password, which may try.
My normal user account is not an administrative account, and the root password will not work from that account. I have to download or move the image files to my admin user directory and work from there to have success in burning the SD cards. I don’t know if I could also set up a root password to use from my non-admin account.
Locating the image file from Unix command line
Another issue is finding the image file you want to use once you have started a terminal session. I’m not too slick at maneuvering around in Unix to get myself to the right directory, so I use the following technique.
First I make sure the image file is directly on the Desktop of my admin user directory. then I use Finder to access the Desktop prior to opening Terminal. Once terminal is open you should be in the Desktop directory in Unix. You can check by using the command ls <enter> (Lima Sierra <enter>) which should list the same files shown on the desktop in Finder. (Now is a good time to highlight and Copy image filename so you can paste it into the Unix command string later, rather than trying to correctly type it in.)
Running the Unix “dd” command to burn the SD card
I found instructions for burning the SD card on the ApplePi-Maker software web site, and they are as good or better than anything I could do myself. (Plus if they are wrong, it’s not my fault!) Here are some links.
ApplePi-Maker Home:
www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/raspberry-pi/macosx-apple-pi-baker/
Find the subtle link on the first line of the first paragraph in the link above, which will take you to the instructions for use Terminal to burn an SD card. (“How to get an Operating System on a SD-Card“).
That link takes you to the instructions here:
www.tweaking4all.com/hardware/raspberry-pi/install-img-to-sd-card/
Scroll way down the page, noting the Mac OS notes along the way, until you find this heading: IMG to SD-Card under MacOS X
Especially note the WARNINGS along the way about reformatting your Mac hard disk with a simple typo (disk designation in the Unix dd command).
ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO PROCEED?
If you aren’t deterred yet, or you are just looking for an excuse to buy a new Mac, proceed, AT YOUR OWN RISK, with the instructions and burn an SD card. Here it the command that does the deed, assuming you have successfully completed all the appropriate instructions to get this far.
Please note that you must have the SD card volumes(s) "UnMounted", but the card must NOT have been “Ejected”. I use Mac OS Disk Utility to accomplish this, as well as repartitioning or erasing (formatting) the card if necessary.
I mentioned earlier that you might want to Copy the complete image file name from Finder. I you have it in the mac Paste buffer, you can paste insert if instead of “file.img” in the example command line above. Whatever you do, make sure the “of=/dev/…” information entered is correct for the SD Card you want to burn. This Is where one wrong digit or letter can format your Mac HD or other important storage device.
I haven’t tried the CTRL-T suggestion, yet. I just open Activity monitor and watch the Mac disk activity, which will drop off when the Unix command prompt comes back in Terminal, after the “dd” process completes.
02/04/15 by Lyn Haddock KC8I [radiokc8i@icloud.com]