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QA:Testcase Media USB dd

Associated release criterion

This test case is associated with the Release_Criteria#initialization-requirements release criterion. If you are doing release validation testing, a failure of this test case may be a breach of that release criterion.

Description

This verifies that Rocky Linux ISO image can be written to USB media using dd command, and the resulting USB media successfully boots to the Anaconda Installer.

DATA LOSS

Any data on the USB stick used for this test is likely to be destroyed. Please do not use a stick whose contents you need to keep.

Setup

  1. Provide a USB media device that is larger than the ISO image you wish to test and that it can be completely erased.
  2. Provide a Linux (or other *nix system) that has the dd command available and an unoccupied USB port.
  3. Download the Rocky Linux ISO image you wish to test onto the test system.
    • Example command:
      curl -LOR https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/8/isos/x86_64/Rocky-x86_64-boot.iso
  4. Download the CHECKSUM file that goes with the Rocky Linux ISO image that you wish to test.
    • Example command:
      curl -LOR https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/8/isos/x86_64/CHECKSUM
  5. Download the CHECKSUM.sig file that does with the CHECKSUM file.
    • Example command:
      curl -LOR https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/8/isos/x86_64/CHECKSUM.sig
  6. Download the Rocky Release Engineering GPG key.
    • Example command:
      curl -LOR https://dl.rockylinux.org/pub/rocky/RPM-GPG-KEY-rockyofficial

How to test

  1. Import the Rocky Release Engineering GPG key.
    • Example command:
      gpg --import RPM-GPG-KEY-rockyofficial
  2. Verify the signature of the CHECKSUM file.
    • Example command:
      gpg --verify-file CHECKSUM.sig
  3. Verify the CHECKSUM of the Rocky Linux ISO...
    • Example command:
      shasum -a 256 --ignore-missing -c CHECKSUM
  4. Write the Rocky Linux ISO to the USB media using dd...
    • Example command:
      dd if=Rocky-8.5-x86_64-boot.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=16M status=progress oflag=direct
      ...where you replace sdX with the device identifier of your USB media.
      This will destroy all data on the disk.
  5. Boot the test system with the USB media.
  6. In the boot menu select the appropriate option to boot the installer.
  7. [OPTIONAL] Proceed with installation on the test system.
    Depending on installer choices this MAY destroy all the data on the test system.

Expected Results

  1. The gpg signature on the CHECKSUM file is valid.
  2. The CHECKSUM of the Rocky Linux ISO is valid.
  3. The Rocky Linux ISO is written to the USB stick without errors.
  4. The USB stick boots without errors.
  5. The Anaconda Installer starts without errors.

DATA LOSS

If you choose to complete the installation of the test system any/all data on the system may be lost. Please do not install on a system whose contents you need to keep.

[OPTIONALLY]
6. The installation finishes successfully and, if the minimal or DVD ISO were used, the package repository on the USB stick (not a network based repository) was used for the installation.

Additional Information

If you have questions with respect to this content or to report concerns regarding the use or misuse content please do not hesitate to contact us at testing@rockylinux.org.

Rocky Linux and the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF) does not make any express or implied warranties, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of any third party intellectual property rights. RESF does not warrant that any pending trademark applications for trademarks of RESF will result in any granted trademark protection. RESF shall not be liable for any claims relating to user's activities falling within the scope of the permission and user hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold RESF and its contributors harmless against any such claim.

This work is heavily inspired by the Fedora Quality Assurance documents which were made available under Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license unless otherwise noted.

This content is licensed under under Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license unless otherwise noted.