How does LiLi recognize a source?

LinuxLive USB Creator has a complex algorithm to recognize what source you selected.

For .IMG files, no recognition is made because it's not needed. The file will just be burned on your USB key, no special processing is needed.

For .ISO files, LinuxLive USB Creator needs to know what source it is because, for example, Ubuntu and Fedora have to be processed differently in order to create a bootable USB key.

First, LinuxLive USB Creator will do a text search of the filename to check if it's not a version that will definitely not work (alternate versions, Ubuntu 8.04...). LiLi searches for this words: "8.04", "7.10", "alternate", "sparc". If this words are present it will mean that the ISO is not compatible.

Next step, LinuxLive USB Creator is looking for the filename in the compatibility_list.ini file (located in tools/settings/). If it exists and MD5 is set to ANY, then it means that MD5 does not need to be checked. This is generally for Alpha versions or daily builds. Only the filename counts.

If MD5 is set, then it will be checked but only when MD5 is not recognized. If the filename is in the list and MD5 is not good, then LiLi will prompt that the ISO has been modified or is corrupted.

Finally, if MD5 is not in the compatibility list, LiLi will try to recognize the source with its filename to do a mapping :

  • filenames containing "ubuntu", "9.04", "netbook-remix", "fluxbuntu" or "gnewsense" will be installed using Ubuntu 9.04 parameters
  • filenames containing "9.10" or "karmic" will be installed using Ubuntu 9.10 parameters
  • filenames containing "kuki" will be installed using Kuki 2.8 parameters
  • filenames containing "F10" or "F11" will be installed using Fedora 11 parameters
  • filenames containing "crunchbang" will be installed using CrunchBang Standard parameters
  • filenames containing "mint" will be installed using Mint 7 Main Edition parameters

This behaviour allows LinuxLive USB Creator to work on some unsupported or modified ISO.