Install Directly to External HDD

[derspion318]

Howdy, all!
I am having an issue. I followed the instructions in FAQ for "Can I permanently attach an external USB drive, to add more content?", but this still will not allow me to install anything larger than the size of my SD card. I am using a smaller SD card because I have a multi-TB external drive attached to the raspberry pi. How does one make it where the default install directory is the external drive?

[holta]

Consider mounting your external disk prior to installing IIAB?

1. One common way to do this is to
   configure /etc/fstab to mount your external drive as /library

   (In other words, put IIAB software on the "internal" microSD card — and then add your content in /library as usual — it's just that /library happens to be on your external drive.)

2. Another way to arrange everything is to avoid using a microSD card entirely — booting directly from the external drive (e.g. Raspberry Pi OS typically) — and then running IIAB's installer, to install everything (software AND content) on the external drive:

   curl iiab.io/install.txt | bash
   

Further / Advanced Details:

• How can I permanently attach an external USB drive, to add more content? [also: Admin Console preset drive out-of-space issues][also: Admin Console's GET-SPACE-AVAIL sometimes fails] #3106
• Best strategy for preparing multiple IIAB servers using imaging #3247

[derspion318]

I don't know why the thought of this didn't cross my mind. I blame it on lack of coffee. lol. I simply copied everything in /library to the root of the external then used /etc/fstab to mount the drive to /library. BOOM! Instant 4TB of space in the library. Thanks for jogging my memory!

[jvonau]

Not an answer but related to #3051

[holta]

Are there concrete suggestions to improve "external drive" guidance here?

https://wiki.iiab.io/go/FAQ#Can_I_permanently_attach_an_external_USB_drive%2C_to_add_more_content%3F

It's certainly a work-in-progress (hopefully getting better this year especially!) now that many more people are trying these important + ambitious new approaches ✔️

ASIDE:

• iiab-diagnostics: Display /etc/fstab as external disks get more popular #3351