OpenWrt Root Overlay

Packages You Need

kmod-usb-storage kmod-fs-ext4 block-extroot block-hotplug block-mount

Packages for 12.09

kmod-usb-storage kmod-fs-ext4 block-mount

Procedure

1. Format then mount the USB drive

2. Modify the /etc/config/fstab. The relevant sections are as follows:

config mount
        option is_rootfs 1
        option target   /overlay
        option device   /dev/sda1
        option fstype   ext4
        option options  rw,sync
        option enabled  1
        option enabled_fsck 0
config swap
        option device   /dev/sda2
        option enabled  1

3. Copy the overlay content to the USB by:

tar -C /overlay -cvf - . | tar -C /mnt/sda1 -xf -

4. Reboot

References

• https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=34188