Change: flesh out README.md so it's more or less complete for now

1 files changed, 34 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5755eb3..ab40df3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,17 @@
 Install Debian using vmdb2 (v-i)
 =============================================================================
 
+WARNING!
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Warning: this is an operating system installer. It will overwrite your
+hard drive and annihilate anything that used to be there. There are no
+safety rails. You will lose all your data. Make sure your backups
+work. You have been warned.
+
+Introduction
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 This is a hack for my own amusement. It's not meant to be taken
 seriously.
 
@@ -21,6 +32,8 @@ known as d-i. I use d-i, but would like something better:
 On the other hand, d-i is mature software and tested by thousands. v-i
 can just barely install my own Thinkpad x220 laptop.
 
+v-i is not currently expected to work with any other hardware.
+
 
 Architecture
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -51,4 +64,25 @@ The main files are:
   this is used from the system booted from the image built by v-i.vmdb
 * x220.yml -- the Ansible playbook used by x220.vmdb
 
+To build the installer image, run
+
+~~~sh
+sudo ./v-i.sh
+~~~
+
+To write the resulting v-i.img to a USB drive:
+
+~~~sh
+sudo dd if=v-i.img of=/dev/path/to/usb/drive/device status=progress oflag=direct
+~~~
+
+Plug in the USB drive to the laptop, boot off that. Log into the
+installer as root (no password), and run
+
+~~~sh
+./x220.sh
+~~~
+
+Reboot laptop from its hard drive and you should have a bare bones
+Debian system installed.