Install to CD-RW...
Forum: User Feedback
Topic: Install to CD-RW...
started by: newby
Posted by newby on July 13 2006,23:40
I just got an el-cheepo external, USB CD-RW from Best-Buy. I was worried that DSL would not mount the drive, but it mounted. Yeah DSL!OK, first problem. It didn't mount, it found it and shows it in the mounter app in the lower right. But I get an error "...you must specify the filesystem type."
Do I need to format the CD-RW or something?
Here's what I'm hoping I can do, with questions about each step. Please answer my questions or point me in an easier direction.
1. Install to the CD-RW (...or would I have to install TORAM?)
2. Add the apps I want (in / or in /OPTIONAL ... my choice, right?)
3. Delete the apps I don't want.
(... would that work on a CDRW?
...and if so, are there any extra steps I'd have to take?)
4. Then use that version to burn a new CD.
Would this work? ... Or would I have to jump through more hoops than that?
Once I get a DSL CD the way I want it, I want to:
A. Replace the DSL KNOPPIX file with the openMosiix KNOPPIX file.
(...Can this be done by just overwriting on a CD-RW?)
B. Add the openKnoppix extentions in /OPTIONAL
(Just a straight copy, right?)
C. Burn this version to a CD.
My final goal is Damn Small Cluster, a DSL-based system that can be used during the day for work or play, and turned into an openKnoppix node at night.
It'll probably need a larger CD than the 50 Meg size of DSL, but still _way_ under the size of a round mini-CD.
If successful, I would donate this back to the DSL community.
I think our community selling Damn Small Cluster time to NGO's, et cetera would be a great way to fund further DSL development! Ultimately, It would be nice to have a utility go to damnsmallcluster.org and grab the latest list of projects. The user would click on one to donate processor time to and let her rip while she/he sleeps.
:>
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on July 13 2006,23:54
I'll just add that I have found that multisession cdrw's work quite well.Also, / and /mydsl are for autoloading myDSL extensions, while /OPTIONAL is not but that creates a submenu so you can quickly autoload them.
Posted by newby on July 14 2006,00:24
| Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ July 13 2006,19:54) |
| I'll just add that I have found that multisession cdrw's work quite well. Also, / and /mydsl are for autoloading myDSL extensions, while /OPTIONAL is not but that creates a submenu so you can quickly autoload them. |
Right, that's why I want to put the openMosix extentions into /OPTIONAL - so the user can run them only when they want.
Will the rest of my idea work?
I've seen so many different suggestions of how to remaster, I'm confused. That, plus I'm not sure about what difference, if any, it makes that I'm using a CD-RW.
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on July 14 2006,00:42
Right now you aren't remastering the DSL base image, only changing the cd..I was just suggesting a cdrw for multisessions, but that's up to you.
I'm just a bit baffled as to why you would want to do
"A. Replace the DSL KNOPPIX file with the openMosiix KNOPPIX file."
-- Why don't you just work off openMosix at the start?
Posted by newby on July 14 2006,01:05
| Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ July 13 2006,20:42) |
I'm just a bit baffled as to why you would want to do "A. Replace the DSL KNOPPIX file with the openMosiix KNOPPIX file." -- Why don't you just work off openMosix at the start? |
As I said, I'm trying to create a DSL-openMopix hybrid.
Boot into DSL and turn on clustering when desired.
openMosix is just clustering, no fluxbox, et cetera.
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on July 14 2006,01:45
DSL-openMopix hybrid cd? wouldn't a dual-boot be easier than rewriting the cd each time?
Posted by brianw on July 14 2006,02:27
There is already the Make myDSL CD Remaster in the tools menu under dsl. This will allow you to create an iso that you can burn to cd with the dsls in / and /optional.As for installing to CDRW like a regular HD, making changes and just burning that to get a live cd it won't work. I have been reading up on creating live cds and there are initial ramdisk and final ramdisk issues to deal with, also what needs to be writeable and what doesn't. Making a livecd is a fairly complicated process and can't be done simply by copying your filesystem to an iso.
The easiest option is to use the Make myDSL CD Remaster.
You could use the multisession idea which will work in most newer burners but may not work in all regular cd/dvd rom drives or older burners that don't read multisession (won't work in most older cd drives). If you are only using it in your drive and you know it handles multisession you could keep adding things as you need them but may not work if you take that cd to another system.
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on July 14 2006,03:26
I believe he intends to use both KNOPPIX remasters on his cd, which is doable with a simple boot menu on the cd. That's simple enough - as long as you get the right boot params passed in.But otherwise, you could use that make mydsl script.
Posted by newby on July 14 2006,12:44
| Quote (newby @ July 13 2006,21:05) | ||
As I said, I'm trying to create a DSL-openMopix hybrid. Boot into DSL and turn on clustering when desired. openMosix is just clustering, no fluxbox, et cetera. |
OK, I've clarified a couple of things:
1. CD-RW isn't going to make it any easier.
2. I'm having trouble trying to remaster because I have the CD that came with LINUX Format. It seems to be a special build that has things in different places than in the standard install. I got further last night with a remaster than I had before --- and watched it fill up the partition with all of th utilities that are also on that CD.
3. I'm probably not explaining myself well because I'm so new at *nix. For one thing, I wrote openKnoppix, instead of openMosix, confusing everyone.
Here's another shot at it:
openMosix uses a patched Linux kernal. On top of that are added a couple of files that (if I remember correctly) are tarballs.
I'm thinking there must be some way one can swap the openMosix kernal for the DSL one, add the tarballs in /OPTIONAL and burn a new iso.
That way we would still have all the cool DSL stuff, like fluxbox and myDSL
and could fire up clustering at night, or when we're at one of those manditory weekend trainings that we all love to go to. 
Where John and Roberts come in would be adapting the myDSL app loader to become a myCluster scheduler whereby the user would select a superDSLcomputing project to support with just a few keyclicks. (As I've said, the fees could go to support further DSL development.) See: < http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,37293-0.html >
If it's easy to swap out the kernal, I could probably thrash my way through to creating an iso. If it requires recompiling, I doubt I could do it.
So, the question is: Can I swap out the kernal without too much fuss?
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on July 14 2006,19:34
Check out < http://clusterknoppix.sw.be > - its already built for you.. I'd suggest getting the v3.4 / kernel 2.4.26 (the same knoppix version DSL was used on)Set up your bootloader to use the modified kernel for booting DSL... you'll probably have to extract that manually first however.
After this, it will probably boot, but as for being compatible... you'll have to play around and hope
If that all works, then you can properly remaster the whole DSL image :P
Posted by newby on July 14 2006,22:18
| Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ July 14 2006,15:34) |
| Check out < http://clusterknoppix.sw.be > - its already built for you.. I'd suggest getting the v3.4 / kernel 2.4.26 (the same knoppix version DSL was used on) |
Actually it's built on 2.4.27, not 2.4.26. The change may or may not be significant.
The one guy who did something similar reports having had "minor errors."
Whatever _that_ means!
What tool does one use to extract the kernal from an ISO?
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on July 15 2006,01:19
Actually, its 2.4.26 clusterKnoppix seems to retain the same versions as the original Knoppix versions - just see the changelog.
There used to be a custom build of DSL that used 2.4.27, but the DSL version is much older (by tronik, I think).
Also, the debian kernel packages are posted on the site - I'm guessing those _may_ be the same ones on the livecd.
Posted by newby on July 15 2006,16:38
| Quote (^thehatsrule^ @ July 14 2006,21:19) |
| There used to be a custom build of DSL that used 2.4.27, but the DSL version is much older (by tronik, I think). Also, the debian kernel packages are posted on the site - I'm guessing those _may_ be the same ones on the livecd. |
Ah! Well, I'm definately talking about a custom build!
Which seems like it will be a matter of guessing and trying...
Thanks for the help!