launching a script on start-up


Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: launching a script on start-up
started by: duch

Posted by duch on May 25 2006,20:01
Hi all,

first of all i'm a complete noob with DSL so apologize for any stupid questions...

I have a spare PC which i'd liked to transform into a backup unit.
Since i want my system to be independent from my data, a live CD distro like DSL seems to be an ideal choice. And since i don't want to waste an IDE port for a CD drive, booting from a USB key seems to be an even better choice.

Now, here is what i'd like to do:  
a simple startup script that would mount the SMB shares available on my network and do a rsync on the unit hard drive. Ideally, i wouldn't like to do a remaster each time i need to add a SMB share so it would be nice if this script could be a simple file on the USB key so that i could edit it on another computer an stick it back in the unit when i want to use it.

Could you please guide me into this project?

should i use Mkmydsl?
is rsync available in dsl?
should i use another usb key to store my script (and restore it thanks to a cheatcode?) or could it be on the same key?
how can i store my IP settings on my key?

Many questions might already been answered but i couldn't find the answer.

Thanks for your help

Posted by cbagger01 on May 27 2006,17:48
Yes for a remastered livecd, but you don't need to use mkmydsl if you are going to do a USB installation because the USB stick is read/write.  All you need to do is copy your extensions over to the USB stick and they will auto-install at boot time.

Quote
Change Log for DSL v2.4
1. 64 cloops for UCI extensions.
2. "User"-less UCI now fully supported.
3. Added Tiny C compiler, tcc
4. Added rsync
5. Added Lua cgi library, cgi.lua with sample test.html/test.lua
6. New updated Ted wordprocessor with help from Ted's author.
7. New updated ndiswrapper v1.14.
8. Improved dmix and sound features, dual channel and save settings.
9. Improved man program - now uses Netrik text browser for display.
10. Adjustment in .xinitrc to better support foreign language keyboards.
11. More cleanup for space savings to accomodate upgraded software.


Same key

Use the DSL backup/restore process.  Edit your default APPEND line in the SYSLINUX.CFG file to add "nodhcp" to the line.  Then add lines to your /opt/bootlocal.sh file to load with static IP and save the file via the backup/restore process.  See the wiki for more info

Posted by duch on May 28 2006,16:02
thanks for your help.

Do you mean i need to create an extension with my script, or is it only to add rsync?

If i don't need to build my script as an extension, where should i store it (bit  lost sorry)

about the backup/restore process, the wiki says it requires a cheatcode, how could i make it automatically every time the computer boots?



EDIT : OK, i got the idea about IP settings (i'm a bit slow sorry), my default APPEND line contains the default cheatcodes used by DSL at startup so adding nodhcp and sda1 as a restore path will do the trick ;)

with this i'll also be able to start as runlevel 2 only (but will my extension be loaded?) and run my script thanks to the bootlocal.sh script

Posted by cbagger01 on May 30 2006,00:27
You can do it a number of ways:

1) Create a small extension with your script inside.  If you place your script file in /home/dsl or in /opt you can make a simple extensionname.tar.gz type extension.

2) Save the script directly inside the root directory of your read/write boot device (IE: where the SYSLINUX.CFG file is located).  After booting, you can find it at /cdrom/scriptname
Keep in mind that the USB drive's native file system is MSDOS FAT, so you may need to copy and/or "chmod" the script in order to make it an executable program again.

3) Save it inside your backup/restore system.  If you store it in /home/dsl, it will automatically be backed up by default.  You can also store it in other locations if you include the file's path inside your /home/dsl/.filetool.lst   This is a text file that contains a list of files and directories that get backed up.  To see "hidden" files in linux (filenames that begin with a "."), press the "H" button at the top of the emelfm (filemanager) window pane.

4) Do a true KNOPPIX-Style remaster.  Relatively painful and complicated, but still do-able.

You can start as runlevel 2 by adding " 2 " to your append line.  The MyDSL extensions and the backup/restore will still function.

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