So far so good..

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: So far so good..
started by: TL_CLD

Posted by TL_CLD on Oct. 13 2005,20:43

I've now managed to connect DSL to my Samba server, I can manage it from my Vectorlinux box via VNC and XMMS is playing all my music from the Samba share.

So now I need to figure out how to automate all this.

How can I create an image where the VNC and Samba .dsl files are already included?

How can I create an image where the root user have a password?

How can I create an image where the VNC server is started on boot?

Hope someone can point me in the right direction..

Thomas

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 13 2005,20:54

How can I create an image where the VNC and Samba .dsl files are already included?
If they were both installed via mydsl, you can easily rebuild the ISO including these apps by using the mkmydsl script.

How can I create an image where the root user have a password?
Either type in "secure" at the boot prompt, or setup a password with the passwd command and backup /etc/shadow. The backup can be added to the ISO in the same way as mydsl apps.

How can I create an image where the VNC server is started on boot?
Add the command(s) to one of your startup scripts and back up that script along with the other files. Deciding which script to use would depend on when you want to start the server and who you want to start it.

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Oct. 13 2005,21:05

1. use mkmydsl.

2. use the dsl secure cheatcodes, create a backup that includes /etc/shadow and /etc/gshadow, and include that backup in you mkmydsl remaster as something like zzmyconfig.dsl

3. add the commands to start the vnc server to /opt/bootlocal.sh, and use the backup process I described above.

-J.P.

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 13 2005,21:12

What's /etc/gshadow? I back up just shadow and it seems to work, at least for what I've done so far.

Posted by TL_CLD on Oct. 13 2005,22:12

Ehm, when I use mkmydsl I end up with an ISO file that's a measly 2 MB in size.. Shouldn't it be a lot larger?

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 14 2005,03:23

yep. I'm guessing it would be about 52mb =o)
Apparently the script couldn't find the KNOPPIX and boot files
You might want to do a little research on what the script does so you can fix it. Personally my only rebuilds have been manual, but it was very simple....Mount the ISO, copy the contents to a writeable directory, add mydsl apps and maybe a backup.tar.gz to the root of that directory, and then use mkisofs to rebuild the iso. I can't say offhand what the commad is, but just about any thread in these forums concerning remastering will probably include it.

Posted by TL_CLD on Oct. 14 2005,06:29

Am I correct in assuming that the .dsl files will end up in the same folder as the the KNOPPIX and isolinux folders when using the script? It looks as if the script only includes my .dsl files in the ISO.

I'll have another go at it tonight when I get home. This is fun stuff!

Thomas

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 14 2005,15:11

Yes, the mydsl packages would be in the same folder as the KNOPPIX and boot directories, so that when the CD is burned the packages will be in the root of the CD. You can also create a directory called "optional" in that same spot, and put in mydsl apps that you don't want loaded automatically. Instead they will be displayed in the fluxbox menu under "install optional packages" or something similar to that.

Posted by cbagger01 on Oct. 14 2005,17:34

The assumption with mkmydsl is that the script has access to the livecd or to the Internet so that it can completely rebuild the iso with all files.

Posted by TL_CLD on Oct. 16 2005,11:10

Minor update:

Things are going well for me, and I'm closing in fast on being able to replace my Win2K/iTunes box with a DSL/XMMS box instead.

I do have one minor issue: I can't seem to get my root password to follow over to my new DSL image when using mkmydsl.

I place my /etc/shadow file in the same folder as the .dsl extensions I need, but when booting up the new CD, the password that worked with the "old" setup, doesn't work with the new.

Any suggestions as to what I might be doing wrong??

Sincerely,
Thomas

ps. and one more thing: If I place my .xinitrc and bootlocal.sh files in the same folder as the .dsl extensions when using mkmydsl, will they be "copied" into the new ISO?

Posted by clivesay on Oct. 16 2005,12:58

It may be overkill but here is what I backup to retain user/password information on my frugal installs.

etc/gshadow
etc/gshadow-
etc/passwd
etc/passwd-
etc/shadow
etc/shadow-

Chris

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 16 2005,15:45

Quote

I place my /etc/shadow file in the same folder as the .dsl extensions I need, but when booting up the new CD, the password that worked with the "old" setup, doesn't work with the new.
...
ps. and one more thing: If I place my .xinitrc and bootlocal.sh files in the same folder as the .dsl extensions when using mkmydsl, will they be "copied" into the new ISO?

You have the right idea for the location, but just putting files there will not work. In order for DSL to use them they must be in a mydsl format, which means a gzipped tar file (*.tar.gz,*.tgz, or *.dsl) with the file paths and permissions intact. The simplest way to do this, as far as I know, is to make sure the files you want are listed in /home/dsl/.filetool.lst and then run the backup/restore tool.

Posted by TL_CLD on Oct. 16 2005,18:24

I feel kinda stupid, but I don't understand what you're saying.

If I start the backup tool it asks my for a device, but seeing as I have no harddrive in this box, I don't know what to write.

And how can I keep paths and permissions intact if I bundle up the various config files in a zipped tarball? And what does the .filetool.lst file do? I've added /etc/ to the list, but that didn't help.

Maaan, I feel so stupid not understanding this. I'm sure it's all fairly simple, but I just don't get it.

Basically I just need to place a custom bootlocal.sh file and a .xinitrc file in my new DSL ISO. I can live without the password stuff, as that is only needed for SSH access to the box. If I can put my own .xinitrc file in the new ISO, I can just fire up the VNC server.

Thomas

Posted by TL_CLD on Oct. 16 2005,21:52

I think I've figured it out..

Thomas