Installing apps on USB-Pen
Forum: Apps
Topic: Installing apps on USB-Pen
started by: cbamav
Posted by cbamav on Aug. 17 2005,15:25
Hello forum,I have just installed DSL 1.4 on my USB key. I use the myDSL Browser to install extra apps, but I have realized that those programs won't be save on the USB key, they are only available until the next reboot.
Is there a way to save those myDSL package and the Desktop settings?
thx for help
Posted by green on Aug. 17 2005,16:20
Here is what I do:When I download something from myDSL Browser, I save it to the place where I want to keep it. This means: you save it to your USB thingy or a hard drive or whatever. Most USB thingies are called
/sda1
You should be able to save your apps there.
You can also get the apps there by using firefox or dillo to browse the repository, do the save as thing with a right click in firefox and tell it where you want it to go.
I have come across something a few times. I have to use emelfm as superuser to change the permissions of the place (directory) I want it to save to.
To do this:
(i don't have DSL in front of me at the moment, so this is based on my poor memory)
open emelfm as supersuser from the tools menu
go to the directory where you want to save something
right click on the directory in the list
mouse to properties/permissions
press each button to give permissions
click OK
Now use firefox, or whatever, to save as <your location>
It should work.
As far as desktop settings, I think you can save /fluxbox/.init to the filetool.lst
However, in DSL 1.4, I have not had to do that as of yet.
Maybe someone with a better memory or if they have DSL in front of them can be more helpful than I.
Good luck.
EDIT: I did not explain about using / or /optional directories when saving stuff. If you need that explanation, let us know.
Posted by madPLanet on Aug. 18 2005,09:12
Sorry to leap onto this thread from nowhere (just registered!), but I'm trying to do exactly the same thing as cbamav, or at least I need to install additional apps onto my usb key. I want to use DSL as a network monitoring tool that I can boot into when I need to 'sniff' network traffic, hence I need ethereal and iptraf installed.Initially I had problems as I couldn't activate apt without being networked, but this worked once I fixed the switch port I was plugged into. Installing ethereal and iptraf was easy using apt-get from a 'sudo su' bash shell.
Of course, once I rebooted, it lost the apps I installed. So how can I make them permanently installed? Do I install them to /sda1? How can I tell apt-get where to install them?
Sorry, I sound a bit of a noob, probably because I am!
Thanks
Posted by cbamav on Aug. 18 2005,09:16
@green hmmm.. i think it is not wat i meen.
first i booted from DSL-Live-CD.
than i use the function Install to usb pendrive ->USB-ZIP
so i can now boot from my USB-System. i can install Samba.dsl.info and it works all. but wenn i reboot my usb-system i mußt install Samba.dsl.info again.
i have a other pc where in installed DSL to HDD and wenn i reboot thies system i have all my settings and installaions.
But i need thies on my usb-Pen ;-(
can i make a HDD installaion to /sda1
thx for each help
Posted by green on Aug. 18 2005,13:11
cbamav,You need to learn about using the / and /optional directories for saving your downloaded .dsl files. Put in your DSL LiveCD and read every word of the information that comes up in the Dillo window when DSL has finished booting.
Put apps that you want loaded during boot into the root of the pendrive, dsl auto loads the ones that are there. The ones you want available in the menu go into a directory called /optional that you create on the pendrive, and you will be able to load them at will after boot.
Posted by madPLanet on Aug. 18 2005,15:08
Figured out how to fix my app install issue, might not be the best way, but it certainly works for me! Have a read of < this pdf >. Only info that's missing is how to get the app to load on boot up. After creating the .dsl file, do a backup (just in case), shutdown, plug the usb key into another OS, open up the backup file and extract the .dsl file to the root (/) level of the USB key. This will allow it to auto load on boot.
Like I said, it works for me. I've now got iptraf and ethereal running on a laptop, plugged into a SPAN port on a core network switch - and once I'm done, the laptop boots back into XP (sounds great?).
Hope this helps.