Running DSL on Windows without a trace
Forum: DSL Embedded
Topic: Running DSL on Windows without a trace
started by: ssalman
Posted by ssalman on Aug. 16 2005,15:19
I’m a Linux newbie, and I was looking for a small linux distro that I could run on a Windows PC without leaving a trace, as I want to use it on my work machine when I have time to spare at work 
. My company monitors our machines and the applications installed on them, OS installed and it’s version, and a whole lot of other things 
.DSL was a godsend, it has everything I wanted, I could run it without installing anything on my PC, and it does not show anywhere on my Windows system, but for my use it was a little too smart! It auto detected my network settings and got connected to my company’s network (a big oops!). I want to be completely invisible to my company when running DSL, nothing more than running a command line in a Command Prompt window. So I have 4 questions:
1- Is there a way to disable networking hardware detecting at boot in DSL so there is no network detecting to start with?
2- What other things do I need to watch for to be completely hidden?
3- Is there a way to start DSL in text mode (runlevel 2 or 3, I’m not sure)?
4- Is there other linux images that I can download to use with DSL?
I want to use DSL to learn the basics of Linux, and experiment with its commands, but without touching the windows system.
Please forgive my questions if they seam to be too basic, I’m a newbie after all
Thanks!
Posted by outanet on Aug. 16 2005,17:44
I dont think you will be completly hidden. a tcpdump will show packets going to your machine from anywhere on the subnet. a windows network is not too bright, it wont really recognise a dsl, all you have done is broadcast a dhcp request. if you get caught it will be because someone sees your screen.
to start in text mode i think dsl 2 will boot to runlevel 2 ie root text.
Just a thought but your IT manager has a tough enough job as it is, try not to give him anymore headaches, if he finds you he will "focus" on you.
Posted by ssalman on Aug. 16 2005,18:13
Thanks outanet,Your post was very helpful, but I think you misunderstood part of my question, maybe I wasn’t clear to begin with
I want to cripple DSL’s network detecting all together, I don’t need the network on DSL, I just need the command line to experiment with.By using DSL without networking, I’m hoping that it will be completely separated from my windows system as well as the network, so I can’t do any harm to my PC or the network. Is that possible?
I honestly don’t want to affect anybody; I just want to learn linux on my lunch break. I hope you’ll understand
Posted by roberts on Aug. 16 2005,18:21
At the boot prompt: dsl 2 nodhcp
Posted by ssalman on Aug. 16 2005,18:26
Well, I'm using the "dsl-windows.bat" file in windows to run the embedded version of DSL, without booting the PC. Is there a way to pass these options through QEMU?
Posted by outanet on Aug. 16 2005,19:05
ok, how about unplugging the cat5 from the pc?iI havnt used qemu yet but you could boot as normal, then ctrlalt+f1 out of x windows
ctrl +c to stop xwindows
sudo passwd to enter a new root passwd
then su to enter root privelages
finaly init 2
Posted by ssalman on Aug. 16 2005,19:14
I think I figured it out, but I’m wondering if someone could verify that what I’m doing is right.I'm using the following modified "dsl-windows.bat" file:
| Code Sample |
REM Start qemu on windows. @ECHO OFF START qemu\qemu.exe -L qemu/ -localtime -kernel linux24 -initrd minirt24.gz -hda KNOPPIX/knoppix -hdb qemu/harddisk -append "qemu frugal 2 nodchp" -dummy-net CLS EXIT |
But now whenever I change the focus to another program in Windows and go back to QEMU window, I can’t type anymore, and it acts like it has frozen the linux window, only closing the window and restarting QEMU fixes the problem. This did not happen when I was using the X system, I could switch between windows and linux applications seamlessly!
Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Aug. 17 2005,00:51
That is a known bug in qemu, not in DSL.Just use a maximized xterm to get the runlevel 2 experience.
-J.P.
Posted by ssalman on Aug. 18 2005,14:26
Thanks to outanet, roberts, SaidinUnleashed, I'm now able to run DSL the way I wanted it run, I still unplug the cat5 from the pc, just to be safe. QEMU still freezes on me, but only when I switch between windows and QEMU, other than this, everything is great. Thanks guys!
Posted by lra on Aug. 18 2005,19:45
regarding the 'not being able to type again' bug in qemu, sometimes, if you keep on alt-tabbing to the qemu window and back to another windows window, the red cursor will either remain an empty red box (no good) or a full red square (good!). it may take a few tries, but it's a way that works for me.
Posted by cbagger01 on Aug. 18 2005,21:32
Also, you can sometimes "fix" the problem by doing this:Move your mouse pointer over the qemu window and then click on it so that you are back "inside" your qemu virtual machine.
Then slowly press and release individually each key that was used in your last keystroke that caused you to exit qemu.
For example, if you left qemu with ALT-TAB, then
Press ALT
Holt ALT
Release ALT
Then
Press TAB
Hold TAB
Release TAB
Same is also true for other escape sequences like CTRL-ALT-DEL etc