More packages to DSL, but still lightweight.Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions Topic: More packages to DSL, but still lightweight. started by: Zucca Posted by Zucca on Nov. 25 2007,14:55
I have a great idea. Or at least I belive so. ;PI wonder if it was be possible to burn DSL to a cd with an extra partition. That extra partition would contain several DSL packages. Main purpose for that is that DSL would still be lightweight and could be ran from RAM, but if user wants to install more programs he/she could find those fast from the other partition. This, ofcourse, wouldn't need internet connection. ;) With this feature DSL could be "as lightweight as before but with heaps of packages". This may be possible also without an extra partition by modifying DSL cd image and adding packages anywhere on the CD image but NOT inside of KNOPPIX image. True? Of corse you can store DSL packages to your USB stick/etc... Anyway installing packages will eat RAM (as /opt resides in unionfs partition which has the writeable part in tmpfs partition). With older hardware you could just choose not to install more apps. Or... mount a Linux partition from USB stick (or any mass storage device) to /opt. Again, no RAM will be consumed. =) I don't know how things would be after boot if there are some preinstalled apps in your USB stick (/opt partition). So emptying mounted /opt on reboot/shutdown would be on place. Unless backup.tar.gz contains needed files (for example menu entries for preinstalled programs in /opt). I don't have the lastest DSL so I don't actually know if there's already features like theese. Posted by john.martzouco on Nov. 25 2007,16:17
This is a pretty good idea. Does DSL boot up from a DVD disk?... if it does, your idea extends to 6 times more storage for all your favorite things.
Posted by roberts on Nov. 25 2007,16:27
That concept has been available since DSL v0.8.0. It is called mkmydsl and allows additional MyDSL extensions on cdrom or dvd without remastering them into the KNOPPIX image. The script has been updated many mnay times view the < Notes > section and 'find text' mkmydsl.
Posted by Zucca on Nov. 25 2007,17:31
Great. =)How about mounting /opt somewhere else than to tmpfs? Posted by mikshaw on Nov. 25 2007,19:25
Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Nov. 25 2007,20:53
Yes, adding another cd track (which I assume is what you call partitions) on a multi-session cd does work, but the results can vary (i.e. not supported by certain cd drive hardware). A safer way is to modify the iso or whichever cd image before writing it to disc. DVD's are no different.
Posted by b1ackmai1er on Dec. 15 2007,13:42
Try WinISO at < http://www.winiso.com/download.htm >After installing, open you DSL.ISO in winiso, then drag a folder named myDSL containing all your extensions into the program. Save the updated ISO and burn. Its really easy. It's a real gem but limited to 100M unless you pay for it. Regards Phil Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Dec. 15 2007,20:19
OK, but- that requires windows - there are simpler and free utilities that are unrestricted in that manner (i.e. just use DSL) - it's likely that the cd writing software that people are using support multisessions and/or modifying cd images |