multiple cloop images on the CD

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: multiple cloop images on the CD
started by: Epsilon

Posted by Epsilon on May 06 2005,02:21

Hi. I`m not sure if this is posible but maybe there is another way.

I've seen the small size of dsl files and that brings to me 2 ideas. But first a question żare this made with cloop, or just compressed? i cannot find the howto to make dsl files.

1) Make a system to load all dsl files from an specific directory of the cd automatically, and other directory to have dsl files that are not default loadable.

when dsl is booting
scan <CDROOT>/dsl/default
load all them

optionally at boot prompt an extra parameter to include or exclude some dsl file
(include from <CDROOT>/dsl/extra)
(exclude from <CDROOT>/dsl/default)

maybe something like this

dsl select=XFree86,iptables,!tetris

the simbol "!" can be used to negate the module.

DSL must const of nothing more than just most basic programs to load this dsl files.
Each dsl file content a part of the system like the X used by dsl by default and XFree86 as an extra.
A priority order will be needed so all dsl files must be placed in the extra directory and with symlinks to the default dir called with names like in the init.d
0000hardwaredetection
0001XFree86
or something like this
and with rules like the "if the file already exist do not replace"
each module decompress or mounted in his own directory in a special dir like /dsl/usr/<MODULENAME>/<directory structure>
an symlinked to each particular position on the tree.

So no one will need "remaster" dsl, just "remodule" dsl changing the dsl files, adding more, deleting other one, or making his own with something like personal configuration (as a module), and then make the iso and burn to the CD.

2) Related with the other idea, will be great an script to make a dsl module from an existing linux installation. Example:

# dsl-hard2live

=> "what is the linux device?"
<= /dev/hda7
// here find automatically fstab and mount all in some dir
=> "where is the swap space? (needed XXXX Gb)"
<= /dev/hda7
<= /opt/tempandbiggerdir
// then copy all files of the system excluded dont needed files like debs, temps, logs, config files that are autodetected, etc.
// make the dsl module with this content
// delete the unneeded copied

with this the user put the dsl module in the dsl-cd and got the harddrive installation system on a live cd.

may work with almost any distro with a not so big installation.
Of course that there is a limit but the script dont need to check the size and dont need to make the iso.

A distro like this are on my more sweet dreams

and dsl is the most close to this than i ever seen.

I suggest the name "linux factory" to this distro but dsl is pretty cool.

i'm sure that i can be more detailed. Just tell me if you got the idea.

bye, and sorry for my english.

Posted by mikshaw on May 06 2005,02:37

.dsl files are gzipped tar files.

Your first suggestion is already implemented to a degree. You can automatically load extensions by placing them either in the root of your boot media, or on a different partition specified with the boot option "mydsl=<partition>". Optional extensions are added into a subdirectory named "optional".
Personally I like the idea of using an absolute path to a directory rather than the root of a partition, but this is the system we have now, and it works well.

I'm not sure what your second suggestion is, but it sounds like mkmydsl

Posted by Epsilon on May 06 2005,12:18

where can i find information about your scripts and what they do.

Posted by mikshaw on May 06 2005,14:17

I'm not sure what "your scripts" is referring to, but the scripts relating to mydsl extensions are not really documented. The process of installing and manipulating extensions, however, can be found here:
< http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/talk/node/68 >

If you want to look at some of the scripts to get a better idea of what is happening, here are some places to look (I'm not sure of the paths to the files...when i get back into DSL I'll verify):
/etc/init.d/dsl-functions
dsl-restore.sh
mkmydsl
filetool.sh
mkmydslmenu.lua
/etc/init.d/mkwriteable
mydsl-load
mydsl-install
mydslBrowser.lua
mydslDownload.lua
mydslInfo.lua
rmmydslmenu.lua
updmydslmenu.lua

Posted by Epsilon on May 06 2005,20:23

thank you.

I have tried mkmydsl and this finish without errors but no iso was maked.
I have dsl 1.0.1 and the extension are just stupids games and dpkg. Just for try.

what can be happening?

I have seen that XFree86 need edit some files, what happens if i use mkmydsl with XFree86, how do i edit the files? why drivers are not autodetected like in knoppix?

bye, thanks.

Posted by Epsilon on May 07 2005,00:15

sorry, there ARE errors.

The script seems to look at the CD for isolinux but it is not there and i am sure that the script to make the image is wrong, using isolinux. Where can i find the script?