Read-only file system


Forum: Apt-get
Topic: Read-only file system
started by: och

Posted by och on Dec. 15 2006,12:31
I installed a frugal DSL3.0 with persitent  home and opt (got the same problem with 3.1).
When enabling apt everything seemsOK.
sudo apt-get update OK too.
sudo apt-cache search tcsh OK too.
BUT:
sudo apt-get install tcsh
...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/tcsh_6.11.00-2.1_i386.deb  (--unpack):
unable to create `./etc/skel/.cshrc':  Read-only file  system
...
I can remember apt'ing without any problem on a previous frugal install of DSL3.0 on an other computer.
What am I forgetting?

Posted by scot on Dec. 15 2006,14:04
Not a real solution, but if you have enough memory, try it again after loading DSL with the 'toram' option.  I think that running frugally without the 'toram' bootup option doesn't give you a writable system, since you're running from a non-writable image.  Someone who knows more can perhaps answer: what types of DSL installs work for apt-get?  Do any types just refuse to work?
Posted by och on Dec. 15 2006,14:56
Do I have a way to modify the list of options I gave to lilo without re-installing everything?
I tried to copy /KNOPPIX/etc/lilo.conf in /home/dsl and run:
sudo lilo -C lilo.conf
but it tells me again I am writing on a Read-only file system....

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Dec. 15 2006,15:06
toram only copies the dsl knoppix image media to ram so that it's much faster - doesn't change anything else - it's still acts like any other frugal.

Quote
unable to create `./etc/skel/.cshrc':  Read-only file  system
I think this should actually be ~/.cshrc ?  Afaik /etc/skel should be only modified if remastering, as this hold the files to be copied into ~/ (but you probably could use mkwriteable on this though).

To run lilo again, you'll either have to chroot the environment, or use the sequence from the frugal_install.sh (ie .... ln -sf /mnt/somedrive / , etc.)

Posted by och on Dec. 15 2006,19:54
I confirm the message mentions ./etc/skel/.cshrc
I still don't understand when dpkg tries to write there. I also tried to enable synaptic, which implied a downgrade of apt. But the install of tcsh carshed with the same error message

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Dec. 15 2006,21:07
downgrade of apt? Thought synaptic was only a frontend to apt...

Can you give the output of `echo "${HOME}"` and `cd ~/ && pwd`?  And I suppose you are running as root:root?

Posted by och on Dec. 19 2006,09:36
It appears the problem is on a specific package:
I cannot get tcsh whereas I have been able to apt-get other packages (like csh). As I wanted to install my shell prior to getting the other tools I needed, I thought I was facing some overall problem.
As I am on Frugal I run every root command through a sudo.
Therefore the output of the two commands mentioned by ^thehatsrule^ is /home/dsl
The whole error message is:
Unpacking tcsh (from  .../tcsh_6.11.00-2.1_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: error processing /var/cache/apt/archives/tcsh_6.11.00-2.1_i386.deb (--unpack):
unable to create `./etc/skel/.cshrc':  Read-only file  system[QUOTE]
So the problem seems now related rather to a debian package behaviour than to DSL and apt problem.
Sorry if I posted my question in the wrong place, but even if I can now work without solving that particular issue, I'd like to understand what is happening.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Dec. 19 2006,14:04
Ah, well /etc/skel is the initial environment, I guess the tcsh checks for this.  In a DSL livecd, the home environment is created from this.

It is read-only because normally it's only read.  You could temporarily get the package installed by removing the symlink in /ramdisk/etc/skel (and optionally copying /KNOPPIX/etc/skel directory over).  An alternative would be to extract it (use it manually) and/or re-package it (in deb or mydsl format)

Posted by och on Dec. 20 2006,10:54
Thank you! It works!
I write my exact solution here so I know where to find it later:
Code Sample
sudo rm /etc/skel
sudo cp -r /KNOPPIX/etc/skel /etc/
apt-get install tcsh

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