[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

[debian-knoppix] [projet annouce] :nroppix : nfs read only Knoppix



Hi all
	nroppix projet has startded on sourceforge:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/nroppix/

project hasn't release any files but the cvs repository is working, and
I've just released the first aplpha version.


nroppix is an attempt to run knoppix with *no* cdrom but with a network
acces. many nroppix client can share the same nroppix server. its a tiny
project. its a rewritiing of /linuxrc and all in the root image

Here is a cut and past of portion of INSTALL.txt:

---------

I General info:
===============

nroppix is desined to allow many diskless clients to share the same
linux chrooted distribution (like multi diskless knoppix client) or to
provide a robust server configuration with there / mounted by read-only
nfs (debian woody).

The nroppix server should be any up to date linux dristubution, with
following service enabled:
- nfs server (read only)
- tftp server
- 2 network access, eth1 being for the listening dhcp nroppix clients.

The nroppix client can be hopefully any kind of i386 with a network
adaptader supported by GRUB (http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/)
At this time, grub support the following cards:
ns8390 3c90x 3c595 eepro100 epic100 lance otulip tulip via-rhine rtl8139
Sorry for the others, nroppix wouldn't start.


II Boot Mechanism:
==================


-A grub only floppy (139Kb!) reach the network by dhcp. grub menu is
downloaded
by tftp, and the available nroppix linux server are displayed




-grub download the orginal kernel image (no recompilation needed) and
the root.img. root.img is quite big (4Mb, who is the max allowed ramdisk
size by default)




-at the early beginning of /linuxrc, a tmp ramdisk is created, and the
content of / is copied to. chroot is done on the tmps, so now, nroppiw
has rw access to /



-network is configured once again, because linux kernel doesn't remeber
grub dhcp request.




-the nroppix distribution (like knoppix) is mounted under /NROPPIX
we didn't want to chroot on it, as it is readonly. A mechanism similar
to knopppix is done:

somtehing like:


rm fr /sbin
ln -s /NROPPIX/sbin /sbin
rm -fr /bin
ln -s /NROPPIX/bin /bin
ln -s /NROPPIX/usr /usr
rm -fr /lib
ln -s /NROPPIX/lib /lib


Configuration files who need to be accessed rw are copied to tmpfs.
Files and directory that should be ro are symliked to /NROPPIX

-finaly, the original init is executed. nroppix should now be as the
nroppix server (like knoppix)


          III Installation procedure:
===========================

1)Install the linux ditrubution you want in a directory tree exported by
nfs readonly  (pre-alpha test has been done one on a debian woody
created by debootstrap --arch i386 woody /export/nfsro/woody; real alpha
test has been done on a KNOPPIX_V3.3-2003-11-03-EN)
(Hey Karl! by the way, it should be great if knoppix and other provide a
tar.gz root dump, *whith* boot.img under /boot (because I extract satic
file from it))

     ---

nroppix is in the very alpa stage for example mozila didnt launch,
because. it want write acces under /usr/lib/mozilla ...
But thoses kind of bugs should be easyly fixed

A mailling liste will be cerated on nroppix. We will try to speak
english, but don't blame us if we speak french or esperanto!

--
Olivier


_______________________________________________
debian-knoppix mailing list
debian-knoppix@linuxtag.org
http://mailman.linuxtag.org/mailman/listinfo/debian-knoppix


Reply to: