Re: Files modified by programs

[David Nicol <nicold@umkc.edu>]

Phil wrote:
> 
> On Fri, 9 Nov 2001, David Nicol wrote:
> 
> > Phil wrote:
> >
> > > > You could have an absolute symbolic link in your read-only /etc to
> > > > a place you know will be read-write, for instance /dev/shm/etc/...
> > > >
> > >
> > > This won't work for files that are used as flags (/etc/nologin) or
> > > even files that are modified by a moving them and creating
> > > new ones.
> >
> > these could be worked around
> 
> how ?

You might have to patch the application that uses the file.  Flag files
could be tested for readability rather than existence, for instance, or
tested for existence with a follow-symlinks option.

The instance of modifying a file by creating new and renaming would
have to be done in the read-write section rather than the read-only section.

Or if you really really really need transparency, you could start by
linking /etc to /dev/shm/etc after which you untar your etc contents into
it.

That method works to have read-write spaces exist within read-only spaces
in general.



-- 
                                                  David Nicol 816.235.1187
                       silly ears http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/gates.html