read only root - debian squeeze

freelancerTax · 08-11-2011 03:46AM #1

hi
just built a new system - i want to have the os - debian squeeze - on a read only usb pen drive. i have tried many tutorials on the net for similar - but not the same - installs but none of them have worked correctly for me

requirements are - read only, can be remounted rw for easy update and config, works as normal for the user

i dont mind logs ect being non persistant

does anyone know of a good tutorial or know how i can do this?

thanks in advance
ft

Johnboy1951 · 08-11-2011 06:06PM

I would think that a Live USB would be the way to go, with the possibility of persistence or just changing the ISO on the stick to update it.

I never tried to run Linux in RO mode except as a live environment. I would imagine there would be difficulties ... Sorry cannot help directly, just wondered if you had considered the Live USB option for your needs.

freelancerTax · 09-11-2011 11:53PM

hi
thanks for the reply
i have considered the live version of debian but the problem is with updating would mean re building the distro...
i would much rather be able to mount the drive as read/write and update then reboot/remount as read only again.

Johnboy1951 · 10-11-2011 03:12PM

Out of curiosity - so ignore if out of place -

..... why do you wish to have the OS RO? Is it only to save the USB stick from excess writing?

freelancerTax · 14-11-2011 02:53AM

thanks for the replies

needs to be readonly to help the usb stick to not run put of write cycled and also as its headless i want to be able to pull the plug without da
ading the file system

OSI there are many ppl like i said that have done this with various distros - its very possible

live cd doesnt suit me as it too difficult to update
i want to be able to remount the drive rw to update

ft

Johnboy1951 · 14-11-2011 10:43AM

If it is an attempt to eliminate unnecessary writes to the filesystem then mounting it with the noatime attribute might be all that is required in your case?

freelancerTax · 15-11-2011 02:18AM

hi johnny,
again i also need to be able to "pull the plug" as its a headless machine.......

Johnboy1951 · 15-11-2011 02:51PM

As I don't use Debian, I have no idea what difficulties may be peculiar to that distro, but if in your position I would run a live USB system (with persistence if required), and periodically remaster the OS to include updates.

freelancerTax · 16-11-2011 03:14PM

hi

i found a solution that works exactly as i like

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/aufsRootFileSystemOnUsbFlash

its for ubuntu and eeepc but works for me also

all i have to do to update is edit the boot options by pressing e when booting and the system is then read/write otherwise its read only.....

thanks for all the input....

ft

Johnboy1951 · 16-11-2011 03:26PM

freelancerTax wrote: »

hi

i found a solution that works exactly as i like

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/aufsRootFileSystemOnUsbFlash

its for ubuntu and eeepc but works for me also

all i have to do to update is edit the boot options by pressing e when booting and the system is then read/write otherwise its read only.....

thanks for all the input....

ft

That appears to describe exactly what I have been suggesting ....... running a live session with persistence ..... unless I have missed something special?

freelancerTax · 16-11-2011 03:54PM

im not sure john
this uses aufs a dual layered files system that makes the root read only -
it behaves exacly like a fully installed system except that the root is now readonly with any writes in volatile memory - it doesnt use persistence files so it behaves as you would expect in all regards except that root is read only (unless you ask it not to be)

ft

Johnboy1951 · 16-11-2011 04:07PM

Read it again ... I misinterpreted - or lazily did not read properly .... sorry

It looks interesting and deserving of some more in-depth reading.

Thanks for the link

read only root - debian squeeze

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