Re: Distro Idea - Mass Storage Device Linux

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Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 18:57:55 +0000

> I was working on an older machine the other day, and realized that it
> was under-powered to properly run LinuxDefender Live! and scan the hdd
> for viruses. (the liveCD needed to lock the drive to create a swap
> file and thus I couldn't remount it in rw mode to let the antivirus
> program clean it)

Can you modify it so that it doesn't need the swapfile?

> I then came up with an idea, which I will present below.
>
> I don't know if this can be done or not. I'll assume it can until
> notified otherwise by those knowledgeable about making distros.
> I think I and many other would benefit greatly in our support work if
> someone could make this distro.
>
> Here it is:
>
> Mass Storage Device Linux
> This Distro should run as a liveCD.
> Upon booting, the distro will detect available external interfaces on
> the machine.
> This includes USB, Firewire, Serial, Parallel, and whatever else you
> fancy.
> The machine will act as a mass storage device (external drive bay,
> etc.) for a host machine.
> After booting the liveCD, the machine will be connected to the host
> machine via the desired interface.
> The host will then be able to access the drives in the client machine
> just as with any other mass storage device (/dev/sda, /dev/sdb, etc)
> and work with them properly.

Not sure how to do this. The more obvious thing (to me at any rate) would be
to get it to use NFS.
>
> That is the basic idea. It doesn't need X, sound support, etc.
> Just needs to boot and show the drives to the host via the mass
> storage driver.

Could do it. If that's all you want maybe you should be aiming for a
bootable floppy. Customise wolfland or similar to have more network stuff
and less browsers etc.
>
> Optionally, a second option would be nice for the box to act as a NAS
> device instead. Boot, fire up samba, nfs, ssh, webmin, etc.

NAS??
>
> I assume both options could reside on the same livecd.
> Maybe different kernels and a different runlevel for each mode.

Certainly possible. I'm currently working on a live cd with about 20 boot
options.

> So the CD boot options would load the proper kernel at the proper
> runlevel based on whether you want MSD-Linux or NAS-Linux.
>
> Is this idea possible?

Probably.

> If so, is someone willing to undertake the project for the good of the
> community?

If you ask me again after exams I might give it a go.

> I would do it myself if I had the knowledge to.
> But since I don't, I figured I'd throw the idea out there to those who
> might.

Surely it would be better to go for it, and learn what you need to as you go
along?

• Previous message: MikeyD: "Re: laptop install problems"
• In reply to: TechieM2: "Distro Idea - Mass Storage Device Linux"
• Next in thread: Matt: "Re: Distro Idea - Mass Storage Device Linux"
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