Making a live CD
June 8th, 2006
For those who don’t know, a Linux ‘live’ CD is a boot CD which contains a working linux installation. It allows you to run linux programs without installing linux onto the hard disk of the computer, much like a high tech boot disk.
I have toyed in the past with customising the gentoo live installer to work with PXE but it was mostly a hack. We had the need to create a live CD which has php and a custom php script. The solution was to build a real live CD, based on CentOS 4. CentOS recently released a live CD, and the build scripts but no instructions for building your own. I have figured out a procedure and here it is http://www.byteclub.net/wiki/CentOS_Live
Entry Filed under: linux
4 Comments Add your own
1. pimaster | June 8th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
Just out of interest, what need is there of a live cd with a single php script?
2. jnewbigin | June 8th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
You have 100 cisco routers and a lab full of windows PCs. You need to run your php script against every router (It will check the firmware and configuration settings via the serial console). Sure php runs on windows but can it talk to a serial port? and I don’t control the PCs. They will however boot from CD.
Solution, boot a few machines off your live CD and work away. When you are done, reboot the PC and noboy even knows you have been (except that the cisco routers now all work). The live CD has a tftp server and the firmware images ready to use if you need it.
3. Clinton | June 8th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
ooOOoo that’s nice. :~)
4. pimaster | June 9th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
That adds a lot of value to the post. Very tasty.
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