Aboutmkitwrk Expertise Expert: Creating and managing *nix database/application servers for use with dl4/unibasic/mysql/apache/thoroughbred applications, espcially in medical environments.
Strengths: scripting, backup and disaster recovery, routing, samba/smbfs/cifs, LPRng, CUPS, telnet/ssh/sftp, vsftp, rsync, new system preparation, system duplication, database design, system conversions (AIX/SCO-OS5/Linux)
Familiar With: apache/apache-ssl, mysql, php, c, awk, sed, gnome, nfs
Experience I've been head of development at our company since 1984. Our OS's at that time were Point 4's IRIS and Altos' Xenix. Then: SCO Xenix, SCO Unix, AIX, SCO-OS5, Caldera, RedHat 7, Debian Sarge, RedHat ES4, Debian Etch, Redhat ES5, Debian Lenny. I've migrated our clients through those various versions with minimal interruption while preserving their investments in hardware and staff knowledge over time.
Education/Credentials 1980 BSBA Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri
I'm new to the world of Linux. I'm used to using Windows OSes but I would like to enter the Linux dimension because I've heard that Linux has many advantages over Windows. For example, Linux is more secure and allows more privacy than Windows. Also, Linux is more flexible in terms of drivers. In addition, Linux has a Live versions that does not need any non-volatile RAM.
I'm looking for a laptop that:
1. Is fully-compatible with the Linux Live CD and does not need any HDD or any non-volatile RAM.
2. Has a wireless internet card in it whose MAC address can be changed.
3. Is new and not used.
4. Compromises* among the following:
4a. Least expensive
4b. Has the most amount of volatile memory
*I say compromise because usually if the system is less expensive, it will have less memory. So I am looking for the least expensive with the most amount of memory [volatile memory] for the price I'm paying.
The reason I need so much volatile memory is because I don't plan to use any HDD or non-volatile RAM [other than a floppy disc] on this laptop. Linux Live CD doesn't need any non-volatile RAM and can boot from the CD.
In addition, will the Linux Live OS be compatible with a USB floppy drive? Also, can I use an additional CD or DVD ROM drive with the Linux Live in case I want to run applications from CD/DVD discs other than the Linux Live?
Also, how do I change the MAC address of my NIC using Linux Live?
Once again, I wish for the only non-volatile RAM device on my laptop to be the floppy.
I'm guessing I'll need for my laptop to have two built-in CD/DVD-ROM drives. Am I right?
Thanks a bunch,
Green
ANSWER: Most new computers don't have floppy drives.
All computers come with some non-volatile storage, unless you build one yourself.
Netbooks can be had with either HDD or not, but still have at least a 4GB SSD.
New systems have plenty of USB connectors and can boot from them as well.
Linux drivers are more flexible for those who know how to get them, compile them and insert them into the kernel, etc... (you can't do that in Windows, but, then again, not everyone wants to get to that level with Linux either...)
So, if you want a laptop, buy it with a small HDD, bump the RAM, and remove/disable the HDD.
A netbook is closer to what you are trying to build from the start, but the processors are not as fast as those in laptops.
Check your Linux Live mailing list/blog to see how much RAM your version (i.e. 32 or 64 bit, small/medium/large/huge memory model, etc.) can access, then test it on a known brand (like a Dell laptop...) to see if it can see all the RAM and if it can use the NIC properly.
So, the first issue is compatibility with the drivers supplied on your Linux Live CD. (mainly the NIC and USB).
Rebuilding you Linux Live CD to contain needed drivers should be possible, but I'll leave that up to you as to whether that is something you'd like to tackle.
If you want to be sure, then you must give it a try on some hardware.
So, that means going around to local vendors and trying it out.
In the process, you will find a range of available processors for the chosen system(s).
Also, you will find out the max RAM for each of them.
Hopefully, you can locate a reasonably light laptop with a Core2Duo processor that maxes out at 8 or 16 GB ram, has a multi-SSD reader/writer, 4 to 6 USB connectors, a 10/100/1000 NIC and an internal CD/DVD R/W.
Get the one with the best match to your needs and order add-on/replacement RAM to max it out.
If you have to have a floppy, you can get a USB external floppy - but most folks are using USB sticks now. - And if you need a second CD/DVD you can get an external USB version of that as well.
Getting the HDD out of a laptop can be an issue sometimes, but you could just disable it in the bios and/or fdisk the drive and remove all the partitions to achieve the same effect (other than power consumption).
If I were shopping for this, I'd look for Intel or Broadcom 1GB NIC's, good USB support in the bios, a Core2Duo processor, ability to have at least 8GB of RAM and lots of USB ports (the SSD R/W would be a plus...). The Linux Live CD should handle those NIC's -- and should probably be able to create a bootable USB stick as a backup should the CD/DVD get damaged.
I usually shop Dell and Tiger Direct. (Dell for business computers to get the 3yr service agreements, Tiger Direct to build my own from scratch or get deals on systems without any OS pre-installed.)
Hope that helps!
Larry
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for your response.
Can't the info from the live CD be read into the PC and then temporarily stored in the volatile RAM chips as opposed to constantly using the CD drive?
That is what I would like to do. Use the VRAM chips as an HDD substitute. Now of course, when the PC is offed, all info is lost but I'm okay with that. I don't plan to save anything for long-term on the laptop.
Thanks again,
Green
Answer I'm pretty sure that is what the Ubuntu version of the Linux Live CD does.
I've not really used it, since databases are my forte -- (And I don't want *them* to go away...)
The initrd boot process is similar. - In the Live CD case, Ubuntu uses "tmpfs" filesystems rather than initrd's "cramfs", "ext2" or "ramfs". If, after booting the Live CD, it is still accessing the CD, you could create a script (using cpio or rsync) to duplicate the entire filesystem from the CD into a tmpfs filesystem and then remount root on the new copy of the root filesystem (in the same manner as initrd does during the boot process). You'd have to have the script in a USB stick or add it to the live CD to do it (or type it in every time...)
But it certainly is possible.
It should be fast after booting and would be a great network testing or HDD repair tool.
All your own code/tools could on another CD or USB stick and be loaded after the initial boot.
I will try to create a Live CD using the Ubuntu 9.04 64-bit boot CD sometime next week.
Ubuntu has a utility on the menu that makes a bootable USB stick or CD. Most of the process is standard filesystem structures, but the boot portion of it is tricky. If the utility allows customization of the content prior to making the image, then that would be a huge plus. Guess I'll find out when I give it a try!
