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javakid
12-20-2002, 06:54 PM
Hello Friends,

I am attempting to create a bare essentials version of Knoppix, one small enough to fit on one of those little 180MB CDs.

I have been playing with linux for a few years and can find my way around reasonably well, but I am far from being a linux guru.

I would love to see someone more knowlegable do this instead, but since I have not seen anyone attempt such a radical customization, I will see if I can do it on my own.

Please let me know if you know of such a customization already in existance. It would be much simpler for me to customize someone else's work than to do the whole thing myself.

If I can get it to work, I will be requesting someone to host the file.

I love Knoppix! It is an excellent tool and has helped me to repair systems on two occasions. The reason for the tiny build is mainly so that I can carry knoppix in my pocket and always have linux at hand.

My requirements are a java-enabled web browser (Mozilla), telnet (client) ssh (client), rdesktop, and VNC (client). I would like to have troubleshooting/repair tools as well, such as Ethereal, Etherape, gpart, and the basic linux essentials also, but I would be happy with just my basic requirements (after all, I will usually have a full knoppix CD nearby).

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Nathan Chilton

eadz
12-21-2002, 04:02 AM
You may want to check out Teck2k's site
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=46907&ck=
and charan's site
http://gnubox.dyndns.org:8080/~sunil/kno_cd.html

There are 180 and 200 meg knoppix versions around, there is also "Kix" available in the knoppix contrib directory. However I'm not sure what ones are the most activly maintanied.

javakid
12-21-2002, 06:48 PM
Thanks for the tip. Kix is 244MB, so it still needs some trimming. But it might be a better starting point.

Tech2k
12-22-2002, 04:17 AM
I think Kix makes a good starting point and have remastered it many times.I hope the info on my homepage helps.Kix has the 2.4.19-xfs kernel so it's not to bad :wink:

When you first get Kix and boot it to look around you can startx clean by saying "startx /usr/bin/blackbox" I also say "knoppix 2" at the boot prompt so it dont try and start kde then fail to a prompt.Heres a few tips :

1. Say "deborphan" and remove the 54meg of orphaned libs left behind.
2..Add "xdialog" to make the knx-hdinstall script run agian and also replace the script with the 0.30 version if you want it to run in english (dont forget the templates in /usr/local/lib).
3. Use the boot-en.img from a Knoppix cd to get rid of the german keyboard.
4. Give the "knoppix" user a password so you have the option to login as knoppix or root.To do this just say while chroot "passwd knoppix" and set a pass.

If you go with the 210meg mini-cdr's you can have around 550meg uncompressed (max).
I remove all kde,wine,isdn and gimp,xfonts-intl,gpsdrive,zsh,psi,cdbakeoven and add icewm,xcdroast,xfm,mozilla-browser,eterm,sylpheed,along with a bunch small fast gtk and tk apps.

Another good starting point for a mini-cd is the lnx-bbc.You can build you own online with gar/cvs and it can also be remastered and uses cloop..they invented cloop.Find out more here : http://www.lnx-bbc.org/

I also just found this bbc with the 2.4.20 kernel : http://rescuecd.pld.org.pl/

javakid
12-24-2002, 01:16 AM
Thanks, Tech2k, those are great tips.

I will try them out. Using a 210MB CD is a good idea too.

--Nathan Chilton

Tech2k
12-24-2002, 07:19 PM
I went to compusa yesterday and found some 245meg mini cd-r's so guess what I am up to :wink:

The write speed is 1x to 24x and they cost $7.99 for 15.

I also got curious and did some googling last night and found this http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/productdetail.asp?product_id=279809

210meg mini CDRW 5 for $5.99 I gotta have some...

javakid
12-24-2002, 08:39 PM
Thanks for the tip. I finally got myself a 700 MB CDRW for the regular Knoppix disc, because I it seemed silly to waste a CDR on a particular release when a new one could be out the next day. I just bought ten 210MB CDRs, but I'm sure I'll be looking for some mini CDRW discs in the near future.

Tech2k
01-01-2003, 11:38 PM
Ok guys I have found a much better "head start" than "kix" to use for the base of a mini cd project...get it here http://metadistros.hispalinux.es/

You want the one called "knoppix lite" and dont worry because it has the boot.img for en,es,and de.If you say at boot prompt "knoppix lang=us" it is all us even kde :wink:

I removed all kde,psi,zshircii and had pleanty of room to add things like endeavour2,gimp1.2,qcad,xcircuit,icewm,icemc,eterm ,prozilla,spider,gaim,scite,xchat,tinyirc,scrot ,tkinfo,tkman,tkps,dillo (it already has mozilla and links),telnet-ssl,xine-ui,tuxpuck and a ton more.

It's a better start than "kix" because it has zero orphaned libs and not much kde to kill and even "as is" it boots clean to kde and seems to have no errors.The pkg status is also "right".I also replaced the knx-hdinstall script and templates with 0.30 so it runs in english.

Have fun

javakid
01-03-2003, 04:45 PM
Knoppix-Lite is an excellent disc! It is so much better than kix in so many ways! The best part is that if you don't want to have to remaster knoppix to get a working minicd, you can just burn it to a 210MB CDR and your done.

And if you want to customize and remaster, you only need to remove enough packages to make room for your additions!

I love it! This is exactly what I meant when I stated:


"I would love to see someone more knowledgeable do this instead, but since I have not seen anyone attempt such a radical customization, I will see if I can do it on my own. "

at the begining of this thread.

Thank you for finding this, Tech2k!!!

Now we just need to convice the right people and get it on the standard mirrors 8)

Tigren
01-03-2003, 09:02 PM
I have been trying to find a way to get our remasters on the mirrors. Wonder who we have to sleep with to get this done...

eadz
01-05-2003, 02:07 PM
I have been trying to find a way to get our remasters on the mirrors. Wonder who we have to sleep with to get this done...

lol.. i will have a bigger HDD on my server soon, say in 2-3 weeks..

dw_donald
01-06-2003, 01:29 AM
Why not start a SourceForge Project for mini Knoppix CD's

javakid
01-06-2003, 09:06 PM
hmmm... Not a bad idea. I don't have the time to manage one at the moment.

Tech2k, are you listening? (hint, hint)


Why not start a SourceForge Project for mini Knoppix CD's

AvidLinuxUser
01-09-2003, 02:25 AM
I'm starting to work on a Model-K (Modular Opensource Distribution Evaluating Live-CD's (based on) Knoppix)

I plan to rip the guts out and have only the kernel, apt, hd-install and knoppix add-ons for console.

Does any one know where to get the .deps for the other knoppix add-ons?

eadz
01-09-2003, 02:53 AM
I'm starting to work on a Model-K (Modular Opensource Distribution Evaluating Live-CD's (based on) Knoppix)

I plan to rip the guts out and have only the kernel, apt, hd-install and knoppix add-ons for console.

Does any one know where to get the .deps for the other knoppix add-ons?

You may be interested in KnopBase which is a console only 50Mb, and contains all the knoppix stuff, and other ones at http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/KnoppixCustomizations

as for the debs, you can use dpkg-repack to repack them into debs. there were around 50 last time I checked.

AvidLinuxUser
01-09-2003, 04:01 AM
Thanks for the info about dpkg-repack.

I downloaded the first version of KnoppixBase 73 megs, but there were problems with some apps. Plus the 12 or so hours downloading was a nightmare.

Once there is a stable Mini work can begin on the Modules.

My pet project is the Education Module.

Nice thing about this is the work here will help Debian Jr and like projects.

Alextreme
01-09-2003, 09:29 AM
Thanks for the info about dpkg-repack.

I downloaded the first version of KnoppixBase 73 megs, but there were problems with some apps. Plus the 12 or so hours downloading was a nightmare.

Once there is a stable Mini work can begin on the Modules.

My pet project is the Education Module.

Nice thing about this is the work here will help Debian Jr and like projects.

You were welcome, i'm on the other side of that pipe and it ain't getting a whole lot better ;)

the second version (0.02 at 53 meg) fixes a numer of issues, but i would love to hear any remarks, critisism or flames about any version. Only a good base can make a good distro :)

01-10-2003, 02:31 AM
I think its possible to fit a very compact Knoppix in a CD-Card (52 MB), with X, and some simple apps. Some time ago I did a very small distribution intended to use 486 PCs as X terminals, based on Slackware 7.1 called "Pulga Linux".

It has only 40 MB compressed, with X, opera, proftpd and ssh.

It is still available at: http://www.guiadohardware.net/linux/pulga/

Now I'm working in another small distribution, but at this time based on Knoppix :-)

My idea is a compressed image of 180 MB or so With KDE and other desktop utilities and a lot of documentation, filling the rest of CD.

I have done something alread, Knoopix is very very powerfull to develop specialized distributions because of the hardware detection and knx-hdinstall. You can install in 100 machines in a day :-)

Carlos_E_Morimoto
01-10-2003, 02:34 AM
ooooops, forgot to login :oops:

Carlos_E_Morimoto
01-10-2003, 02:15 PM
I started to work this night, 250 (with KDE) and losing wheight :D

In my case the objective is include only basic desktop funcionality, so im removing the major part of editors, development, math, etc.

javakid
01-17-2003, 07:50 PM
I finally finished my PocketKnoppix CD!

Features:
- Based on Knoppix-Lite 1.0
- 207MB
- Mozilla (with the java and flash plugins)
- vncviewer
- rdesktop (for connecting to Citrix and MS Windows terminal servers
- smbclient
- gnome-terminal
- ethereal and etherape
- chntpw (including the floppy disk image file -- in /usr/local)

Games:
- Frozen-Bubble
- Ace-Of-Penguins (card games and puzzles)
- Gnome Chess

I replaced KDE with ICEWM for speed and for its small size. I configured ICEWM to display the same "Knoppix" background that KDE normally does. I also set it to respond to the Windows menu key on newer keyboards.

All of the apps which I personally wanted to have on a CD that fits in my pocket! The full Knoppix CD is awesome, but it is nice to have some useful tools and games in my pocket, in case I do not have a Knoppix CD handy.

:-)

Carlos_E_Morimoto
01-17-2003, 07:55 PM
Very cool :-)

I still with KDE and currently at 170 MB, but without Mozilla. The ISO is available at: http://www.guiadohardware.net/news/2003/01/index.asp#02

muczy
08-11-2004, 06:29 PM
Please,please,please people!!!
Send me the list of your installed packages to me:
muczy@freestart.hu .
Please help me! :cry: :cry:

A. Jorge Garcia
08-12-2004, 04:22 PM
Why don't you just download and burn Damn Small Linux?

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

You could take a look at all the remasters available today:

http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/KnoppixCustomizations

Regards,
AJG

muczy
08-15-2004, 04:38 PM
Why don't you just download and burn Damn Small Linux?

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

You could take a look at all the remasters available today:

http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/KnoppixCustomizations

Regards,
AJG
Because i would like to make my own MINI cd

A. Jorge Garcia
08-15-2004, 11:25 PM
OK, good answer! I thought you were interested if its been done by others, however.

Good Luck,
AJG

muczy
08-16-2004, 07:27 AM
Thanx! :D

Zeaq
08-17-2004, 09:44 AM
Hi,

I have found a liste of removeable pakets on http://gnubox.dyndns.org:8080/~sunil/knoppix.php

Sunil Thomas Thonikuzhiyil used the following command to remove all pakets:

I copied the above list to a file ( say kicklist) then did
#dpkg -P `cat kicklist`
Is there a current removeliste anywhere? I think it would be a nice idea to administer an always current version anywhere - maybe a wiki!?

BTW: Is there no chance to get the Knoppix Base used by Klaus Knopper??? I sure there is one....

Thanks!