I need to know more about knoppix-data.inf

[rajibando]

This is a very important file, and I want to know about its history and functionality - origin, evolution and applicability.

Regards

[Werner P. Schulz]

Don't you remember my other posting?

[rajibando]

Yes, a message box during flash-knoppix install:

MSG_TARGET="flash-knoppix: Install KNOPPIX compressed to flash disk.\n\nPlease select desired target device:"
  INFO_TARGET="Target:"
  MSG_READY="Finished.
You can now remove device from drive."
  MSG_MOUNTED="is already mounted."
  MSG_SELECT="Please enter directory containing KNOPPIX files."
  MSG_BOOTREC="Creating boot record on"
  MSG_NOTFOUND="No boot configuration found (no boot/isolinux/isolinux.cfg), bootloader will probably not work."
  MSG_WRITING="Writing data..."
  MSG_SIZE_OVERLAY="KNOPPIX can use an \"Overlay\"-file for storing data permanently.\nIf you want this, please enter desired size (minimum 200MB, free: %sMB)."
  MSG_SIZE_OVERLAY_ADVANCED="Please enter the size of the Overlay partition\nfor storing your data permanently.\n(minimum 400MB, free: %sMB)."
  MSG_CRYPT_OVERLAY="Would you like to encrypt the overlay using AES256 (=Advanced Encryption\nStandard 256bit, http://csrc.nist.gov/encryption/aes/)?\n\nFor this type of encryption, entering a password for creation as well as\nat system start is necessary.\n\nWithout knowing this password, reading saved data is not possible.\nBecause of that, encrypted data is still safe against unauthorized\naccess in case the storage device containig the data gets lost or stolen.\nOn the other hand, all saved data is inaccessible if you forget the password,\nand there is no way to recover."
  MSG_PASSWORD="AES256 Encryption Key (minimum 8 chars):"
  MSG_PASSWORD2="Please enter the same password again, just to be sure:"
  MSG_PASSWORDS_NOMATCH="Passwords are not identical, or just too short.\nPlease try again."
  MSG_OVERLAY="Creating overlay [%s MB]..."
  MSG_QUESTION_PARTITION="Partition and format device?\nCAUTION: All data will be erased!\nNo = only copy KNOPPIX data to existing partition"
  MSG_QUESTION_PARTITION_ADVANCED="Repartition and format device?\nCAUTION: All data will be erased!\nNo = Exit program"
  MSG_QUESTION_REALLY_FORMAT="Do you really want to do this?\nWARNING: ALL DATA ON WILL BE ERASED!"
  MSG_FORMAT="Formatting"
  MSG_PARTITION="Partitioning"
  MSG_ERROR_NODISK="No flash disk(s) found."
  MSG_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE="Flashdisk is not partitioned properly.\nThe first (primary) partition must be DOS/FAT32."
  MSG_FAT_EXISTS="A FAT32 file system exists on"
  MSG_KNOPPIX_EXISTS="An installed KNOPPIX system exists on"
  MSG_OVERLAY_IMAGE_EXISTS="An Overlay image is present."
  MSG_ENCRYPTED_OVERLAY_IMAGE_EXISTS="An encrypted Overlay image is present."
  MSG_OVERLAY_PARTITION_EXISTS="An overlay partition is present."
  MSG_METHOD_SELECT="Please select installation method:"
  METHOD_NEW_IMAGE="Installation on FAT32 with (optional) overlay file <4GB."
  METHOD_NEW_PARTITION="Installation on FAT32 with additional overlay partition."
  MSG_SIZE_OVERLAY_PARTITION="Please enter desired size of overlay partition (MB)."
  MSG_ERROR_TOOSMAL="Overlay size is too small!\n(minimum 400MB required)"
;;
esac

and three lines

1. if [ ! -r "$TMPMOUNT"/KNOPPIX/knoppix-data.img -a ! -r "$TMPMOUNT"/KNOPPIX/knoppix-data.aes -a ! -r "$TMPMOUNT"/KNOPPIX/knoppix-data.inf ]; then
2.  echo "2 /KNOPPIX-DATA reiserfs encryption=aes" >> "$TMPMOUNT"/KNOPPIX/knoppix-data.inf
3.  echo "2 /KNOPPIX-DATA reiserfs" >> "$TMPMOUNT"/KNOPPIX/knoppix-data.inf

My need is more information. GOTO Message no.1

[rajibando]

Humour aside, I had known about pendrive linux for a long time. I also have a version of it in my system, not using pendrive, but using its ISO to boot. Did our Knoppix USB install was also inspired like pendrive linux? Then who was the original ideator for this concept of booting Linux from removable pen drives? How did this idea came into being?
And, how come flash-knoppix script and then finally knoppix-data.inf ?

[rajibando]

I have also gone through:
http://debian-knoppix.alioth.debian....flash-knoppix2
It also has similar references on knoppix-data.inf

But as I have understood, this innocuous line is of immense value, which I first came across in this post, and my regards go to BlackSimon for this invaluable advice.
Now I am hooked to knoppix-data.inf!

[Werner P. Schulz]

Sorry, your code part and the links within doesn't work.

But anyway, the interesting part of the script "flash-knoppix2" starts at "If we don't already have an overlay, ask to create one"

If there already exist an overlay nothing is done, if not, Knoppix creates an overlay.

If the overlay is an overlay partition, Knoppix creates the new config file "knoppix-data.inf" with the proper content. This config file is a specific file of K. Knopper and not of the Debian pool.

How Knoppix interprets this config file during boot, you can see within the "init"-file of the minirt.gz in the function mountdata() and there starting at the line "inf) # Contain partition information ...".

Read and analyze the source code.

If you want another behaviour of Knoppix and his overlay partition you have to change these two scripts, insert your own code and remaster Knoppix.

[rajibando]

Yes, sir, so I saw! Anyway, sir, ignore it. They just contain the lines where there are references to this file.
And yes, sir, I had read about your minirt.gz comment earlier too. As advised, the source code would be perused.
Sir, I am interested in history [omitted - and functionality] - origin, evolution and applicability. Any leads?
Regards

[rajibando]

My regards to Prof. Knopper. Great idea! I am presently using it on my HDD, with Knoppix image in one partition and persistent in another partition.

There is an application in Debian called bootcd that creates live CDs. Bootcd was also a tool used in Apple OS.

What was the inspiration behind the .inf file in Knoppix? Great idea!