Running multiple Knoppix versions from 1 CD?

[Craig Caughlin]

Hi folks,
I'm trying to run both Knoppix and Pilot/Linux from one CD, but I'm having no sucess. Here's my scenario: In the root directory of my bootable CD, I have both Knoppix folders (directories)...one I called Knoppix, the other called Morphix. I found a similar discussion and post(s) ( http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4229 ) that seem to indicate that to run multiples versions of Knoppix, you simply need to modify the linuxrc file from:

insmod /modules/cloop.o file=/cdrom/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX

to

insmod /modules/cloop.o file=/cdrom/KNOPPIX/$CLOOP_FILE (or I'm assuming in my case- /MORPHIX/KNOPPIX)

I'm having two problems: 1.) My linuxrc file doesn't have a "insmod /modules/cloop.o file=/cdrom/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX" entry, it only has a "insmod -f /modules/cloop.o file=/cdrom/base/morphix" entry and 2.) When I try to run Pilot/Linux, it starts O.K...but then seems to mount the OTHER Knoppix filesystem instead of the one I really want!

Suggestions???

Thanks,
Craig

[jch]

I slightly modified linuxrc to enable the user to select where the big 700 M knoppix file stays at boot time .

for instance :
boot: knoppix lang=fr 2 knoppixdir=3 noapm ...


will make knoppix search the knoppix file in /dev/hd|sd|??/knoppix3/knoppix
in state of
/dev/hd|sd|??/knoppix/knoppix

Y'll have to put the big knoppix file in KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX and your morphix file in KNOPPIX1/KNOPPIX
(The name of the file has to be KNOPPIX wherever it stays)

Will that solve your problem ?
I can send you the linuxrc file if necessary ....

[jch]

I slightly modified linuxrc to enable the user to select where the big 700 M knoppix file stays at boot time .

for instance :
boot: knoppix lang=fr 2 knoppixdir=3 noapm ...


will make knoppix search the knoppix file in /dev/hd|sd|??/knoppix3/knoppix
in state of
/dev/hd|sd|??/knoppix/knoppix

Y'll have to put the big knoppix file in KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX and your morphix file in KNOPPIX1/KNOPPIX
(The name of the file has to be KNOPPIX wherever it stays)

Will that solve your problem ?
I can send you the linuxrc file if necessary ....

[Craig Caughlin]

Hi jch,
If you could send me a copy of your linuxrc file, that would be helpful. Also, if you could tell me which line(s) you had to modify to make it work? (What did they look like before you modified them, and what do they look like now) As I mentioned, I found it odd that the post(s) that I referred to mentioned an entry like:

"insmod /modules/cloop.o file=/cdrom/KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX"

and the default linuxrc file doesn't have an entry like this at all that I see.

Thank you for your help!

Craig

[jch]

Here is my modified linuxrc file.
Before burning a cd you should try to make a floppy, then copy the 700M knoppix file on your hard disk in \KNOPPIX1\KNOPPIX then booting from the floppy disk, try at boot time:
1) boot: knoppix 2 knoppix should boot from cdrom
2) boot: knoppix 2 knoppixdir=1 knoppix should boot from harddisk
3) Put morphix file in \KNOPPIX2\KNOPPIX and try knoppix 2 knoppixdir=2 , Morphix should boot ....

good luck

---------linuxrc----------------

#!/static/sh
#
# KNOPPIX General Startup Script
# (C) Klaus Knopper <knoppix@knopper.net>
#
#
# This script needs some of the builtin ash commands (if, test, ...)
# mount/umount, insmod/rmmod are also a builtin in ash-knoppix.
#

# hardcoded configurable options
# Default maximum size of dynamic ramdisk in kilobytes
RAMSIZE=1000000
# End of options

# Don't allow interrupt signals
trap "" 1 2 3 15

# "Safe" SCSI modules in the right order for autoprobe
# Warning: The sym53c8xx.o and g_NCR* cause a kernel Oops if no such adapter
# is present.
#
# NB: It looks like that ncr53c8xx.o is more stable than 53c7,8xx.o for
# a ncr53c810 controller (at least on my installation box it's more
# immune to SCSI timeouts)
# Removed 53c7,8xx -> crashes if no device attached.
# Removed AM53C974 -> crashes tmscsim if adapter found
# Added initio.o on request (untested)
SCSI_MODULES="aic7xxx.o aic7xxx_old.o BusLogic.o \
ncr53c8xx.o NCR53c406a.o \
initio.o \
advansys.o aha1740.o aha1542.o aha152x.o \
atp870u.o dtc.o eata.o fdomain.o gdth.o \
megaraid.o pas16.o pci2220i.o pci2000.o psi240i.o \
qlogicfas.o qlogicfc.o qlogicisp.o \
seagate.o t128.o tmscsim.o u14-34f.o ultrastor.o wd7000.o \
a100u2w.o 3w-xxxx.o"

# Misc functions

mountit(){
# Usage: mountit src dst "options"
# Uses builtin mount of ash.knoppix
# Builin filesystems
BUILTIN_FS="iso9660 ext2 vfat"
for fs in $BUILTIN_FS; do
test -b $1 && mount -t $fs $3 $1 $2 >/dev/null 2>&1 && return 0
done
return 1
}

FOUND_SCSI=""
FOUND_KNOPPIX=""
INTERACTIVE=""
KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE="KNOPPIX"

# Clean input/output
exec >/dev/console </dev/console 2>&1

# Reset fb color mode
RESET="]R"
# ANSI COLORS
# Erase to end of line
CRE="
"
# Clear and reset Screen
CLEAR="c"
# Normal color
NORMAL=""
# RED: Failure or error message
RED=""
# GREEN: Success message
GREEN=""
# YELLOW: Descriptions
YELLOW=""
# BLUE: System mesages
BLUE=""
# MAGENTA: Found devices or drivers
MAGENTA=""
# CYAN: Questions
CYAN=""
# BOLD WHITE: Hint
WHITE=""

# Clear screen with colormode reset
# echo "$CLEAR$RESET"
# echo "$CLEAR"
# Just go to the top of the screen
# echo -n ""
echo ""
# Be verbose
echo "${WHITE}Welcome to the ${CYAN}K${MAGENTA}N${YELLOW}O${WHITE}P${RED}P${GRE EN}I${BLUE}X${WHITE} live Linux-on-CD!${NORMAL}"
echo ""
echo ""

# We only need the builtin commands and /static at this point
PATH=/static
export PATH

umask 022

# Mount /proc and /dev/pts
mount -t proc none /proc
mount -t devpts none /dev/pts

# Read boot command line with builtin cat command (shell read function fails in Kernel 2.4.19-rc1)
CMDLINE="$(cat /proc/cmdline)"

# Check if we are in interactive startup mode
case "$CMDLINE" in *BOOT_IMAGE=expert\ *) INTERACTIVE="yes"; :>/interactive; ;; esac
# Does the user want to skip scsi detection?
NOSCSI=""
case "$CMDLINE" in *noscsi*) NOSCSI="yes"; ;; esac
#---------------------------
NUM="1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "
KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINEFOUND="KNOPPIX"
for i in $NUM
do
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Looking for KNOPPIX in: ${MAGENTA}KNOPPIX$i${NORMAL} "
case "$CMDLINE" in *knoppixdir=$i*) KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINEFOUND=KNOPPIX"$i"; break ;; esac
done
echo "${CRE} ${GREEN}Accessing KNOPPIX in ${MAGENTA}$KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINEFOUND directory${GREEN}...${NORMAL}"
KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE=$KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINEFOUND
#---------------------------
# Disable kernel messages while probing modules in autodetect mode
echo "0" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk

# Mount module disk
mountmodules(){
TYPE="$1"; shift
echo -n "${CRE}${CYAN}Please insert ${TYPE} modules disk and hit Return. ${NORMAL}"
read a
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Mounting ${TYPE} modules disk... ${NORMAL}"
# We always mount over /modules/scsi (because it's there
if mountit /dev/fd0 /modules/scsi "-o ro"; then
echo "${GREEN}OK.${NORMAL}"
return 0
fi
echo "${RED}NOT FOUND.${NORMAL}"
return 1
}

# Unmount module disk
umountmodules(){
TYPE="$1"; shift
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Unmounting ${TYPE} modules disk... ${NORMAL}"
umount /modules/scsi 2>/dev/null
echo "${GREEN}DONE.${NORMAL}"
}

# Ask user for modules
askmodules(){
TYPE="$1"; shift
echo "${BLUE}${TYPE} modules available:${WHITE}"
c=""; for m in "$@"; do
if test -f "/modules/scsi/$m"; then
test -z "$c" && { echo -n " $m"; c="1"; } || { echo " $m"; c=""; }
fi
done
[ -n "$c" ] && echo ""
echo "${CYAN}Load ${TYPE} Modules?${NORMAL}"
echo "${CYAN}[Enter full filename(s) (space-separated), Return for autoprobe, ${WHITE}n${CYAN} for none] ${NORMAL}"
echo -n "${CYAN}insmod module(s)> ${NORMAL}"
read MODULES
case "$MODULES" in n|N) MODULES=""; ;; y|"") MODULES="$*"; ;; esac
}

# Try to load the given modules (full path or current directory)
loadmodules(){
TYPE="$1"; shift
test -n "$INTERACTIVE" && echo "6" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
for i in "$@"; do
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Probing ${TYPE}... ${MAGENTA}$i${NORMAL}"
if test -f /modules/scsi/$i && insmod -f /modules/scsi/$i >/dev/null 2>&1
then
echo "${CRE} ${GREEN}Found ${TYPE} device(s) handled by ${MAGENTA}$i${GREEN}.${NORMAL}"
case "$TYPE" in scsi|SCSI) FOUND_SCSI="yes"; ;; esac
fi
done
test -n "$INTERACTIVE" && echo "0" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
echo -n "${CRE}"
}

# Check for SCSI, use modules on bootfloppy first
if test -n "$INTERACTIVE"; then
# Let the user select interactively
askmodules SCSI $(cd /modules/scsi; echo *.o)
else
# these are the autoprobe-safe modules
MODULES="$SCSI_MODULES"
fi
test -z "$NOSCSI" && test -n "$MODULES" && loadmodules SCSI $MODULES
# End of SCSI check

# Check for misc modules in expert mode
if test -n "$INTERACTIVE"; then
another=""; answer=""
while test "$answer" != "n" -a "$answer" != "N"; do
echo -n "${CYAN}Do you want to load additional modules from$another floppy disk? [${WHITE}Y${CYAN}/n] ${NORMAL}"
another=" another"
read answer
case "$answer" in n*|N*) break; ;; esac
if mountmodules new; then
askmodules new $(cd /modules/scsi; echo *.o)
test -n "$MODULES" && loadmodules new $MODULES
umountmodules current
fi
done
fi
# All interactively requested modules should be loaded now.

# Check for ide-scsi supported CD-Roms et al.
test -f /proc/scsi/scsi && FOUND_SCSI="yes"

# Disable kernel messages again
echo "0" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk

# Now that the right SCSI driver is (hopefully) loaded, try to find CDROM
DEVICES="/dev/hd?"
test -n "$FOUND_SCSI" && DEVICES="/dev/scd? /dev/scd?? $DEVICES"
# New: Also try parallel port CD-Roms [for Mike].
DEVICES="$DEVICES /dev/pcd?"
# New: also check HD partitions for a KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX image
test -n "$FOUND_SCSI" && DEVICES="$DEVICES /dev/sd?[1-9] /dev/sd?[1-9][0-9]"
DEVICES="$DEVICES /dev/hd?[1-9] /dev/hd?[1-9][0-9]"
for i in $DEVICES
do
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Looking for CDROM in: ${MAGENTA}$i${NORMAL} "
if mountit $i /cdrom "-o ro" >/dev/null 2>&1
then
if test -d /cdrom/$KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE
then
echo -n "${CRE} ${GREEN}Accessing KNOPPIX CDROM at ${MAGENTA}$i${GREEN}...${NORMAL}"
FOUND_KNOPPIX="$i"
break
fi
umount /cdrom
fi
done

# Harddisk-installed script part version has been removed
# (KNOPPIX can be booted directly from HD now).

if test -n "$FOUND_KNOPPIX" -a -f /cdrom/$KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE/KNOPPIX; then
# DEBUG
# echo "6" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
insmod -f /modules/cloop.o file=/cdrom/$KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE/KNOPPIX
mountit /dev/cloop /KNOPPIX "-o ro" || FOUND_KNOPPIX=""
fi

# Final test if everything succeeded.
if test -n "$FOUND_KNOPPIX"
then
# copy library cache
cat /KNOPPIX/etc/ld.so.cache > /etc/ld.so.cache
echo ""

# Enable kernel messages
echo "6" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk

# Set paths
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Setting paths...${NORMAL}"
PATH="/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:."
export PATH

# Debian weirdness
/bin/cp -a /KNOPPIX/etc/alternatives /etc/ 2>/dev/null

# From here, we should have all essential commands available.
hash -r

# Clean up /
rm -rf /modules /static

# New in Kernel 2.4.x: tempfs with variable ramdisk size.
# We check for available memory anyways and limit the ramdisks
# to a reasonable size.
FOUNDMEM="$(awk '/MemTotal/{print $2}' /proc/meminfo)"
TOTALMEM="$(awk 'BEGIN{m=0};/MemFree|Cached/{m+=$2};END{print m}' /proc/meminfo)"

# Be verbose
echo "${CRE}${BLUE}Total memory found: ${YELLOW}${FOUNDMEM}${BLUE} kB${NORMAL}"

# Now we need to use a little intuition for finding a ramdisk size
# that keeps us from running out of space, but still doesn't crash the
# machine due to lack of Ram

# Minimum size of additional ram partitions
MINSIZE=2000
# At least this much memory minus 30% should remain when home and var are full.
MINLEFT=16000
# Maximum ramdisk size
MAXSIZE="$(expr $TOTALMEM - $MINLEFT)"
# Default ramdisk size for ramdisk
RAMSIZE="$(expr $TOTALMEM / 5)"

# Check for sufficient memory to mount extra ramdisk for /home + /var
if test -n "$TOTALMEM" -a "$TOTALMEM" -gt "$MINLEFT"; then
test -z "$RAMSIZE" && RAMSIZE=1000000
mkdir -p /ramdisk
# tmpfs/varsize version, can use swap
RAMSIZE=$(expr $RAMSIZE \* 4)
echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Creating ${YELLOW}/ramdisk${BLUE} (dynamic size=${RAMSIZE}k) on ${MAGENTA}shared memory${BLUE}...${NORMAL}"
# We need /bin/mount here for the -o size= option
/bin/mount -t tmpfs -o "size=${RAMSIZE}k" ramdisk /ramdisk && mkdir -p /ramdisk/home /ramdisk/var && ln -s /ramdisk/home /ramdisk/var /
echo "${BLUE}Done.${NORMAL}"
else
mkdir -p /home /var
fi

echo -n "${CRE}${BLUE}Creating directories and symlinks on ramdisk...${NORMAL}"
# Create common WRITABLE (empty) dirs
mkdir -p /var/run /var/backups /var/cache/apache /var/local /var/lock/news \
/var/nis /var/preserve /var/state/misc /var/tmp /var/lib \
/var/spool/cups/tmp \
/mnt/cdrom /mnt/floppy /mnt/hd /mnt/test \
/home/knoppix /root /etc/sysconfig /etc/X11 /etc/cups
chown knoppix.knoppix /home/knoppix
# Create empty utmp and wtmp
:> /var/run/utmp
:> /var/run/wtmp
# CUPS wants writable files. :-/
cp -a /KNOPPIX/etc/cups/*.conf /etc/cups/ 2>/dev/null
# All files in here should be size zero after Knoppix.clean was run
cp -a /KNOPPIX/var/local /KNOPPIX/var/games /KNOPPIX/var/log \
/KNOPPIX/var/spool /var/ 2>/dev/null
cp -a /KNOPPIX/var/lib/games /KNOPPIX/var/lib/wine \
/KNOPPIX/var/lib/nfs /KNOPPIX/var/lib/xkb /KNOPPIX/var/lib/isdn \
/KNOPPIX/var/lib/kdm /KNOPPIX/var/lib/pcmcia \
/KNOPPIX/var/lib/dhcp* \
/var/lib/ 2>/dev/null
# Problematic directories in /var/lib (lots and lots of inodes)
ln -s /KNOPPIX/var/lib/dpkg /KNOPPIX/var/lib/apt /KNOPPIX/var/lib/doc-base \
/KNOPPIX/var/lib/gnome /KNOPPIX/var/lib/kde \
/KNOPPIX/var/lib/scrollkeeper /KNOPPIX/var/lib/texmf \
/var/lib/ 2>/dev/null
# Debian-apt
ln -s /KNOPPIX/var/cache/apt /var/cache/ 2>/dev/null
ln -s /KNOPPIX/etc/skel /KNOPPIX/etc/nessus /etc/dhcpc/resolv.conf \
/etc/ 2>/dev/null
ln -s /KNOPPIX/dev/* /dev/ 2>/dev/null
# Index files can be HUGE, so better replace cache/man tree by links later
# cp -a /KNOPPIX/var/cache/man /var/cache/ 2>/dev/null
# Create links from CDROM for UNWRITABLE (remaining) files
cp -aus /KNOPPIX/var/* /var/ 2>/dev/null
cp -aus /KNOPPIX/etc/* /etc/ 2>/dev/null
# Make SURE that these are files, not links!
rm -rf /etc/ftpusers /etc/passwd /etc/shadow /etc/group \
/etc/ppp /etc/isdn /etc/ssh /etc/ioctl.save \
/etc/inittab /etc/network /etc/sudoers \
/etc/init /etc/localtime /etc/dhcpc /etc/pnm2ppa.conf 2>/dev/null
cp -a /KNOPPIX/etc/ftpusers /KNOPPIX/etc/passwd /KNOPPIX/etc/shadow /KNOPPIX/etc/group \
/KNOPPIX/etc/ppp /KNOPPIX/etc/isdn /KNOPPIX/etc/ssh \
/KNOPPIX/etc/inittab /KNOPPIX/etc/network /KNOPPIX/etc/sudoers \
/KNOPPIX/sbin/init /KNOPPIX/etc/dhcpc /etc/ 2>/dev/null
# Extremely important, init crashes on shutdown if this is only a link
:> /etc/ioctl.save
:> /etc/pnm2ppa.conf
# Must exist for samba to work
[ -d /var/lib/samba ] && :> /var/lib/samba/unexpected.tdb
# Diet libc bug workaround
cp -f /KNOPPIX/etc/localtime /etc/localtime
echo "${BLUE}Done.${NORMAL}"

# Now tell kernel where the real modprobe lives
echo "/sbin/modprobe" > /proc/sys/kernel/modprobe

# Change root device from /dev/fd0 to /dev/ram0
echo "0x100" > /proc/sys/kernel/real-root-dev

# Give control to the init process.
echo "${CRE}${BLUE}Starting init process.${NORMAL}"
rm -f /linuxrc
exit 0

else
echo "${CRE}${RED}Can't find KNOPPIX filesystem, sorry.${NORMAL}"
echo "${RED}Dropping you to a (very limited) shell.${NORMAL}"
echo "${RED}Press reset button to quit.${NORMAL}"
echo ""
echo "Additional builtin commands avaliable:"
echo " cat mount umount"
echo " insmod rmmod lsmod"
echo ""
PS1="knoppix# "
export PS1
echo "6" > /proc/sys/kernel/printk
# Allow signals
trap 1 2 3 15
exec /static/ash
fi

[Craig Caughlin]

Hi jch,
I don't quite understand your instructions - Are you saying...

Step 1- When I boot from the floppy, at the "boot" prompt type- knoppix 2
(and Knoppix should boot from the CD)

Step 2- When I boot from the floppy, at the "boot" prompt type- knoppix 2 knoppixdir=1, and Knoppix should boot from the harddisk...What does the "knoppixdir=1" command mean??? The knoppix 2 is a knoppix "cheatcode" for Runlevel 2, isn't it???

Step 3- I don't understand this instruction at all, "Put morphix file in \KNOPPIX2\KNOPPIX and try knoppix 2 knoppixdir=2. I think if I knew the knoppix syntax you're referring to, it would dawn on me.

You mentioned in your earlier post to modify the linuxrc file like:

"boot: knoppix lang=fr 2 knoppixdir=3 noapm ...

will make knoppix search the knoppix file in /dev/hd|sd|??/knoppix3/knoppix "

I've looked at your linuxrc file, but I don't see where the knoppixdir= entry is at all. Do you mean the "KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE=" entry??? Can you tell me where these entries are that you're referring to in your linuxrc file that you modified???

Thank you for your help!
Craig

[jch]

Well, i'm not sure I have been clear.

Knoppix can run from a bootable cdrom but it can also run from a harddisk..
It only needs that the big 700M file /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX in the cdrom to be copied on the hard disk in /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX.

The reason why I wrote this modified linuxrc was that I wanted to be able to start a knoppix version selected among several ones stored on a harddisk.

For instance I have knoppix2003-07-26 , knoppix2003-07-25, and kurumin on my hd , I can easily switch from one to the other just typing
boot: knoppix lang=fr knoppixdir=xxx, where xxx=1 or 2 ... assuming knoppix2003-07-26 is in /KNOPPIX1/KNOPPIX, knoppix2003-07-25 in KNOPPIX2/KNOPPIX, kurumin in /KNOPPIX3/KNOPPIX ....
I thought you had a similar problem but wanted to do the same from the cdrom instead of hd , if yes you can go on reading...

First of all the "2" at boot prompt boot: knoppix 2 ..... is here to make knoppix start faster since we only want to check that everything is ok, at this stage of test we don't need X .

Step 1)
You want to test that knoppix can run ( run not start ) from the hard disk ? it's easy ( but a ntfs file system will not work, ext2 and fat32 are ok)
a) copy KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX from the cdrom to the hard disk
b) let the cdrom in, ( we will boot from the cd but run from the hd )
at boot prompt , type boot: expert 2 lang=us ....
note ! "expert" instead of "knoppix" this will make knoppix ask you questions thus allowing you to remove ( yes remove ) the cdrom.
When knoppix asks you about modules , remove the cdrom , answer no to any further questions and finally knoppix will boot from your hard disk...

Step 2)
a) make a floppy including my linuxrc, check that it works ( remove the cdrom and boot from the floppy ) knoppix should find the KNOPPIX file on hd and run from it
b) rename the dir on the hd to KNOPPIX1/KNOPPIX , reboot from the floppyand at boot prompt type boot: knoppix knoppixdir=1 ; knoppix should still run from hd , finding the knoppix file in /KNOPPIX1
c) now copy another version of knoppix or kurumin or morphix in KNOPPIX2/KNOPPIX KNOPPIX3/KNOPPIX ; you should be able to select which one to run just typing boot: knoppix knoppixdir=1 ( or 2 , 3 up to 9 )...

Step 3)
burn a cdrom with those KNOPPIX1 KNOPPIX2 ... directories and this linuxrc , you should be done.Or I entirely mistake on what you wanted...

jch

[Craig Caughlin]

Hi jch,
Let me see if I can clarify myself, also. Yes, I want to run multiple versions of Knoppix (or Morphix, etc.) from the CD, not a HD. Basically, what I am trying to do is figure out which file I need to modify to have my CD do automatically, what you do manually. In other words, when your Knoppix boots, you type: knoppix knoppixdir=xxx or whatever. What I'm trying to do if figure out which file (I think it's the linuxrc, isn't it?) I need to modify so that the correct version of Knoppix boots, without my needing to type: knoppix knoppixdir=1 or 2 or...whatever. Here's my current CD setup: The bootable CD that I'm running Knoppix from has a menu I have created which has an entry for Knoppix and in my case Pilot Linux (a Morphix version). Again, I want to modify the file(s) in Knoppix and Pilot Linux so when I boot the CD, I simply pick one of these two from the menu...and the correct one will boot. Again, to recap-do you know which file(s) I need to modify (is it just the linuxrc ?), and what entries in the file need to be changed? Thank you for your help!

Best Regards,
Craig

[jch]

hello,

A few monthes ago, I build a multi boot cd using tools I found at http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/

When this cd boot, a menu lets me select a system among those ones:

t) tom's reboot
d) dos with cdrom support
n) Dos with network support
k) kurumin
l) linuxcare

A daily use this cd as a rescue disk .

The problem you'll have is that Pilot and knoppix probably use the same /KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX architecture . 2 ways to solve that pb
1) use my linuxrc file and replace KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE=KNOPPIX by KNOPPIXDIRCMDLINE=PILOT then create the boot.img and put the KNOPPIX file of Pilot linux in /PILOT/KNOPPIX
do the same for KNOPPIX ( no change needed for the original linuxrc nor KNOPPIX/KNOPPIX)

2) use my linuxrc file, create only one boot.img used by Pilot and Knoppix , but you'll have to find out a way to pass the cheatcode knoppixdir=1 at boot time when selecting Pilot which will in this case be in /KNOPPIX1/KNOPPIX. ( I do something similar from within w98 to launch knoppix)

Is this what you're looking for ?

jch