Mintpup (THREAD CLOSED)

[wanderer]

saintless

thanks again

wanderer

[saintless]

Hi, wanderer.
Reading your update here:

I also have made a puppy which I call vxpup where the entire filesystem is in the save file and the sfs is mounted but empty. This allows easy modifications without bothering to compress and uncompress and I will see if I can do that with mintpup.

Very possible it will work with Mint because it works with Debian and I used the same method starting the base for DD.
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 783#741783
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 639#771639
It is very similar to full install but with all advantages from frugal.
But this is the hard way and any mistake you make is hard to fix. For example I broke the multiuser function and sudo working this way and it took much work to fix them later.
The easier and safer way is using main squashfs + empty save file and remastering. Any mistake you make is easy to recover or start again with new empty save file.
But do it as you feel is best. I'm just trying to save you some troubles I had in the past.

Toni

[wanderer]

saintless

excellent idea

once again thanks for all the help

wanderer

[saintless]

...Fred, I'd love to see a Porteus-type boot option with save to changes folder on EXIT.

I have some progress with porteus-boot. Booting with the official Mint kernel and saving in directory works but encrypted save is broken for the moment. I'm not sure yet about saving changes on exit. I need to add some more dependencies to test it. If I can make it work well I will post initrd for testing.

Edit: just information for anyone interested from encrypted save file. The official Linux Mint initrd.lz also doesn't work with encrypted save. The patch from here should fix it but it needs more to work. Rebuilding initrd.lz this way first. If using the example base squashfs without Xorg you will need to install first some WM and file manager like:

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apt-get install xinit xserver-xorg jwm menu xfe

Then install:

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apt-get install aufs casper cryptsetup

And after that:

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cp /path-to/casper/vmlinuz /boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-37-generic #copy vmlinuz in /boot
cat /usr/share/initramfs-tools/conf-hooks.d/cryptsetup #maybe works without this line but use it just in case
export CRYPTSETUP=y
CRYPTSETUP=Y mkinitramfs -o /boot/initrd.lz-new 3.13.0-37-generic

Then extract /boot/initrd.lz-new and rebuild it after using the patch from the link above.
Porteus-boot encrypted save also will work after using /lib/modules from rebuilded initrd.lz-new. Save on Exit works from shutdown menu but not from terminal and console yet.

Toni

[wanderer]

see above

[saintless]

Hi, wanderer.

I am trying to get mint to boot with the initrd on a usb and the save file and sfs file on a hard drive in the puppy manner because this is the way I want to do my version.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but having only initrd.gz and vmlinuz on flashdrive and loading main Puppy sfs module from hard drive is not what Puppy usually does. Puppy linux installer will add on the usb also main sfs file with initrd.gz and vmlinuz and will boot the main sfs from the usb.

With puppy the initrd boots, init then searches for files on the drives, mounts them...

Same with Debian and Ubuntu (or Mint). Just the search is limited to name /live or /casper and save file named live-rw, persistence or casper-rw (usually located on different partition because the boot partition is mounted in read-only mode).

If I remove the sfs and save files from the usb the unmodified mint initrd drops to a busybox shell but does not search for drives or files and try to mount them. I am going to add a script and some binaries to the usb to look for the drives and files and mount them. Do you have any words of wisdom on this? Is this the best way?

I don't think it will be easy to combine official Mint boot process with extra scripts for searching files and directories. Even if you can do it it could create many problems after boot.
What you are looking for is already there with official unmodified initrd.lz from Linux Mint. For example:

1. Use some bootable usb (sdb1) with Puppy or different linux and grub4dos. Create there directory /casper and copy inside only initrd.lz and vmlinuz from Linux Mint iso. Add menu entry in menu.lst on the usb for Mint (change the UUID part with the correct uuid number):

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title Linux Mint Persistent
 uuid 11463fbb-48cd-47c6-a398-07c73e8a2e2b
 kernel /casper/vmlinuz boot=casper ignore_uuid persistent cdrom-detect/try-usb=true
 initrd=/casper/initrd.lz

2. Create same named directory /casper on some HDD partition (sda1) and copy inside only filesystem.squashfs from Linux Mint iso.

3. Create on second HDD partition (sda2) save file with name casper-rw.

Then boot from the usb with Linux Mint Persistent menu entry.

The system will use only initrd.lz and vmlinuz from the usb, searching inside any directory with name casper for module with .squashfs extension, and searching on any partition (except the boot one mounted read-only) for save file with name casper-rw.
Or it will use initrd.lz and vmlinuz from sdb1, loading main squashfs module from sda1 and casper-rw save file from sda2.

Toni

[wanderer]

saintless

great

thanks again for all your hard work and patience

wanderer

[wanderer]

see above

[saintless]

Hi, wanderer.

As I wrote I have some progress with porteus-boot and for the tests I had to install xserver-xorg, jwm, rox, gtkdialog, yad and some programs from DD. As a result I have working sfs load/unload, sfs mount/unmount, edit-sfs, freememapplet-tray and similar look to DD-Jwm version (screenshot attached).
Smaller initrd.lz for official mint (ubuntu) boot working with encrypted casper-rw save file.
And initrd for porteus-boot working with the official mint kernel and with encrypted save file, saving changes in file, directory and option for saving changes on EXIT only.
Autologin and autostartx as root and optional user account puppy (as in DD).
Most programs from DD could be converted to work with this base. Changing /live to /casper will be needed for some to work properly. I changed the initrd from Fred for porteus boot to use /casper as directory name and also in sfs load scripts.
Nothing left from special Linux Mint utilities inside but if you like to use it as a base I can shape it a little and build iso version booting with both (mint boot and porteus boot).
You will have a lot of work to shape and configure this base better. I have some troubles to download the wallpapers from mediafire on my lowram machine and I use different wallpapers for each desktop, but you can change them easy later.

Toni

[mcewanw]

Where is this newer version with porteus boot Toni, or is it still that previous link you gave on this thread to Linux Mint stuff at KazzasCorner?

Hoping it was a pae smp build since my old machine is retired as intermittently faulty... and newer machines, albeit still old are all dual core pae capable.

I'm certainly planning to try this MintPup, but was just waiting till its development had moved on a bit.

William

[wanderer]

saintless

do you have a download link for your new base

looks fantastic

thanks

wanderer

[saintless]

Edit 17.07.2015: The iso image replaced with new initrd1.xz and scripts fixes for porteus-boot to keep the same system structure as Debiandog.

Just to make clear for everyone I'm not going to improve or update this MintPup-Porteus-base-01-hybrid.iso. It is just a base for anyone inetrested to use it for building something better.

My maintained build based on the same iso can be downloaded here:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 889#857889

Hi, Wanderer, William.

Edit: To make the testing easier all files replaced with hybrid iso version:
MintPup-Porteus-base-01-hybrid.iso
You can make bootable usb using the example from here.
md5sum.txt
Example boot codes for frugal install

initrd.lz is for mint (casper) boot.
initrd1.xz is for porteus-boot.

What is not included in the menu is available in /opt/bin and /usr/local/bin
Some commands available only from terminal:

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remaster-mint-cli #will use different location for work-dir depending on the boot method.
mk-save #make save file (not encrypted).
makepfile.sh #make save file (encrypted or not).
mnt-img <path-to-sfs> #will mount/unmount squashfs/sfs/2fs/3fs/4fs file.
loadsfs <path-to-sfs> #will load/unload squashfs/sfs (there is drag and drop icon on the desktop also).
addnewuser #create new user accounts
audio-setup #run it in case you don't have sound

On first boot you will autologin as root to desktop. For user account exit X and type login and press enter. Login as puppy with password puppy (or root with password root).

The package locales is included and all /usr/share/locale files are included in the main module. /usr/share/man, doc and info files are zerosized.
Alsa-base, alsa-utils, mtpaint, xarchiver, gpicview included.
-/Startup directory added - executable script or link inside will be auto-started as in Puppy and DD.
Some wallpapers for each desktop added in /opt/wallpapers. You can change them by editing the virtual desktops section in -/.jwmrc file.

Still no easy way to configure wireless. I had some troubles to make frisbee work but I will try again. Installing wicd with apt-get is easy but it has many dependencies.
I think save on Exit typing reboot from console and from terminal does not work yet and with sure many other problems will be found later. Rox needs much work to be configured properly. I don't know if systemd works with porteus-boot. Seems the systemd package and setup is different from Debian.
Still can't find a way to mount or make visible /cow (copy on write) - this means no option to create module from changes with official mint boot yet.
Ubuntu is different from Debian and more difficult to be shaped (or atleast I feel it this way).

The kernel is the same SMP 3.13.0-37-generic as in Linux Mint 17.1.

Test, improve and share what works and what not. I will check out the thread if I can help you to configure this base better.

Toni

[darry1966]

Why not use Ceni instead - very simple nice pearl script for managing networking much better than Frisbee.

[saintless]

Hi, darry1966.

We have deb package for DD:
http://kazzascorner.com.au/saintless/De ... 31_all.deb
If someone can test if wireless works using ceni with this MintPup base it could be included. I don't have wireless and can't test it. For frisbee we have many reports it works well with wireless in DD.
Still I think wanderer is the one to decide what to include. The base module at the moment has nothing to do with LinuxMint look. It is more like very small Ubuntu with Jwm and Rox.

Edit: The problem with ceni at this point is it adds 29Mb perl dependencies:

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mint ~ # dpkg -i /mnt/sda1/FTP-LAST/DebianDog/Packages/Extra/ceni*
Selecting previously unselected package ceni.
(Reading database ... 31445 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../Extra/ceni_2.31_all.deb ...
Unpacking ceni (2.31) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of ceni:
 ceni depends on perl; however:
  Package perl is not installed.
 ceni depends on libcurses-ui-perl; however:
  Package libcurses-ui-perl is not installed.
 ceni depends on libexpect-perl; however:
  Package libexpect-perl is not installed.
 ceni depends on libterm-readkey-perl; however:
  Package libterm-readkey-perl is not installed.
 ceni depends on resolvconf; however:
  Package resolvconf is not installed.
 ceni depends on dhcpcd | dhcpcd5; however:
  Package dhcpcd is not installed.
  Package dhcpcd5 is not installed.

dpkg: error processing package ceni (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.13-1) ...
Processing triggers for menu (2.1.46ubuntu1) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 ceni
mint ~ # apt-get -f install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed:
  dhcpcd libcurses-perl libcurses-ui-perl libexpect-perl libgdbm3
  libio-pty-perl libio-stty-perl libterm-readkey-perl perl perl-modules
  resolvconf
Suggested packages:
  perl-doc libterm-readline-gnu-perl libterm-readline-perl-perl libb-lint-perl
  libcpanplus-dist-build-perl libcpanplus-perl libfile-checktree-perl
  liblog-message-simple-perl liblog-message-perl libobject-accessor-perl
Recommended packages:
  libarchive-extract-perl libmodule-pluggable-perl libpod-latex-perl
  libterm-ui-perl libtext-soundex-perl
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  frisbee
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  dhcpcd libcurses-perl libcurses-ui-perl libexpect-perl libgdbm3
  libio-pty-perl libio-stty-perl libterm-readkey-perl perl perl-modules
  resolvconf
0 upgraded, 11 newly installed, 1 to remove and 85 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 5,497 kB of archives.
After this operation, 29.9 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] 

If perl is not added anyway ceni is much bigger alternative.
Frisbee has all dependencies included already in the main module and adds nothing extra. Works in general for me but I can't see the eth0 in GUI window and I can't find the reason yet. Even so the conection is working on boot for eth0 and restart dhcpcd button works to re-connect without problems.

Toni

[saintless]

To make the testing easier hybrid iso uploaded instead separate files (same files without changes from yesterday but inside iso image). Read the edit here:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 903#854903

Toni

[mcewanw]

Hi Toni,

I had already downloaded the Kazzacorner casper directory contents, and didn't notice you had since uploaded the hybrid iso - are the contents the same or have you added anything extra in the hybrid iso (I don't want to download the iso unless necessary). Anyway, assuming just the same, I am happy to report that it all booted first time for me. I have only briefly tested it, and whilst there is certainly a lot of polishing to be done, it is all looking very good. The low resource usage is very impressive (on my system, after initial boot and running htop only 62MB RAM used and CPU at 99.7% idle!).

Another great system in the making. I would never have believed that in 2015 we would have apt capable (Debian and now Ubuntu/Mint) systems in under 200MB download). Terrific.

As you say, Frisbee doesn't seem to be working yet out of the box, but I'm sure that will soon be worked out, and plenty of work needed still on Menu system and Rox and so on (as was once the case with DebianDog). I hope we can get an openbox version running too.

I'm running with Porteus boot, cos that's my favourite, but have still to check saving on EXIT, but I will report back later.

Great work, and thanks also to wanderer for getting this one off the ground with his enthusiam and idea.

Cheers, William

[saintless]

...are the contents the same or have you added anything extra in the hybrid iso (I don't want to download the iso unless necessary).

Hi, William.
No need to download the iso. The content is the same. But with iso image it will be easier for others to use porteus-boot without troubles (just copy/paste the casper directory from the iso for frugal install).

Toni

[saintless]

Both xpns-tool_1.0.1_i386.deb and sns_2.1.1-1.deb work well for me without adding extra dependencies as frisbee alternatives.
I think some checking will be needed for conflicting files in ubuntu/mint repository but this can be done later with package mods to prevent conflicts.
I hope to get frisbee working without this messages but no luck yet. I guess it is the reason not to show eth0 in GUI window (oterwise the wired connection with frisbee works for me):

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mint ~ # frisbee
sh: 1: get_scan_results: not found
sh: 1: current_status: not found
sh: 1: current_ip: not found
sh: 1: get_interfaces: not found
sh: 1: get_dhcp_ignored: not found
sh: 1: get_static_ip: not found
sh: 1: get_mask: not found
sh: 1: get_gateway: not found
sh: 1: get_dhcp_auto: not found
sh: 1: get_dns1: not found
sh: 1: get_dns2: not found
sh: 1: save_pppoe_configuration: not found
sh: 1: read_telephone_value: not found
sh: 1: read_telephone_value: not foun

Edit: OK, solved. frisbee_1.2-20140602_i386.deb works fine. I just forgot to reconfigure sh to use bash instead dash We need bash anyway to make most Puppy and DD scripts to work.
Run this in terminal and choose No:

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dpkg-reconfigure dash

Then frisbee works without problems. I guess it was the problem with makepfile.sh and mk-save. I will see if the original dd line inside works now.

Toni

[saintless]

Quick testing after frisbee shows it is easy to add pburn, gmplayer-portable, pfind, pup-volume-monitor, desktop-drive-icons and the menu system from DD-Jwm. Still nothing to do with Mint look. I can make later something very similar to DD-Jwm from it but I guess it is not exactly what wanderer has in mind. It is up to him what will become from this base iso as MintPup project.

Toni

[saintless]

Edit 17.07.2015: The iso image replaced with all files removed. You don't need this fix anymore.

One mistake I made with this base module is remastering while testing gnumeric sfs to see if loadsfs works. It doesn't work and will not create problems. But it takes extra space. The module will be 2,5 Mb smaller without it.
It will be removed in next update. To remove it now run/copy/paste in terminal:

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rm -fr /opt/lib
rm -fr /opt/apps
rm -f /opt/bin/gnumeric
rm -f /usr/lib/libgconf2-4
rm -fr /usr/share/gnumeric
rm -f /usr/share/applications/gnumeric.desktop
rm -f /usr/share/menu/gnumeric
rm -f /usr/share/pixmaps/gnumeric.png

And use remaster-mint-cli to remaster the system.

Edit: You can also remove the .cache files (15Mb uncomressed) left in /usr/share/icons after purging the Mint themes:

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rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Aqua
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Blue
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Brown
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Dark
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Grey
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Orange
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Pink
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Purple
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Red
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Sand
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Teal
rm -fr /usr/share/icons/Mint-X-Yellow

Toni