Troubleshooters.Com and T.C Linux Library Present

Damn Small Linux (DSL)

Knoppix is a Linux distribution engineered to run from a bootable CD. The idea is that a Windows user could experience Linux simply by booting the Knoppix CD. OpenOffice, email, web browsing, audio and video are all right there for the user to enjoy, without any change or compromise to his system. What a great advocacy tool!

Advocacy just scratches the surface of Knoppix' usefulness. It's a computer buyer's friend, a supreme configuration tool, and it's the best rescue CD ever made.

CONTENTS:

What is Knoppix?
Where to Get Knoppix
Knoppix as an Advocacy Tool
Using Knoppix to Test a Computer Before Purchase
Knoppix as a Configuration Tool
Knoppix as a Rescue CD
Using Knoppix for Forensics
Knoppix as a Working Distro

What is DSL?

Knoppix is a Linux distribution optimized to store and boot on a single CDrom, without requiring any space on the host computer's disk. This means that Knoppix is the ideal distro with which to test out Linux without making a committment. It also makes Knoppix an ideal configuration tool, rescue tool, forensics tool, and computer evaluation tool (testing computers before purchase).

Running Knoppix is usually as simple as placing the Knoppix CD in the CD drive, setting the bios to boot from the CD, and rebooting. Occassionally you need to use some of the Knoppix "cheat codes" at the boot prompt. These are codes that set video refresh rate, memory and other boot parameters.

Where to Get DSL

The home page for DSL is http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/. From there, you can either buy a CD, download a 50MB ISO for a DSL CD, buy a bootable tiny USB drive. The download page is at http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html.

Once you have the .iso file, you can use the procedures in my Coasterless CD Burning page to create the bootable/runnable CD.

Using DSL from the CD

Place the CD in the CD drive, reboot the computer. Upon initial bootup, go into the bios and enable booting from CD. During the boot process it will probably get this error message:

You passed an undefined mode number.
Press <RETURN> to see video modes available, <SPACE> to continue or wait 30 secs.

If you press Enter you can see and choose the number of lines and columns on a CLI screen. If you press the spacebar or wait thirty seconds, it defaults and boots.

When the boot process is complete, you're in a GUI screen with the fluxbox window manager. Fluxbox is one of those window managers with no taskbar or start button, so you obtain the menu by right-clicking the desktop.

If your network has a working DHCP server, and your network has a gateway to the Internet, the box will be granted an IP address by DHCP, and will therefore be able to get out to the Internet.

Here is a partial list of programs that ship with DSL:

PROGRAM	WHAT IT DOES	COMMAND LINE
Scite	An editor	scite
Vim	The world's best editor	rxvt -rv -e vi
Zile EMACS-clone	An emacs clone	rxvt -rv -T "Zile" -e zile
Nano	An editor	rxvt -rv -T "Nano" -e nano-tiny
xzgv Image Viewer	An image viewer	/usr/bin/xzgv
Xpaint	A paint program	/usr/bin/X11/xpaint
Ted	Extremely simple word processor	ted-gtk
Xpdf	PDF viewer	/usr/bin/xpdf -geometry 640x480
Xcalc	Calculator	xcalc
ABS spreadsheet	Spreadsheet	abs -geometry 640x480
SQLite Book	Database front end	/usr/local/bin/sqlitebook.pl
PIM using Index	Personal Information Manager	rxvt -rv -T "PIM using Index" -e /usr/bin/index
Net Dictionary	Text based internet dictionary -- very cool	rxvt -rv -T "Internet Dictionary" -e /usr/local/bin/getword
gPhone	A sound app	gphone
Xmms Audio/MPEG	mpeg/wav/ogg player	xmms
Download High Bandwidth Mp3 Streams	Download mp3 streams	rxvt -rv -T "Grabbing streams..." -e /opt/.xmms_streams_grab.sh highbandwidth
wMix	Mixer	wmix
Microcom	Serial port front end	rxvt -rv -T "Microcom" -e /usr/bin/microcom
nAIM		rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "nAIM" -e /usr/bin/naim
nIRC #DamnSmallLinux	IRC client	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "nIRC" -e /usr/bin/nirc dsl$$ irc.freenode.org
nICQ	ICQ client	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "nICQ" -e /usr/bin/nicq
gLinks hacked	GUI version of Links text browser	links -g
Links hacked	Links text browser	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Links Haked" -e links
Dillo patched	Dillo fully graphical editor	dillo file:/usr/share/doc/dsl/getting_started.html
Sylpheed mail client	Mail client	sylpheed
AxY FTP (GTK+\)	FTP client	/usr/X11R6/bin/axyftp-gtk
FTP	FTP client	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "FTP" -e ftp
Telnet	Telnet client	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Telnet" -e telnet
Mutella	?	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Mutella" -e /usr/local/bin/mutella
VNCviewer	VNC remote terminal client	/usr/bin/vncviewer
Get Flash Plugin	Get flash plugin	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Get Flash Plugin" -e /opt/.grab_flash
Bash	Bash shell	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "Bash" -e /bin/bash
Sh	sh shell	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "Sh" -e /bin/sh -login
Csh	C shell	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "Csh" -e /bin/csh -l
myDSL Click and Load)	Config and repackaging utility	mydslgui.sh
Net MAN	man command that gets its info from the internet	rxvt -rv -T "Internet MAN" -e /usr/local/bin/getman
CD Burn App	CD burner	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "BashBurn" -e bashburn
emelFM	File manager	emelfm
emelFM as super-user	File manager run as root	sudo /bin/bash -c emelfm
Midnight Commander	File manager	rxvt -bg blue -fg white -cr yellow -fn fixed -T "Midnight Commander" -tn xterm -e mc -b
MC as super-user	File manager as root	rxvt -bg brown -fg white -cr blue -fn fixed -T "MC as super-user" -e sudo su -c 'mc -b'
Editres	X resource editor	editres
X Window Snapshot	Screenshot utility	xwd -out myscreen.xwd; xwud -raw -in myscreen.xwd
Xkill	Kill gui app	xkill
bbpager	monitor	/usr/bin/bbpager
wmnet	monitor	wmnet -w
asmem	monitor	asmem -withdrawn -bg black -fg white
wmcpuload	monitor	wmcpuload
mount.app	monitor	mount.app
Install to Hard Drive	Install to hard disk	rxvt -rv -T "DSL Hard Drive Installation" -e sudo dsl-hdinstall
Frugal Install	Minimal install to hard disk	rxvt -rv -T "DSL Frugal Install" -e sudo frugal_instal.sh
Install to USB Pendrive	Install to a pen drive	rxvt -rv -T "DSL USB Pendrive Installation" -e /usr/sbin/dsl-usbinstall
Enable Apt	Download enough software to enable apt-get and dpkg	rxvt -rv -T "DSL Apt and Dpkg Restore" -e sudo dpkg-restore
Rxvt Light	Light colored terminal emulator	rxvt -fn fixed -cr blue -T "Bash" -e /bin/bash
Rxvt Dark	Dark colored terminal emulator	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Bash" -e /bin/bash
Root Access	Terminal emulator as root	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "Bash" -e sudo /bin/bash
Full Enhanced Desktop	Enhance desktop	enhance &>/dev/null
Icons Only	Icons only	xtdesk
No Icons	No icons	killall -9 xtdesk
Control Panel	Linux control panel	dslpanel.sh
Backup/Restore	Back tool	sudo /usr/sbin/filetool.lua
start	Start lpd	sudo /usr/sbin/lpd
stop	Stop lpd	sudo killall -9 lpd
reload	Reload lpd	sudo /usr/sbin/lpc reread
configure printer	Printer configuration	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -cr yellow -T "apsfilter" -e sudo /usr/share/apsfilter/SETUP
netcardconfig	Network card configuration	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "Netcardconfig" -e sudo -H /usr/sbin/netcardconfig
dial-up PPP	Configure dialup	sudo /usr/sbin/pppdial
PPPoEconf	Configure PPOE connection	rxvt -rv -fn fixed -T "PPPoEconf" -e sudo -H /usr/sbin/pppoeconf
Pon	PPOE on	sudo -H /usr/bin/pon
Poff	PPOE off	sudo -H /usr/bin/poff
iwconfig		rxvt -rv -T "iwconfig" -e sudo -H /sbin/iwconfig
wlcardconfig	Wireless networking setup	rxvt -rv -T "wlcardconfig" -e sudo /usr/sbin/wlcardconfig
ndiswrapper	NDIS setup	ndissetup
prism2	?	prism2_setup
ssh start	ssh start	sudo /etc/init.d/ssh start
ssh stop	ssh stop	sudo /etc/init.d/ssh stop
ssh restart	ssh restart	sudo /etc/init.d/ssh restart
ssh reload	ssh reload	sudo /etc/init.d/ssh reload
ssh force-reload	ssh force-reload	sudo /etc/init.d/ssh force-reload
nfs start	nfs start	sudo /etc/init.d/nfs-common start
nfs stop	nfs stop	sudo /etc/init.d/nfs-common stop
nfs restart	nfs restart	sudo /etc/init.d/nfs-common restart
monkey start	web server	sudo /opt/monkey-0.8.2/bin/banana start
monkey stop	web server	sudo /opt/monkey-0.8.2/bin/banana stop
monkey restart	web server	sudo /opt/monkey-0.8.2/bin/banana restart
betaftpd start	ftp server	sudo /usr/sbin/betaftpd
betaftpd stop	ftp server	sudo killall -9 betaftpd
Sound Config	Sound configuration	rxvt -rv -T "soundcardconfig" -e sudo /usr/sbin/soundcardconfig
Keyboard	keyboard configuration	rxvt -rv -T "kbdconfig" -e sudo /usr/sbin/kbdconfig
X Setup	X setup	rxvt -fn fixed -rv -cr yellow -T "X Setup" -e /usr/sbin/xsetup.sh
Top	The top process watcher	rxvt -T "Top" -e /usr/bin/top
pstree	Processes as a tree	/etc/alternatives/rxvt -e /usr/bin/pstree.x11
AddUsers	User add utility	sudo /usr/sbin/addusers.lua
Shutdown	Halt the computer	sudo /sbin/halt
Reboot	Reboot the computer	sudo /sbin/reboot
Run Program	Run a program	grun

Installing DSL on the Hard Disk

Installing DSL on the hard disk is very simple. Right click the desktop, then Apps->Tools->Install to Hard Drive. It first asks the target partition. You counter with something like hda1. For some reason, it rejects /dev/hda1. Go figure.

Next it asks if you want the standard or enhanced install. The standard install if 50MB, and installs entirely off the CDRom. The Enhanced install pulls files off the Internet, requiring a working Internet connection. Also, the Enhanced Install takes quite a while if you have a dialup connection.

The standard install is sufficient for appliance type setups, or cursory web/email clients. You'll probably want the Enhanced install otherwise. Keep in mind though, no matter what install you perform, a broken cpp program prevents you from compiling a lot of apps.

Finally, it asks if you have a working Internet connection. Answer truthfully. If you chose an enhanced installation without a working network, the install will terminate after a while, telling you it will only do the standard install.

Once you answer about the Internet connection, it will ask you whether you're sure you want to install, thereby wiping out the partition. Make sure you are ready to wipe out the partition, and if so, answer yes.

The install program now takes many minutes (depending on processor and web connection) to complete its work, and then asks you if you'd like to run the boot installer. Say yes. Finally, it asks you if you'd like to reboot. Say yes.

When it reboots, you have a very simple machine. A few web clients, VI (a crippled Vim), several other apps. Enough for simple computer usage, but not what you'd call a real desktop machine.

Standard or enhanced, your installation does not have a functional apt-get or dpkg. You need those if you want to do anything more than browse the net and get email. To enable them, be sure your Internet connection is working and connected, then right click the desktop, then Apps->Tools->Enable Apt. The computer will take quite a bit of time downloading more stuff.

If you simply need an appliance, you can probably

asks some simple questions such as whether you want to do the extended install, and whether you have a working Internet connection.

Installing IceWM

The Fluxbox window manager is nice, but if you're like me you prefer a taskbar and start button. The IceWM window manager is almost as efficient as Fluxbox, and it has a start button, task bar, and network and CPU monitors on the taskbar. Install IceWM as follows:

apt-get install icewm

The computer will download and install IceWM. To enable IceWM, edit the /home/dsl/.xinitrc file. Comment out the line that runs fluxbox, and substitute the following:

# set mouse speed
xset m 5 2

# start xterm by default
xterm &

icewmtray &

# silently check if icewm is in your $PATH and start icewm when found
# or a red colored xterm when not found or execution of icewm fails
which icewm >/dev/null 2>&1 && exec icewm || exec xterm -bg red

The result is a rather hard to see black version of IceWM. You need to change the theme. Do so by creating a .icewm directory under the home directory, and creating a preferences file containing the following:

ShowThemesMenu=1 # 0 / 1
Theme="Nice/default.theme"

Enabling C/C++ Compile

Using Knoppix to Test a Computer Before Purchase

If you're a Linux user, buying the right computer, especially a laptop, is a problem. Follow the logic...

The government gave Microsoft a settlement that grants them a monopoly for the next five years
So Microsoft continues to demand that computer resellers adopt anticompetitive practices, with regard to Linux and other non-Microsoft operating systems, in order to receive favorable pricing on licenses to preinstall Windows.
So computer resellers sell computers with Windows preinstalled.
So computer manufacturers and component manufacturers test their hardware and drivers against Windows, but few test against Linux.
So many computers in stores today are incompatible with Linux.
The computer manufacturers and component manufacturers don't guarantee they'll work with Linux.
So when you buy a computer, you're often rolling the dice, and may end up with a computer that either won't run your operating system of choice, or requires you to perform extensive reconfiguration to run Linux.

Enter the Knoppix CD. Go to the computer store, find a computer you like, ask the salesman for permission to boot your Knoppix CD in that computer. Knoppix has one of, if not the, best hardware detection systems around, so if a computer is capable of running Linux at all, it will probably run Knoppix.

Once booted, you can test office products, sound, and many other functions. If you bring a DHCP server and a hub and a couple network cables, you can also test the computer's networking.

Your Knoppix CD can be used in stores, computer shows and swapmeets, and in used-computer purchases. A Knoppix success doesn't guarantee you'll be able to install and enjoy your favorite distro on a computer, but it certainly reduces the odds of buying the wrong computer.

Knoppix as a Configuration Tool

Knoppix's hardware detection and configuration are second to none. Imagine if your X configuration becomes broken, and you can't fix it with your distro's tools. Knoppix to the rescue. Insert the CD, reboot, and if your system is capable of X, Knoppix will run it. You might need to use one of Knoppix's "cheat codes" on boot, most notably the xvrefresh= cheatcode, but one way or another if your system is capable of X, you'll run X.

Once X is running, right-click one of your partitions, set it read-write, and copy /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 to that partition. Be sure to also mount the root partition read-write long enough to set the default runlevel down to 3 in /etc/inittab. Reboot, remove the CD, back up your original X configuration file, and copy the one from Knoppix over it. Most likely you'll now have a working X. Tweak as necessary.

This same method can be used for any configuration file -- sound, network, whatever. If Knoppix detects it, you can mount a partition read/write, save the config file created by Knoppix, then use that config file in your distro, and slowly experiment to make it even better.

Knoppix as a Rescue CD

This subject is so incredibly helpful that it has its own page.

Using Knoppix for Forensics

If you're in law enforcement and want to scan a computer's hard disks for kiddie porn or terrorist activities, consider Knoppix. You can quickly and easily mount all the computer's drives and partitions read-only, and then, at your own pace, use commands dd, strings and grep to peruse the hard disk as a device (see deleted files), and the files themselves. This works for both Linux and Windows computers.

If some script kiddie busted into your computer and you want to investigate without further damage, take it off the Internet and boot up a Knoppix CD. You can now look at all your log files through a known good operating system.

Knoppix as a Working Distro

All I know about this is more and more LEAP members are going beyond Knoppix' "boot from CD" roots and using it as an actual distribution on the hard disk. It's based on Debian, so it can be maintained with apt-get, etc. I'll tell you more when I know more.