Knoppix Hacks

norburym writes "The publishers' blurb on the back cover describes Knoppix as 'a veritable Swiss Army knife in CD form.' Knoppix Hacks by Kyle Rankin is no less astounding in revealing the hidden versatility and power inherent in this unassuming tool." Read on for the rest of Norbury-Glaser's review.

Knoppix Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips and Tools (with CD)
author	Kyle Rankin
pages	336
publisher	O'Reilly
rating	10
reviewer	Mary Norbury-Glaser
ISBN	0596007876
summary	Knoppix Hacks

Most Linux users will recognize Knoppix even if they've never given it a whirl, but this book goes beyond the simple "how to create and boot from a Knoppix Linux Live CD." Rankin displays the raw power that lies beneath the surface of simply running a clean distro of GNU/Linux free from fear of installation issues. Proper Knoppix books are lacking in the wild, with mere chapters in general Linux volumes mostly dedicated to larger issues for both the novice and the intermediate user. One or two Knoppix books are out there (and one by Samuel Hart, Knoppix Komplete, is in press) but what sets Knoppix Hacks apart is not that it is one of the few available on the subject, but rather Rankin's skill in exposing the underutilized potential in the Knoppix tool set.

This book begins with a forward by Klaus Knopper, creator of Knoppix. It's always entertaining and enlightening to read a first-hand account of some clever soul's chance involvement with an "experiment" that turned out wildly successful and this is no exception. The "Knoppix Story" is engaging and leaves the reader with a sense of awe at the ingenuity of this dedicated and resourceful individual.

Rankin has collected a "who's who" of Linux hackers to contribute to this book: John Andrews, creator of Damn Small Linux; Fabian Franz, creator of FreeNX server; Alex de Landgraaf, creator of Morphix; Simon Peter, developer of klik; Wim Vandersmissen, creator of ClusterKnoppix and many others no less accomplished, all of whom have contributed to the future of free software/open source development.

As is expected with the O'Reilly Hacks series of books, the chapters are structured with clean typographical conventions identifying URLs, directory/folder/file names, code examples and excerpts, sample text delineation and cross-references. Tips and warnings are clearly identified with pushpin and screw graphics, respectively, and indented. There are a helpful number of tips without getting too overwhelming or annoying by breaking the flow of the text. The thermometer icons next to each hack indicate the level of expertise required: beginner, intermediate and expert. Screenshots are placed where needed but again, the reader isn't left distracted by unnecessary filler.

The nine chapters cover hacks ranging from beginner to expert: "Boot Knoppix," "Use your Knoppix Desktop," "Tweak Your Desktop," "Install Linux with Knoppix," "Put Knoppix in Your Toolbox," "Repair Linux," "Rescue Windows," "Knoppix Reloaded" and "Knoppix Remastered." The book includes a CD with v.3.4 of Knoppix (3.6 having just been released; the author wisely chooses to stay with the tried, true and debugged version).

The first two chapters are pitched to beginners, with Chapter 1, "Boot Knoppix," leaping directly into downloading Knoppix and creating a bootable CD. It then covers "cheat codes" - options passed at the boot: prompt to work around hardware detection and support failures. Tweaking X settings, desktop and laptop scenarios, language settings and optimizing the Knoppix CD are also included here. Chapter 2 introduces details of the KDE desktop and encourages the reader to become familiar with the Knoppix desktop, the applications included and connecting to the Internet (even via GPRS over Bluetooth!).

Chapter 3 concentrates on saving settings and documents, using Knoppix as a kiosk or terminal server to boot multiple computers over a network from the same Knoppix CD, and how to use the live installer feature to add extra packages directly to ramdisk.

Chapter 4 covers the inevitable situation when you will find yourself using Knoppix so often that you decide to install it onto your hard drive. Rankin includes single and dual boot system installs.

Chapter 5, "Put Knoppix in Your Toolbox," is where admins should head. The full list of 15 indispensable hacks in this chapter include running remote desktops via rdesktop or xvncviewer, running X remotely with FreeNX, browse Windows shares, create an emergency router, emergency file or web server, wardriving with Knoppix (including how to capture GPS coordinates along with data), audit network security, check for root kits, collect forensics data, clone hard drives, wipe hard drives, test hardware compatibility, and copy settings to other distributions.

"Repair Linux" (Chapter 6) is for those of us who spend a lot of time "breaking" things in the course of experimenting and need to recover the system. Rankin shows hacks for repairing both lilo and grub, how to: back up and restore the MBR, find lost partitions, resize linux partitions, repair damaged file systems, recover deleted files, rescue files from damaged hard drives, backup and restore, migrate to a new hard drive, create Linux software RAID, reset Linux passwords, repair Debian and RPM packages, and copy a working kernel. We will always break something along the way and these hacks help minimize the frustration.

Chapter 7, "Rescue Windows"...well, need I say more? Put these hacks into practice and you'll probably be using them every day. Use Knoppix to: fix the Windows boot selector, backup files and settings, write to NTFS, resize Windows partitions, reset lost NT passwords, edit the Windows registry, restore corrupted system files, scan for viruses and download Windows patches securely. A must for any systems administrators with Windows machines lurking everywhere.

Knoppix Reloaded, in Chapter 8, takes on Knoppix variants Morphix, Gnoppix, Mediainlinux, Freeduc, Damn, Small Linux, INSERT, L.A.S. Linux, Knoppix-STD, distccKnoppix, ClusterKnoppix, Quantian, GIS Knoppix and KnoppMyth. There is also a well-deserved pitch at the conclusion of this chapter to become a Knoppix developer and contribute to the ongoing work.

The final chapter includes seven hacks that help the reader create their own customized Knoppix CD. Knoppix Remastered walks the reader through the steps of customizing and personalizing a live CD.

This is one of the liveliest technical books I've read in a long time. A few of the easier hacks can be found on Knoppix.net or elsewhere but I think Rankin has managed to put the majority of Knoppix related material in one book that could be subtitled the "First Knoppix Manual." The admin hacks, in particular, will add a whole new arsenal of Knoppix wonders to an admin's repertoire. Kudos to O'Reilly for publishing such an outstanding volume, to Rankin for compiling some damn useful material, and to MacGyver for inspiring many of us to look for simple solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.

---

You can purchase Knoppix Hacks from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.

so true

[by Anonymous Coward]

as a camp counselor I used knoppix to save a child's movie files off a camp computer where windows had incorrectly written the boot sector.

I'm sorry,

[mekkab (133181)]

I thought you were going to say "as a camp counselor I used knoppix to save a childs life when they where drowning; it makes a great rescue cd!"

Re:I'm sorry,

[archen (447353)]

I think that would be a BSD rescue disk.

child: "Help I'm drowning!"
guru: *throws cd at kid* . "RTFM"

Re:I'm sorry,

[EugeneK (50783)]

*BSD Child: "Help I'm dying!"

Troll : Have another crippling bombshell! You don't need to be a Kreskin!

Re:I'm sorry,

[secolactico (519805)]

I thought you were going to say "as a camp counselor I used knoppix to save a childs life when they where drowning; it makes a great rescue cd!"

I tought he was going to say that he saved a child from being skewered by Jason Voorhees.

Re:so true

[MikeMacK (788889)]

Uh, just to let you know, as a counselor you should be careful about what "movie" files the kids are looking at on the camp computer.

For Dummies

[MikeMacK (788889)]

At least he didn't call it "Knoppix For Dummies".

Chapter 1337

[dirtmerchant (162306)]

And of course, chapter 1337 covers downloading a pdf copy of this book using purely open-source solutions.

Sounds comprehensive

[mogrify (828588)]

I've used Knoppix a few times to rescue hapless Windows installations -- seems like every time I look for some needed utility, I find it somewhere in Knoppix. I'm sure it can do things I've never thought of, so it's nice to see a user manual of sorts for what's become an indispensible tool in the ol' repair kit. Put this on my Christmas list.

Re:Sounds comprehensive

[CedgeS (159076)]

I made this guide [shockfamily.net], which is sadly in need of an update*. One of the most frequent email questions I get is, "Help - I lost my partition table, how do I get it back"? There's a great utility included in knoppix called gpart [uni-hannover.de] that searches the hard drive for partitions and constructs a new partition table. It also makes backups of master boot records. Its amazing all of the stuff they've thought to include.

* If anyone wants to mail me a copy of the newest knoppix cd I'll update it. I hate downloading ISO

BioKnoppix & VLinux

[FiReaNGeL (312636)]

BioKnoppix and VLinux are indispensable toolboxes for every bioinformatician out there, especially if you do lots of consulting (or need to travel from lab to lab, without having a laptop). Both distributions contains tools for sequence and protein analysis, 3D structure viewing software... etc. Very handy...

"Screenshots are placed where needed but again,

[Sai Babu (827212)]

the reader isn't left distracted by unnecessary filler."

Excessive screenshots has been one of the main reasons I stay away from the 'hacks' books, so this is good news.

It will be worth a sawbuck if it and a knoppix CD get my 'Windows Flumoxed'(TM) brother interested enough in Linux to ditch the Mr. Softy OS product.

Great introduction to Linux

[MysticalMatt517 (772389)]

This sounds like an interesting book, I may have to pick it up next time I'm at BN.

I think one of the most fantastic things about Knoppix is that it provides a safe gateway for people to get into the Linux world, especially young people. At some point (around 8th grade) they realize there's more to life than Windows, but don't know enough to create a dual boot system. Knoppix is a great way for them to get their feet wet.

It's nice to see a book out on this. Regardless of whether these are truly "hacks" or not is irrelevant. The information it brings forward is interesting.

Re:Great introduction to Linux

[ndogg (158021)]

And this is why Knoppix should be illegal, because it's a gateway distributions to more dangerous distributions...

New Knoppix user sings praises

[by Anonymous Coward]

I just started experimenting with Knoppix recently. It was extremely cool to boot into a full KDE desktop with only 128M of memory and no hard disk support. I could even launch Open Office and Mozilla, but not at the same time. Extremely refreshing to realize that I do not have to have a system with 1G of memory and a 400G hard drive to get a very useable machine.

It also came in handy for offloading files from an unbootable Windows 2000 machine to another machine. This can easily be done even if you know n

Regarding the Swiss Army Knife metaphor

[mogrify (828588)]

that everyone is happily using, how about we just buy the USB-key-equipped Swiss Army Knife and boot Feather with it? Now I can open the PC case with my Linux distro -- hmmm, no more metaphor.

I know kyle, IRL!

[donniejones18 (749882)]

IRL, Kyle is the person who got me to start using linux! :-)

Thanks kyle, I've never looked back.

-Donnie

Morphix

[quamaretto (666270)]

I'm a big fan of Morphix. I've used Morphix Lightgui (Comes with XFCE) and GNUStep [linuks.mine.nu] (The distro) at various times and I think the project is headed good places. But then, I haven't used the original Knoppix in quite awhile. I should pick it up again.

Knoppix on a HD?

[siliconjunkie (413706)]

Hopefully this is on topic enough:

Ever since I saw the Mandrake Globetrotter [slashdot.org] I have been really wanting to roll my own "portable linux virtual machine". I don't want to pay for the overpirced Globetrotter, so I bought a 200GB drive with an external Firewire/USB2.0 enclosure.

Now, I have found some excellent resources on installing Linux on an external firewire drive [ibm.com], but the thing is, this (and other articles) are written with the idea that the end result will be used on one system, my goal is to have something like the Globetrotter which is a FULL distro of Mandrake 10, with the awesome hardware detection of Knoppix at boot time (so it can used it on multiple machines with no problem, like a Knoppix disc).

My question is, how would one go about doing this? I have considered just using the Knoppix "install to hard drive" feature, but I would rather have a more robust fully featured distro from the get go. Mandrake does not make it clear on their site if Mandrake 10 has the inherant ability to detect hardware at bootime like the version that comes on the Globetrotter does...any ideas?

Re:Knoppix on a HD?

[by Anonymous Coward]

The review doesn't mention this, but I hope the book distinguishes between the (at least) two modes of installing Knoppix, which, since I can't recall the official terms, I'll call Knoppix Mode and Debian Mode.

Installing in Debian Mode is basically using Knoppix to detect the hardware and then copying a fully installed Debian, configured *for your particular hardware* onto the hard drive. When you subsequently boot from the hard drive, it just boots up a normal debian that has been configured for your hardware, exactly as if you'd installed Debian and manually configured all hardware.

Installing in Knoppix Mode includes the Knoppix hardware auto-detect stuff in the boot sequence if the installed hard drive. This means it goes through hardware auto-detection every time you boot. The downside is it might take longer to boot. The upside is you can painlessly change hardware, or even connect the hard drive to a completely different computer, and the system will boot perfectly.

I find Knoppix Mode to be fascinating, and if all the kinks are worked out it could be great for hard drive resellers to throw a copy on the hard drive.

Anyone have links to more information about these to modes and their pros and cons?

Koppix saved my ass

[goodrob (204257)]

I once lost all data on my D:\ 80 GB drive when i reformatted my C:\ due to a virus..

I tried so many utilities to rescue it.. Norton, partition magic and a bunch of others i had never heard of and never looked at again..

nothing worked..

finally i booted to knoppix and changed the flag of the partition to what it was supposed to be and presto! i had everything back again!

i love knoppix!

Knoppix is easy entry linux

[landimal_adurotune (824425)]

I work at an all girl private college, and we put in a Perfigo box. Many of the students had a tough time getting windows patches and spyware was wreaking havok.

So I modified the startup html of Knoppix to tell them how to get GAIM going and do internet browsing. Tons of these girls are happy linux users, and have gone on to 'the hard stuff' like gentoo.

The disk is indespensible as a system rescue as well.

Re:Knoppix is easy entry linux

[by Anonymous Coward]

I think most of the crowd here just turned green with envy. And it had nothing to do with your ability to modify HTML.

Re:Knoppix is easy entry linux

[j1bb3rj4bb3r (808677)]

I think I should also add that an all girls private college is not what it's cracked up to be. I've never felt like such a complete outsider before in my life. My ex-gf and her friends were great to me, but any parties I went to, I was often the only guy. While that may sound like heaven to those social rejects who've never spent much time with girls in the first place, it's actually a very uncomfortable feeling, because you really just don't fit in, don't belong, and are pretty much just tolerated (and that's by the straight girls). Don't get me wrong... I met lots of very cool people there, it's just the social environment of an all-one-gender place is very different than coed environments.

Finally, all those work PC's...

[RobertB-DC (622190)]

The final chapter includes seven hacks that help the reader create their own customized Knoppix CD. Knoppix Remastered walks the reader through the steps of customizing and personalizing a live CD.

Aha! Finally, I'll be able to create a bootable BZFlag CD-ROM [bzflag.org], and I won't have to ask permission before bringing my friends to the office on the weekend for a fragging session. Power goes out here regularly, so as long as everyone has to power up in the morning, nobody will be the wiser. Heh.

Now, where's that "Post Anonymously" check bo

I should make a distro

[falconed (645790)]

Linus made Linux,
Knopper made Knoppix,
Falcone should make Fallix!

My favourite hack...

[m50d (797211)]

Knoppix-STD is only ~460 mb, which leaves 240 mb you can use to your advantage. Put some "normal" files in there - I use a set of mp3s and play them on my mp3 cd player, alternatively some "work"-type files or a set of ebooks. Then create the iso with mkisofs -r -J -hide-joliet KNOPPIX (and -hide-joliet index.html etc. if you leave those files in there) Now you have a bootable cd full of security tools which, when viewed on a windows pc, looks completely innocuous.

Where have I heard that name before?

[crawdaddy (344241)]

Rankin has collected a "who's who" of Linux hackers to contribute to this book: John Andrews, creator of Damn Small Linux; Fabian Franz, creator of FreeNX server; Alex de Landgraaf, creator of Morphix; Simon Peter, developer of klik; Wim Vandersmissen, creator of ClusterKnoppix and many others no less accomplished, all of whom have contributed to the future of free software/open source development.

I emailed Simon Peter for information about klik, but he denied involvement with it. I pointed to this review in a followup email as evidence. Again, he denied it in his reply. Upon my pointing to him being listed on the klik site, he replied "I don't know this klik you're talking about," denying his involvement a third time. Then a rooster crowed twice.

My best use of Knoppix

[LarsWestergren (9033)]

When I worked as a sysadmin, I used Knoppix several times to errorcheck Windows computers. At home, I have used it to run Linux from Scratch [linuxfromscratch.org] on a clean computer. It's great to have all tools available and no fear of removing or messing up an important partition by mistake. Also you can surf and play games while compiling.

Ultimate Boot CD

[scubacuda (411898)]

Many of these tools are on Knoppix, but useful nonetheless: Ultimate Boot CD [ultimatebootcd.com]

MetroPipe: Knoppix for flash drives

[lucidvein (18628)]

I just downloaded http://www.metropipe.net/ProductsPVPM.shtml [metropipe.net] which uncompresses to an executable Knoppix environment. Runs on top of Windows or Linux so no need to even reboot the client machine.

Could use some updating now that Firefox 1.0 is out, but overall I found it to be a very compact and usable resource. Look forward to the release that supports Mac OS X.

Re:MetroPipe: Knoppix for flash drives

[NETHED (258016)]

Holy crap thats an awesome app. I Love it. Thanks, its links like this that make surfing /. for hours worth it.

RDesktop Knoppix?

[grolschie (610666)]

I'd love to see a Knoppix variant that will simply do the following:
1). Grab an IP address via DHCP
2). Configure hardware
3). StartX
4). Prompt for Server name
5). Start RDesktop

Nothing else. I am amazed it hasn't been done yet. The ultimate thin client boot CD.

Re:interesting

[acvh (120205)]

"Knoppix Reloaded, in Chapter 8, takes on Knoppix variants Morphix, Gnoppix, Mediainlinux, Freeduc, Damn, Small Linux, INSERT, L.A.S. Linux, Knoppix-STD"

your wish was granted.

Re:interesting

[Anubis350 (772791)]

point taken, I realized that after I posted

Re:interesting

[MysteriousMystery (708469)]

I'd try Knoppix-STD but I'm paranoid about getting a virus!

Re:interesting

[AtomicSnarl (549626)]

You can avoid Knoppix-STD's through abstinence. If you must, wear a Kondom.

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[0racle (667029)]

All of the '* Hacks' books are simply collections of tips with very few if any actuall hacks. I guess 'Knoppix tips' and the like just didn't make the book seem interesting enough.

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[0racle (667029)]

The book however isn't talking about creating Knoppix, but using it. The actual creation my fall under the realm of a hack, but using it to recover data, or to show off Linux is not. For instance looking at the 5 sample 'hacks' on at www.oreilly.com [oreilly.com]:

Hack 5: Free Your CD to Make Knoppix Run Faster (PDF Format)

Hack 33: Install Knoppix as a Single-Boot System (PDF Format)
Hack 40: Create an Emergency Router (PDF Format)
Hack 61: Migrate to a New Hard Drive (PDF Format)
Hack 78: Scan for Viruses (PDF Forma

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[mogrify (828588)]

Seems along the same lines of calling legitimate boot-time kernel options "cheat codes."

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[hal2814 (725639)]

Yeah, but real hacks like using Knoppix to get Mode X graphics to play Rise of the Triad with double-buffering is a little dated.

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[jaylee7877 (665673)]

Take a look at How to become a hacker [catb.org] by ESR It's the basis of Oreilly's hack series. The books goals are to stimulate "hackers" and get them started. Often the hacks will offer ideas to "hack the hack" but leave it up to the reader to figure out how. I've got Linux Server Hacks [oreilly.com] and I've found it to be an invaluable resource, a reference book, but much more as it gives me all types of new ideas for my servers.... Nice job Oreilly.

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[Overzeetop (214511)]

Okay, mod me OT, but since you've pointed to whta looks like a quite useful book for the linux-initiated, here's question for you:

What is a a good beginners book for linux? I'm not talking about the various O-reilly books on the different flavors of Linux (I have two, I think, though I can only find the RedHat one). I mean something that will walk you through the command line and internals, without being a reference for sysadmins.

---you can stop here to avoid a boring rant ---

You see, I grew up on the A

Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack?

[UnderScan (470605)]

What is a a good beginners book for linux? ... ... I mean something that will walk you through the command line and internals, without being a reference for sysadmins.

I would recommend Moving to Linux: Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye! [marcelgagne.com] for a good beginner book. It too uses Knoppix and includes a pressed Knoppix CD.

Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity

[barc0001 (173002)]

It's all in perception. But you're right. It's much better for "hacking" to be thought of as the computer equivelant of armed robbery instead.
Face it: What we used to think the word "hacking" meant has long been depracated by the world at large. At least a series like this might bring the meaning of the word a bit away from the dark side. Maybe.

Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity

[NardofDoom (821951)]

Those aren't the only definitions. [google.com]

A hack can also mean a way of using something in a clever way, including the way it was intended. Using Knoppix to repair a Windows machine is a hack, because it uses the tool to solve the problem in a clever way.

Kinda like using duct tape to 'resize' a metric socket to fit on a standard nut.

It's not about 'leetness,' it's about solving the problem, and then communicating that solution to others.

Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity

[Daytona955i (448665)]

Heck I've used linux to repair all sorts of windows machines. And people have the gall to be upset when they find out that windows is no longer on their computer.

Re:Knoppix saved me

[mav[LAG] (31387)]

its Czech clone called Danix

Wait - its Czech clone is called Danix? So the Hungarian clone is called Norwix and the Bulgarian one Swedix? What's the pattern (for those of us not living in Eastern Europe)?

Danix

[alarch (830794)]

LOL :)) You made me laugh. Danix stand for DANIels's linuX i believe, which is name of the main developer. Similar case as with Knoppix itself. BTW: I do not live in the eastern Europe. I live in central Europe. You woudlnt say that Austria or Germany is in eastern Europe, would you?

Re:Great Book? Yes.

[UnderScan (470605)]

Mods!

While the book is great, the parent copied his "review" from http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.asp?Item=978059 600787&Catalog=Books&N=35&Lang=en&Section=books&zx ac=1 [indigo.ca] and also links to a has a amazon.com referer account.

If you want it cheap, addall.com (the book search engine) lists bookpool.com with the lowest price. [addall.com]