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Knoppix Hacks 190
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 (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm sorry, (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'm sorry, (Score:5, Funny)
child: "Help I'm drowning!"
guru: *throws cd at kid* . "RTFM"
Re:I'm sorry, (Score:3, Funny)
Troll : Have another crippling bombshell! You don't need to be a Kreskin!
Re:I'm sorry, (Score:3, Funny)
I tought he was going to say that he saved a child from being skewered by Jason Voorhees.
Re:so true (Score:2)
Re:so true (Score:1)
Re:saved by CD burning under knoppix (Score:2)
No need to install a second CD, as long as you have a built-in CD-RW. When you'r
Re:saved by CD burning under knoppix (Score:2)
For Dummies (Score:3, Funny)
Chapter 1337 (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Chapter 1337 (Score:1, Interesting)
Sounds comprehensive (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Sounds comprehensive (Score:1)
Re:Sounds comprehensive (Score:3, Interesting)
* If anyone wants to mail me a copy of the newest knoppix cd I'll update it. I hate downloading ISO
Knoppix saved me (Score:1)
Re:Knoppix saved me (Score:2)
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 (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Danix (Score:2)
Re:Danix (Score:2)
There is a far greater difference between Hungary and the Czech republic than there is between Oregon and Wisconsin. Yes, there are many countries in Europe. That's not an excuse not to know them though.
Re:Danix (Score:2)
No, but we think of the Czech Republic as an eastern bloc country (i.e., formerly of the USSR). It's not so much geographic as it is political/historical/socioeconomic.
Re:Danix (Score:2)
most people don't know their history. czechs are a germanic people, especially the sudetenland, part of the reason why hitler wanted bohemia and moravia. the other being the BRNO arms factories!! sadly, the czechs have a very tragic history in the 20th century. the west turned its back on the czechs, in direct violation of article 16 and 50 of League of Nations charter. especially when the czzechs had 30+ divisions ready to confront the germans if the french had thei
Re:Danix (Score:2)
Re:Danix (Score:2)
Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity (Score:1)
These books might not be all about hacking... But the title might make the reader feel special about themselves.
Are these hack books trying to Capitalize on 'leet-ness, or are they simply the antipathy of the "for dummies" series?
Is self inflation and self deprecation really such a critical component to technical literature sales?
Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity (Score:2)
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 (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity (Score:2)
Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity (Score:2)
Often this is exactly what you want - also known as something done once to get the job done but not something you do daily. The correct way to recover from a dying disk is to restore from a daily backup and redo the rest of the days work, but the hack of using knoppix will usually give better results.
I think the intended audience is after quick and nasty solutions, I know I am. You can also build on such ideas to produce something that isn't so quick
Re:Duality of l337ness versus Stupidity (Score:2)
you have the wrong definition of hacking
In English gentry, "hacking about" is the term for riding one's horse about with no particular intent. There's even a "hacking jacket" which is a particular tweed, distinct from hunting pinks, that one wears when "going hacking".
I suspect that it is this definition of hacking from where the computer related term derives.
Ob. Amazon Karma Whore Link (Score:1, Informative)
BioKnoppix & VLinux (Score:5, Interesting)
"Screenshots are placed where needed but again, (Score:2, Interesting)
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 (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:2)
And yeah, ditto to everything else you said. A friend of mine was complaining that "every time he goes on the internet, my computer slows waaaayyyy down...". I told him, "Dude, you are 0wn3d", gave him a Knoppix CD and told him to unplug his DSL modem when he boots into Windows. He's happily back to full speed surfing and I didn't have to go cle
Re:Great introduction to Linux (Score:3, Funny)
New Knoppix user sings praises (Score:2, Interesting)
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
Re:New Knoppix user sings praises (Score:2)
Regarding the Swiss Army Knife metaphor (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Regarding the Swiss Army Knife metaphor (Score:2)
Re:Regarding the Swiss Army Knife metaphor (Score:2, Informative)
I know kyle, IRL! (Score:2, Interesting)
IRL, Kyle is the person who got me to start using linux! :-)
Thanks kyle, I've never looked back.
-Donnie
Re:I know kyle, IRL! (Score:2)
-Kyle
Morphix (Score:2, Informative)
Knoppix on a HD? (Score:5, Interesting)
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? (Score:4, Interesting)
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?
Re:Knoppix on a HD? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Knoppix on a HD? (Score:2)
I have left a nice solid 40GB partition unformatted on the disk, so I guess I know what my weekend project is going to be.
Re:Knoppix on a HD? (Score:2)
When I doubt, I'd bring along your boot HD and a spare knoppix CD... That way, if your mandrake box gets confused about things, you can use knoppix to 'set it right' (It's likely to be somet
Koppix saved my ass (Score:3, Interesting)
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 (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Knoppix is easy entry linux (Score:2, Interesting)
"all girls" + "Private college" sounds a little fishy
"all girls" + "private college" + "using linux" = a typical
Re:Knoppix is easy entry linux (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Knoppix is easy entry linux (Score:2)
Re:Knoppix is easy entry linux (Score:2)
I went to St.Andrews University, which had a number of single-sex halls of residence. One of them was all-female, but was thinking about becoming mixed. In my first year, I think there were two males there and about a hundred and fifty females.
From all accounts, the guys had a hellish time, for all the reasons you describe.
Any single-sex environment tends to go rather weird. You can explain a lot about upper
Finally, all those work PC's... (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:4, Funny)
Knopper made Knoppix,
Falcone should make Fallix!
My favourite hack... (Score:2)
Where have I heard that name before? (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Re:Where have I heard that name before? (Score:2)
Strange.
My best use of Knoppix (Score:3, Interesting)
Ultimate Boot CD (Score:3, Informative)
newbie article (Score:2)
Until then, these hacks will only be available to the uber geeks (not that that's a always a bad thing).
Re:newbie article (Score:2)
You DID back up the registry, didn't you?
Re:newbie article (Score:2)
MetroPipe: Knoppix for flash drives (Score:5, Interesting)
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 (Score:3, Informative)
Re:MetroPipe: Knoppix for flash drives (Score:2, Interesting)
I was just looking into grabbing knoppix, and look at this even better.
I recently got a Victornox USB knife, (got it for like 15 dollars, so no comments about overpriced stuff), and loaded it up, works awesome.
Now i'll get it all setup for when I go to Europe next week, the internet cafe's can all be the same.
Props for the link!
Personally (Score:2)
RDesktop Knoppix? (Score:4, Interesting)
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:RDesktop Knoppix? (Score:2)
Nice addition to the CD (Score:2, Insightful)
Since I've had to repair a couple of BSOD-prone Windowz boxes already with the help of Knoppix, I think this book can form a nice introduction to those same people who think Linux is just some sort of hacker software or who think that Windowz is the only OS on the planet!
But, looking at it from a different perspective, I do see that when it comes to using Knoppix as a general introduction to Linux, it won't work!!!
Most people will see Knoppix as a good way to see what Linux is all about, but they only
Free hacks, get your free hacks! (Score:2)
For anyone interested, I had licensed my contributions under the GNU FPL; check them out (unedited) here [alextreme.org].
Re:interesting (Score:2, Redundant)
your wish was granted.
Re:interesting (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:interesting (Score:2)
Re:interesting (Score:5, Funny)
Re:interesting (Score:2)
KDE has a firewall script generator?
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2, Interesting)
Of course it can be installed to your HD. But the beauty of the thing is that you can arrive at a room full of unknown machines and a pack of CDs and have a class setup in 5 minutes.
In that sense, yes, it is a hack. A very nice one indeed.
--
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2)
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? (Score:2)
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:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2)
Then I would also learn an editor. I would recommend learning the minimum ammount you need to get by in either vi or emacs as this will save you time.
Then skim through the linux from scratch HOWTO.
After that try and find howtos or books for specific programs. After figuring out how say apache works, you will have a better understandinng of how other programs work in linux.
Remember, most programs come with their own documentatio
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2)
Pick up the yellow Operating Systems book by Andy Tannenbaum. WONDERFUL book.
True, there are many, many, many differences between Minix and Linux -- but once you have a good grasp of that text, you'll be able to piece together whatever you decide you want to know about Linux from the mismash out there in webland.
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2)
Re:You want Slackware. (Score:2)
However, lately I've been using OpenBSD more and more (I started using it for a secure server, then a packet shaping router, etc). It's a little more daunting to install then Slackware but it's even better documented.
Pick one or the other, they'll both help you learn the ropes of unix far better then any book.
Re:You want Slackware. (Score:2)
That was a couple of years ago, and I hadn't really looked back at it. I should have taken more time to read the book that goes with it. I just cliked over, and I think I'm going to take a
Re:You want Slackware. (Score:2)
"newbie, go home"...and do a freakin' google search. Found it in a single file in the top five hits.
Re:You want Slackware. (Score:2)
Re:Umm, using a tool is a hack? (Score:2, Interesting)
I've had this book for a week or so now, and I've found it pretty good. The basic 'hacks' are at least bullet resistant, and should get a newbie started right. The more advanced hacks are not recipes you can just follow and get good results.
For example, you can boot up Knoppix, use the live installer to download the fprot virus scanner and current updates, and virus-check a windows partition. It worked, but the graphical front end to fprot kept hanging up at the same point. It was easy enough to read the
Re:Great Book? Yes. (Score:3, Interesting)
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]
Bookpool! (Score:2)
Re:Saving Windows Machines (Score:2)
here [nu2.nu] is the link if anybody wants to check it out