Emidio Planamente 's Homepage

Home GNU/Linux Programming Technology Sport Others Contact

Search

  Google linux


Debian

  Apt-get
  Debian Anatomy
  Debian Backports
  Debian Help
  Debian Planet
  Debian Swiss
  History of Debian
  Getdeb
  Kernel
  Kernel 2.6
  Packages
  Refcard for newbie
  Reference book
  SATA raid
  Weekly News


Official Docs

  Distrowatch
  Firewire
  Gimp
  Gimp Photo Archive
  Linuxdoc
  Linuxdoc Reference
  Linux Focus
  Linux From Scratch
  Linux Hacks
  Linux Hardware
  Linux Printing
  MySQL
  O'Reilly
  Rute
  Source Forge
  USB guide


Installation

  Instalinux
  Preseed


Laptop

  Linux on Laptops
  Linux Toshiba
  Tux Mobil


Live-CDs

  Create it Your self
  Knoppix
  Kororaa XGL 3


Pictures

  Bay13
  Gnomelook
  Kuznetsov


Security

  GNU/Linux
  PortsDB


Linux based product

  Dreambox


Free web service

  S5 presents


Against Micro$oft

  Combatti Micro$oft
  Microsuck


HTML validator CSS validator

 

Emi's rescue CD


1. Introduction

2. Getting it

3. How to use it

4. About


1. Introduction


1.1. What is it?


This is a rescue CD based on Debian GNU/Linux with:


- LVM2 support

- RAID support

- dm-crypt support


More in detail, it is a modified version of Timo's rescue CD version 0.9.12r2 (see http://rescuecd.sourceforge.net/).


It does not have any useless Xwindow, but only what is strictly necessary to restore a broken system.


1.2. Why this CD?


Some time ago, I realized a server with the OS on LVM2 on RAID1 (see http://emidio.planamente.ch/pages/linux_howto_root_lvm_raid.php).

Due its particular configuration, if the server does not boot anymore, there is not a simple and fast way to restore it.

The most rescue CDs or live CDs does not have all what I needed. Furthermore, I was not interessted in an Xwindow, because it only needs more time to bring up the live CD.


After long researchs, I have found the Timo's rescue CD. It is a great tool for creating a rescue CD by your self. It is also possible, in a very easy way, to add/remove packages, upgrade the system and install your own kernel.

I have given it a try and ... here the result.


2. Getting it


2.1. Downloading ISO image


Due the size of the ISO image (~250MB), consider first to create an ISO image your self, following the instructions on the next chapter.


If you want to download the already build ISO image, here the link:


  http://emidio.planamente.ch/docs/linux/rescuecd/emirescuecd.iso.tar.bz2


Logically, call


  tar xjf emirescuecd.iso.tar.bz2


to extract it.


2.2. Creating it your self


You can easily create an ISO image of the Emi's rescue CD starting with the sources of the Timo's rescue CD.


Download the official Timo's sources:


  http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/rescuecd/timos_rescue_cd_set-0.9.12r2.tar.bz2.


Download my script and my 2.6.12 kernel:


  http://emidio.planamente.ch/docs/linux/rescuecd/emirescuecd-tools.tar.gz


Ensure you to have all in the same directory, extract the tools


  tar xzf emirescuecd-tools.tar.gz


and call as root:


  ./timo2emi


Then, just follow the instructions.


3. How to use it


3.1. Burning CD


Burn the ISO image


  emirescue.iso


on a CD by calling


  cdrecord -v dev=0,2,0 speed=10 gracetime=2 driveropts=burnfree -data emirescue.iso


or use your favorite tool.


3.2. Booting


Just boot the CD and select menu 1.


3.3. Logging in


Use the following account:


  user: root

  password: rescue


3.4. Selecting keyboard


Select the desired keyboard by calling:


  kbdmap


3.5. Mounting SYSFS


If a sysfs is not mounted, LVM will crash with a segmentation fault instead of giving an intelligent error.


Therefore, call


  mkdir /mnt/sys

  mount -t sysfs none /sys


3.6. Starting RAID


Load required modules:


  modprobe md raid1


Copy configuration file:


  cp mdadm.conf /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf


Start RAID:


  /etc/init.d/mdadm start


Verify if really started:


  cat /proc/mdstat


3.7. Decrypting crypted device


This was not scheduled for my Debian system, but it could anyway be useful.


Just call


  cryptsetup create crypted /dev/hdax


replacing /dev/hdax with your partition.


3.8. Activating LVM partitions


Just call


  vgscan

  vgchange -a y


4. About


4.1. Author


Emidio Planamente <eplanamente@gmx.ch>


4.2. Feedback


Please let me know if you have found this CD helpful.


Any other feedback is also welcome.


4.3. History


Version 1

  First public release


Version 1.1

  Added "How to use it"



Emidio Planamente

Last modified on 2006-05-25