Knoppix Debian

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     / /./ /  /  | / / /   |   / _ |  / _ \  / / | | / /        Usage Tips and
    / /` _/  / / |/ / / /| |  / // / / // / / /  | |/ /    Configuration Notes
   /   /    / /| / / / / / / / ___/ / ___/ / /   /   /   
  / /\ \   / / |  /  | |/ / / /    / /    / /   / /\ \     Derek B Winterstien
 /_/  \_\ /_/  |_/   \___/ /_/    /_/    /_/   /_/  \_\             11/21/2004

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TIPS SECTION

KNOPPIX Tip: Allowing Secure Shell login / enabling the sshd service

To add sshd to boot execute as root 'update-rc.d ssh defaults' Now to start the service execute '/etc/init.d/ssh start'

KNOPPIX Tip: Start Network Card, Connect to LAN via DHCP

click Application Menu, KNOPPIX, Network/Internet, 'Network Card Configuration'. Select the appropriate ethX device from the xdialog. For example, select 'eth0 Netzwerkkarte_0'

KNOPPIX Tip: Increase system performance

There are ways to increase system performance, better for old hardware. Eliminate extra virtual consoles in inittab.

vi /etc/inittab and place a # in front of ones you don't need. EX:

 #3:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty3

You might comment out 3,4,5,6 that leaves two virtual consoles. This frees up memory.

CONFIGURATION SECTION

Boot time kernel modules

The /etc/modules files gets rewritten each time the debian knoppix system boots (for knoppix to harddisk installs).

 /etc/modules <- file written each time at boot listing loaded modules
 /etc/modules.conf <- 
 /etc/modutils/ <- directory of 
 /etc/init.d/knoppix-autoconfig <- script, used during install?
 /etc/init.d/modutils-knoppix <- script, 
 /etc/modules-2.6.xx <- modules list (this is the file you edit)

The knoppix script knoppix-hd-autoconfig reads the modules list from modules-2.6.xx then writes modules for compatibility purposes. If someone tells you to edit /etc/modules on a Knoppix Debian installation, they are telling you wrong! You need to remark out the modules you do not wish to load in the file /etc/modules-2.6.xx with a # character. This file is named for your kernel version, so the xx would be the number.

• Explains what scripts are ran in what order:

 init

All UNIX variants, including Debian being with the init program.

 /etc/inittab

The configuraiton file for init

 /etc/init.d/rcS

In Debian, inittab specifies that rcS is the first script to execute.

 inittab-> rcS -> 1. runs all scripts in /etc/rcS.d/ that begin with S
               -> 2. runs knoppix-hd-autoconfig (knoppix only)
               -> 3. runs /etc/rc.boot
 

The rcS script runs all of the scripts in /etc/rcS.d/ by sourcing or forking subprocess depending on their file extension to perform initialization such as to check and to mount file systems, to load modules, to start the network services, to set the clock, and to perform other initialization. Then, for compatibility, it runs the files (except those with a `.'in the filename) in /etc/rc.boot/ too.

• ref: The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ Chapter 10

• Debian does not use rc.local. It exists after the Knoppix harddisk install,

however, it does not get automatically executed on boot.

Two ways to get rc.local to work.

(1.) Create an initlevel symlink: (example uses init level 3)

 ln -s /etc/rc.local /etc/rc3.d/S99local

However, this is not recommended because would run rc.local each time the system enters that runlevel number, not just once during boot like it traditionally would.

(2.) The better way is to add an entry at the end of your inittab file. Again, our example uses initlevel 3,

   LO:3:once:/etc/rc.local

This implements proper rc.local behavior, it runs only one time after boot and not each time the system enters runlevel 3.

Adding a new service to Debian

   update-rc.d <service name> defaults

Removing a service from Debian

   update-rc.d -f <service name> remove

Here's an example: To add sshd to boot execute as root

   update-rc.d ssh defaults

Now to start the service execute

   /etc/init.d/ssh start

ERROR RESOLUTION SECTION

Hardware Error:

 hda: dma_timer_expiry: dma status = 0x21
 DMA Timeout error

X/KDE/Config

KDE Tip: Set Country and Language Options

click Application Menu, Settings, Control Center, and in the tree find 'Regional & Accessibility' and select 'Country/Region & Languages'.

KDE Tip: Add or remove system user

click Application Menu, System, User Manager (KUser). When the KDE User Manager opens select 'User' and option add or delete. If creating a new account make sure to 'set password'.

Language: When new user first logon language defaults to German, to switch to english select (Amerika, Nordiches -> USA) and click "Weiter".

KDE Tip: So doube-click opens files rather than single click behavior

click Application Menu, Settings, Control Center, and in the tree find 'Peripherals' and select 'mouse'. General tab, icons area is the option.

note: (Mouse Speed Options) also under 'mouse' in Advanced tab area.