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Plop Linuxpage update: 27/Nov/2011
Print version IntroductionPlop Linux is a small distribution that can boot from CD, DVD, USB flash drive (UFD), USB harddisk or from network with PXE. It's designed to rescue data from a damaged system, backup and restore operating systems, automate tasks and more. Very often asked: Whats the base distribution of Plop Linux? Answer: Plop Linux is built from scratch, there is no other distribution. Current stable: 4.1.2
Next release: ploplinux-4.1.3-test2
System requirements
Features
Screenshots
DownloadDownload ChangeLog Version: Standard This runs on PC's with 32bit and 64bit processors. Compiled for 32bit with ram access up to 64Gig (i586 with PAE, i686 and newer) Version: x64 This is a 64bit kernel version. Runs only on PC's with 64bit processors. Version: i486 for old PC's. 2011-08-16 opt.sqfs has been updated. It has been updated in the X iso's too. Plop Linux 4.1.2, released 2011-08-16
Plop Linux 4.1.2-x64, released 2011-08-16
Plop Linux 4.1.2-i486, released 2011-08-16
Create bootable Plop Linux CD/USB device with Linux
1. Create a Plop Linux CD/DVD
There are 2 solutions to boot from CD/DVD. The first solution is to use the existing Plop Linux ISO image. If you don't need any personal files, F-PROT or Avast, then you can use it. If you want more power, then you have to create your personal ISO image in a few steps. That's the second solution. 1.1. Burn an ISO imageYou have to download the file ploplinux-4.1.2.iso K3b is an easy to use GUI for the linux burner programs. You can simply burn the ISO to a disc with a few mouse clicks. If you prefer the command line, then use the following commands. 1.1.1. Burn on CDcdrecord is the linux tool to burn CD ISO images.
Burn the ISO with cdrecord:
Example: 1.1.2. Burn on DVDgrowisofs is the linux tool to burn DVD ISO images.
Command:
Example: 1.2. Create a new ISO imagemkisofs is the required tool. It's a part of cdrecord. 1.2.1. Download and extract
You have to download the file
ploplinux-4.1.2.tgz to your
home directory. tar xfvz ploplinux-4.1.2.tgz 1.2.2. Adding filesThe directory ploplinux-4.1.2/ with the Plop Linux directories and files is created and you can add your personal files and the F-PROT and Avast files to the ploplinux/opt/ directory. Executeable files should be placed in ploplinux/bin/. 1.2.3. Create the ISO imageThe following command creates the ISO image. Run it from the commandline in your home directory.
mkisofs -J -r -V ploplinux-4.1.2 \ You can download the script make-iso.sh when you don't want to type the whole stuff. Run sh make-iso.sh 4.1.2 from the command line in your home directory to create the ISO image ploplinux-4.1.2.iso. When creating the ISO was successful, then burn it. see 1.1. Burn an ISO image 2. Create a bootable Plop Linux USB device
There are no differences between the USB mass storage devices. The instructions are the same for an USB flash and an USB harddisk. Requirements to make an USB device bootable: 2.1. Make an USB device bootable step-by-step
You have to do the following steps from a commandline. Login as root to be sure to have all rights. After those steps, you should be able to boot from USB with Plop Linux. Create bootable Plop Linux CD/USB device with Windows
1. Create a Plop Linux CD/DVD
There are 2 solutions to boot from CD/DVD. The first solution is to use the existing Plop Linux ISO image. If you don't need any personal files, F-PROT or Avast, then you can use it. If you want more power, then you have to create your personal ISO image in a few steps. That's the second solution. 1.1. Burn an ISO imageYou have to download the file ploplinux-4.1.2.iso or use your own ISO file. You can use Nero, the free CDBurnerXP or any other burner program that supports "burning ISO images". Use an option like Burn ISO to Disc or Copy ISO to Disc. Then select the Plop Linux ISO image and burn it to the disc. 1.2. Howto create a new ISO image
mkisofs.exe is the required tool to create a ISO image. It's a part of cdrtools. 2. Create a bootable Plop Linux USB deviceThere are no differences between the USB mass storage devices. The instructions are the same for an USB flash and an USB harddisk. You can use the universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3 or the Linux Live USB Creator to install Plop Linux to your USB device. Or you do it step-by-step... 2.1. Make USB device bootable step-by-step
Install to harddiskYou can install Plop Linux to your harddisk with installploplinux. Start it from your running Plop Linux. F-PROT Antivirus for LinuxThe F-PROT Antivirus is a free Antivirus program for personal users. Read the details at http://www.f-prot.com. How to use it with Plop LinuxDownload the latest linux version from http://www.f-prot.com/products/ and copy the tar.gz file into the ploplinux/opt/ directory.
Download Home: see here When Plop Linux has started, then run setupfprot. Now the F-PROT files will be extracted and you can run fpscan. Place your antivir.def into the ploplinux/opt/ directory to use the latest definitions. Avast Antivirus for LinuxThe Avast Antivirus is a free Antivirus program for non-commertial use. Please read their licence agreement http://www.avast.com. To run Avast from Plop Linux, you need the following
Create the following file in the Plop Linux ploplinux/opt/ directory.
Filename: avastrc
[licence] key=your key Copy the Avast file avast4workstation-1.0.8.tar.gz in the ploplinux/opt/ directory. To use avast you need the latest antivirus database file from avast. There are different solutions to get the latest file.
1. Update the antivirus database with LinuxYou need a working linux. This can be the linux you are working with or Plop Linux. It's required to have a connection to the internet and a valid Avast licence. If you use the linux you are working with then you have to be sure that avastrc is placed in your user home directory ~/.avast/. Plop Linux copies the avastrc file to the required position during the boot process from ploplinux/opt/avastrc. 1.1 From the command lineRun avast-update to download the latest antivirus database file. avast-update downloads the file 400.vps and saves it to ~/.avast/. 1.2 With a graphical user interfaceYou can use avastgui to update the antivirus database file. avastgui saves the file 400.vps in your home directory ~/.avast/. 2. Update the antivirus database with Windows
Update the antivirus database with the Avast graphical user interface.
Right mouse click at the Avastball bottom right in the taskbar.
Then click at Update and then iAvast
update. When you got the latest 400.vps, then copy this file to the ploplinux/opt/ directory from Plop Linux. When Plop Linux has started, then run setupavast. Now the Avast files will be extracted and you can run avast. AVG Antivirus for LinuxAVG is free for personal use. Download the latest version from http://free.avg.com/us-en/download.prd-alf.
Install AVG to your prefered linux distribution with sh avg85flx-r855-a3656.i386.sh Then run the commands cd /opt/avg
tar cfz avg.tgz avg8 This creates the file /opt/avg/avg.tgz. Copy this file to the ploplinux/opt/ directory. When Plop Linux has started, then run setupavg. Now the AVG files will be extracted and you can run avg. Backup/restore Windows with PartimageThis example shows you how to backup/restore a NTFS partition. The Imagefile will be saved on a NTFS formatted USB Harddisk. Make a backup of your data on a CD/DVD or anything else. If you make a mistake, you can loose your data.
Basic conditions:
Preparations:
With the following instructions, you are able to create/restore partitions
1. Create a Partimage image1.1. Batch mode
Create an image with the filename windowsXP_20070425 from
the partition /dev/sda1. 1.2. User interface
2. Restore a partition2.1. Batch mode
Restore the partition /dev/sda1 from the file
windowsXP_20070425.000. 2.2. User interface
Backup/Restore Windows with fsarchiverBackup: fsarchiver savefs windows.fsa /dev/sda1 Restore: fsarchiver restfs windows.fsa /dev/sda1 Boot from network (PXE, DHCP, TFTP, NFS, Samba/Windows network share) - Linux ServerThe software requirements to boot from network are
Basic conditions for this example setup:
It works with other IP addresses too! Here are configfiles for a linux test system in an archive: pxeconfs.tgz
1. Extract the Plop Linux filesExtract the file ploplinux-pxeboot.tgz to your root directory tar xfz ploplinux-pxeboot.tgz -C / Now you have the basic directory structure and files in /tftpboot. Extract the file ploplinux-4.1.2.tgz to /tmp tar xfz ploplinux-4.1.2.tgz -C /tmp Move the files to /tftpboot/ploplinux/ mv /tmp/ploplinux-4.1.2/* /tftpboot/ploplinux/ Now you should have the following directories and files
/tftpboot/
/ploplinux/
/boot.msg
/memtest
/menu.c32
/spash.png
/vesamenu.c32
/pxelinux.0
/ploplinux/
/bin/
/bin.sqfs
/etc.sqfs
/lib.sqfs
/opt/
/ploplinux
/pxelinux.cfg/
/default
/syslinux/
/kernel/
/bzImage
/initramfs.gz
/plop/
/plpbt.bin
/plpinstc.com
When you copy the opt.sqfs to the ploplinux/opt/ directory, then you are able to run gnome over the network and use firefox and other tools. 2. Setup the DHCP serverYou need the DHCP server software. If your distribution has none then you can use
dhcp-3.1.3
(or search for the latest on the net) and
compile it.
This is the example dhcp server configuration.
ddns-update-style ad-hoc;
subnet 10.0.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
option routers 10.0.0.1;
}
allow booting;
allow bootp;
# Standard configuration directives...
option domain-name "plop";
option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;
option broadcast-address 10.0.0.255;
option domain-name-servers 10.0.0.1;
option routers 10.0.0.1;
# Group the PXE bootable hosts together
group {
# PXE-specific configuration directives...
next-server 10.0.0.1;
filename "/ploplinux/pxelinux.0";
# You need an entry like this for every host
# unless you're using dynamic addresses
host testpc {
hardware ethernet 00:0C:6E:A6:1A:E6;
fixed-address 10.0.0.250;
}
}
To start the dhcp server simply run dhcpd 3. Setup the TFTP serverDownload the latest TFTP server from ftp://www.kernel.org/pub/software/network/tftp/ and install it with ./configure --prefix=/usr && make && make install To start the TFTP server we use xinetd Here is the base xinetd config file Filename: /etc/xinetd.conf#
# Simple configuration file for xinetd
#
# Some defaults, and include /etc/xinetd.d/
defaults
{
log_type = SYSLOG daemon info
log_on_success = PID HOST DURATION
log_on_failure = HOST
instances = 100
per_source = 20
}
includedir /etc/xinetd.d
And the configuration for the tftp server.
# default: off
# description: The tftp server serves files using the trivial
# file transfer \
# protocol. The tftp protocol is often used to boot diskless \
# workstations, download configuration files to
# network-aware printers, \
# and to start the installation process for some operating systems.
service tftp
{
socket_type = dgram
protocol = udp
wait = yes
user = root
#only_from = 10.0.0.1
server = /usr/sbin/in.tftpd
server_args = -s /tftpboot
disable = no
per_source = 11
cps = 100 2
}
To start xinetd simply run xinetd 4. Boot with NFSBasic configs for your NFS server, without security aspects Filename: /etc/exports /tftpboot/ploplinux 10.0.0.250(ro) Filename: /etc/hosts.allow portmap: 10.0.0.0/255.255.255.0 lockd: 10.0.0.0/255.255.255.0 rquotad: 10.0.0.0/255.255.255.0 mountd: 10.0.0.0/255.255.255.0 statd: 10.0.0.0/255.255.255.0 Filename: /etc/hosts.deny portmap:ALL lockd:ALL mountd:ALL rquotad:ALL statd:ALL
Filename: /tftpboot/ploplinux/pxelinux.cfg/default default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 100
menu background splash.png
menu title Welcome to Plop Linux
menu color border 37;40 #00000000 #00000000 none
menu color title 1;37;40 #00000000 #00000000 none
menu color tabmsg 40;37 #88888888 #00000000 none
menu color sel 1;37;42 #ffffffff #ff808080 none
menu color unsel 1;40;32 #ff00ff00 #00000000 none
label linux
menu label Plop Linux
kernel syslinux/kernel/bzImage
append initrd=syslinux/kernel/initramfs.gz vga=1 nfsmount=10.0.0.1:/tftpboot/ploplinux
label linuxfb
menu label Plop Linux framebuffer mode
kernel syslinux/kernel/bzImage
append initrd=syslinux/kernel/initramfs.gz vga=0x317 nfsmount=10.0.0.1:/tftpboot/ploplinux
menu separator
label hd
menu label ^Boot harddisk
localboot 0x80
append -
menu separator
label plp
menu label ^Plop Boot Manager
linux syslinux/plop/plpbt.bin
text help
Licence: free for personal and non-commercial use only
endtext
label plpinst
menu label Plop Boot Manager installer
linux syslinux/plop/plpinstc.com
text help
Licence: free for personal and non-commercial use only
endtext
menu separator
label Memtest
menu label ^Memtest
kernel memtest
If the dhcp, xinetd and nfs server are running correct you should be able to boot Plop Linux via network. When you copy the opt.sqfs to the ploplinux/opt/ directory, then you are able to run gnome over the network and use firefox and other tools. 5. Boot with Samba/Windows network shareBasic configs for your Samba server, without security aspects Filename: /etc/samba/smb.conf ;=== CUT ===== [ploplinux] path = /tftpboot/ploplinux writable = no read only = no ;=== CUT =====
Filename: /tftpboot/ploplinux/pxelinux.cfg/default default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 100
menu background splash.png
menu title Welcome to Plop Linux
menu color border 37;40 #00000000 #00000000 none
menu color title 1;37;40 #00000000 #00000000 none
menu color tabmsg 40;37 #88888888 #00000000 none
menu color sel 1;37;42 #ffffffff #ff808080 none
menu color unsel 1;40;32 #ff00ff00 #00000000 none
label linux
menu label Plop Linux
kernel syslinux/kernel/bzImage
append initrd=syslinux/kernel/initramfs.gz vga=1 smbmount=//10.0.0.1/ploplinux:SMBUSER:SMBPASSWORD
label linuxfb
menu label Plop Linux framebuffer mode
kernel syslinux/kernel/bzImage
append initrd=syslinux/kernel/initramfs.gz vga=0x317 smbmount=//10.0.0.1/ploplinux:SMBUSER:SMBPASSWORD
menu separator
label hd
menu label ^Boot harddisk
localboot 0x80
append -
menu separator
label plp
menu label ^Plop Boot Manager
linux syslinux/plop/plpbt.bin
text help
Licence: free for personal and non-commercial use only
endtext
label plpinst
menu label Plop Boot Manager installer
linux syslinux/plop/plpinstc.com
text help
Licence: free for personal and non-commercial use only
endtext
menu separator
label Memtest
menu label ^Memtest
kernel memtest
If the dhcp, xinetd and samba server are running correct you should be able to boot Plop Linux via network. When you copy the opt.sqfs to the ploplinux/opt/ directory, then you are able to run gnome over the network and use firefox and other tools. Boot from network (PXE, DHCP, TFTP, Windows network share) - Windows ServerThe software requirements to boot from network are
Basic conditions for this example setup:
It works with other IP addresses too!
1. Extract the Plop Linux filesExtract the file ploplinux-pxeboot.zip to c:\ Now you have the basic directory structure and files in c:\tftpboot. Extract the file ploplinux-4.1.2.zip Copy the content of the directory ploplinux-4.1.2\ to c:\tftpboot\ploplinux\. Now you should have the following directories and files
c:\tftpboot\
\ploplinux\
\boot.msg
\memtest
\menu.c32
\spash.png
\vesamenu.c32
\pxelinux.0
\ploplinux\
\bin\
\bin.sqfs
\etc.sqfs
\lib.sqfs
\opt\
\ploplinux
\pxelinux.cfg\
\default
\syslinux\
\kernel\
\bzImage
\initramfs.gz
\plop\
\plpbt.bin
\plpinstc.com
When you copy the opt.sqfs to the ploplinux/opt/ directory, then you are able to run gnome over the network and use firefox and other tools. 2. Setup the DHCP and TFTP server
Use TFTPD32 from http://tftpd32.jounin.net/. This is a DHCP and TFTP server in one program. TFTPD32 settings: Setup DHCP: 3. Boot with Windows network shareShare the directory c:\tftpboot\ploplinux with the share name ploplinux. The last step is to edit the file c:\tftpboot\ploplinux\pxelinux.cfg\default
Filename: c:\tftpboot\ploplinux\pxelinux.cfg\default default vesamenu.c32
prompt 0
timeout 100
menu background splash.png
menu title Welcome to Plop Linux
menu color border 37;40 #00000000 #00000000 none
menu color title 1;37;40 #00000000 #00000000 none
menu color tabmsg 40;37 #88888888 #00000000 none
menu color sel 1;37;42 #ffffffff #ff808080 none
menu color unsel 1;40;32 #ff00ff00 #00000000 none
label linux
menu label Plop Linux
kernel syslinux/kernel/bzImage
append initrd=syslinux/kernel/initramfs.gz vga=1 smbmount=//10.0.0.1/ploplinux:SMBUSER:SMBPASSWORD
label linuxfb
menu label Plop Linux framebuffer mode
kernel syslinux/kernel/bzImage
append initrd=syslinux/kernel/initramfs.gz vga=0x317 smbmount=//10.0.0.1/ploplinux:SMBUSER:SMBPASSWORD
menu separator
label hd
menu label ^Boot harddisk
localboot 0x80
append -
menu separator
label plp
menu label ^Plop Boot Manager
linux syslinux/plop/plpbt.bin
text help
Licence: free for personal and non-commercial use only
endtext
label plpinst
menu label Plop Boot Manager installer
linux syslinux/plop/plpinstc.com
text help
Licence: free for personal and non-commercial use only
endtext
menu separator
label Memtest
menu label ^Memtest
kernel memtest
If the tftpd32 is running correct you should be able to boot Plop Linux via network. If you copy the opt.sqfs to the ploplinux/opt/ directory, then you are able to run gnome over the network and use firefox and other tools. Xorg, Gnome, Fluxbox, gparted and moreI created a opt.sqfs with Xorg, Gnome, Fluxbox, gparted, a picture viewer, firefox, mplayer and other programs. You simply have to download opt.sqfs and copy it to the ploplinux/opt/ directory. You can start Gnome with startx. The opt.sqfs will be optimized in the future. You can run Gnome and Fluxbox from the network. ploplinux-4.1.2-X.iso is a LiveCD with Gnome. Program list Screenshot:
Run Gnome at startup: Remove the # in front of autostartx in the file ploplinux/bin/rc.local. Flashplayer Download the latest Adobe Flash Player from Adobe.
Choose the tar.gz version.
Extract the file and copy libflashplayer.so to the Plop Linux directory
LibreOffice and OpenOffice You can add LibreOffice and / or OpenOffice to opt.sqfs. Use the addoffice.sh script. Parameters First parameter: the office install-rpm-tar.gz file second parameter (required for LibreOffice, recommended for OpenOffice): the JRE install bin file To create the new opt.sqfs you need
How to use addoffice.sh
Use addoffice.sh with Plop Linux We assume you copied all required files to ploplinux_newopt.
x64 (64bit) versionploplinux-4.1.2-x64.iso is the 64bit version of Plop Linux. The kernel has 32bit emulation activated. This means, you are able to run all programs from the 32bit Plop Linux. This 64bit version can be used to chroot to a 64bit linux and run programs there. Locale settingsAdd locale-archive.gz to the ploplinux/opt/ directory. Extract it with gunzip locale-archive.gz Example to setup german locale in rc.local:
setfont lat0-16 -m 8859-1
loadkeys de-latin1
echo export LANG=de_DE.UTF8 >> /etc/profile
Perl modulesAdd perl5.tar.gz to the ploplinux/opt/ directory. Extract it with tar xfz perl5.tar.gz Welcome textEdit the file ploplinux/bin/welcome.txt to change the text. C compilerploplinux-development-20100215.fsa is a fsarchiver image with gcc. Ext2/3 instead of FATIf you want to use Ext2/3 on your USB drive then use extlinux instead of syslinux. The file syslinux.cfg must be renamed to extlinux.conf. Splash screenReplace the file syslinux/splash.png with your own image.
You find detailed infos with commands and colors and so on at the syslinux menu.c32 page. If you want a textmode menu then use menu.c32 instead of vesamenu.c32. Special commands
Boot parameter
FAQ's - Frequently asked questions
© by Elmar Hanlhofer |
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