[ale] Need help building a read only Linux appliance

[Richard Bronosky]

I'm currently running RaspBMC and it works very nicely.

My goal is to have a script that toggles RO and RW mode. You would start
off with a normal install and get it configured exactly the way you want
it. You then toggle RO mode and you can kill the power with impunity.

You if at any point you feel the need to make permanent changes, you switch
to RW mode (which may require a reboot). When you are done you switch back
to RO mode.

This is very different than the way we usually think about Linux, but keep
these things in mind:
1. You never feel the need to backup your in-dash nav system**, your wifi
router**, your DVD/Blu-ray player**, your flat panel TV**, your child's
game system/tablet**, your microwave oven.
2. These devices can lose power at any time without needing to be
repaired/restored afterward.

** Check your paperwork and I bet every one of these devices include GPL
software. Mine all do, and I have requested the source for each, not
because I expect to use it, but to keep the manufacturer honest.


On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 10:02 AM, Dennis Ruzeski <denniruz at gmail.com> wrote:

> You would really need a small footprint distro to pull that off as the
> RPi has only 512M of memory.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 9:52 AM, Richard Bronosky <richard at bronosky.com>
> wrote:
> > I'm hoping to design a system that any parent can build themselves.
> Ideally
> > this would mean:
> > 1. no soldering
> > 2. runs on ignition switched power (no need to tie into constant/clock
> power
> > as has been suggested elsewhere)
> >
> > I'll add your link to my reference material, but at a price greater than
> the
> > RPi, it would be my absolute last resort.
> >
> > As simontek noted, Linux live CDs work this way. Also, Linux based
> routers
> > are power fault tolerant. That's the route I want to go.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 9:16 AM, Dennis Ruzeski <denniruz at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> 1- The last computer I could just turn off ran DOS 6.. Wanna go back
> >> there? Be be guest.
> >> 2- I don't think a read-only system is ideal here. Use this instead-
> >>
> >>
> http://store.mp3car.com/Micro_Shutdown_Controller_p/PWR-007.htm?ProductCode=PWR-007&Click=29952
> >>
> >> Good luck! I'll be rolling a car pc here in the next few weeks on a
> >> RPi. We should exchange notes when we're done or maybe this is a good
> >> meeting subject?
> >>
> >> --Dennis
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 8:39 AM, Richard Bronosky <richard at bronosky.com
> >
> >> wrote:
> >> > Don't know why this failed before...
> >> >
> >> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >> > From: "Richard Bronosky" <Richard at bronosky.com>
> >> > Date: Nov 30, 2012 1:17 AM
> >> > Subject: Need help building a read only linux appliance
> >> > To: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts - Yes! We run Linux!" <ale at ale.org>
> >> > Cc:
> >> >
> >> > I want to turn one of these Raspberry Pis into a car-puter that will
> >> > only be
> >> > used to play videos from a USB drive. It needs to be able to survive
> >> > having
> >> > the power cut off without being shut down. (Remember when you could do
> >> > that
> >> > to a computer?)
> >> >
> >> > Anyone have any suggestions on how to do this?
> >> >
> >> > I'd also like to include a very tiny partition where the video player
> >> > can
> >> > write a progress indicator files every 15 seconds to be used to resume
> >> > playback. That can come later though if it complicates matters.
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > .!# RichardBronosky #!.
> >> >
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > .!# RichardBronosky #!.
> >
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-- 
.!# RichardBronosky #!.
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