LanPuppy...At Last... [ Testing & Suggestions ]

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sunburnt
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LanPuppy...At Last... [ Testing & Suggestions ]

#1 Post by sunburnt »

I've been working on LanPuppy for about 8 months (much too long, it should have been quicker).
Lots of folks here have contributed, I wanted to make a list but didn't want to leave anyone out.
The last bit of help was by Ted Dog, who was also one of the first to help when I first came here.

I've kept it simple & as similar to the standard Puppy as I could with only a few changes over all.
The PupServer / LanPuppy package seems to work well, the tools I've made aren't as tested.
I haven't made a manual as such, but raffy suggested that I post it anyway to get it going.
So as bug reports & suggestions for improvements come in, & I answer Qs, I'll compile Docs.

LanPuppy / PupServer setup:
The PupServer is built on EmptyCrust-1.0.7, other Puppy 1 versions would probably work also.
The PupServer is a frugal setup (3 base Puppy files), with Samba server DotPup installed.
The LanPuppy1-01.pup package checks for Samba server install & if networking is setup.
It installs DHCP3, Xinet, Tftp-hpa, & makes dirs.: /docs, /public, /homes, /tftpboot, & /lanpup.
I've been using SimplePup for a client as I like it, most any Puppy 1 versions should work.
I use a frugal install on the H.D., it might work on a full H.D. install, I haven't tried it.
I don't use CDs to run Puppy, but a little modification would allow the setup to work on a CD.

PXE network booting:
PCs with a BIOS PXE network boot option should work for client PCs.
Also PXE ready NICs, on eBay I bought 10: "3com-905c-tx-m" used for $3 each!
Alot of the Intel NICs do PXE boot also, but I haven't used any of them.
I just tested out a EtherBoot PXE Floppy Disk, & it's worked on all the PCs I've got, WOW!
I'm posting this from a 2.4 AMD PC that booted with the floppy from a 1.7 Celeron PC.

Limitations:
The number of clients is controlled by the HOME share dirs., for more clients add more dirs.
The clients run as root user with no login same as Puppy, so there's one setup per client.
This will work well for homes, keosks, churches, small offices, & maybe classrooms.
I'm sure many will want a login with separate users & work spaces for a more robust setup.
When booting, each client briefly uses a common IP add. (x.x.x.9), so stagger booting.

Save & Squash files:
One change is the "save" file is used for settings & app. installs, work space is a share.
The "save" file can be as small as 8 MB, but to install apps. it must be larger.
There's a dir.: /homes/pup-BASE for a base save file, if you want custom settings.
Ideally I'll make an "everything" squash file (any help offers?), so no apps. to install.
All the clients use the same squash file, so there's only one, so it can be HUGE (1 - 2 GB?).
With some modifing,the clients could share the same app. install dir. (/root/.usr)... trick!

Tools:
I've written tools to help administer LanPuppy, but I haven't spent much time testing them.
Better tools are needed, but as LanPuppy changes different tools will be needed.
The main tool is: "xmklanpup", it extracts a Puppy ISO file & modifies it into a LanPuppy.
"xhomesadd" makes client HOME share dirs. & copies a base "save" file, if there's one.
"xmntroot" allows the administrator to mount the clients "save" file to work with it.
"xbootmount" is a PupServer utility to auto. mount H.D.s at bootup.
I want to make a DotPup tool from the package: "MakePxeBootFloppy.tar.gz".

Abilities:
240 clients are allowed (IP add. x.x.x.11 to .250), that can be booted by WakeOnLan.
The usr_devx.sfs developers file & MU's usr_more.sfs MegaPup file work... not tested.
PupServer supplies internet info, so new client's have web access immediately, no setup!
PupServer could boot any PXE ready Linux distro. (Knoppix, DSL) & even Win95 & Win98!
A WinBlows PC can also be a boot server with an app. called tftpd32, but then... WHY?
I'll work with LanPuppy1 for a bit to debug it, then I'll look at using Puppy2 for clients.

PupServer install:
Put EmptyCrust Puppy on a H.D. & setup to boot, install Samba server & LanPuppy.
After installing LanPuppy the Samba & boot servers are running, no need to reboot PupServer.
Then run: xmklanpup, select a Puppy ISO file to use for a client & it's converted to a LanPuppy.
The 3 main files (vmlinuz, image.gz, usr_cram.fs) are put in: /tftpboot/(ISO file name).
To setup the new LanPuppy, copy: vmlinuz & image.gz to: /tftpboot, & usr_cram.fs to: /lanpup/sys
The setup is ready to go, boot a PXE client PC with a PXE BIOS, a PXE NIC, or the PXE floppy.


NOTE: This package is a test release, but will remain available so folks can make their own setups.
After testing & improvement is done I intend to make a ready-to-go PupServer version of Puppy.
And a few ready-to-go client versions, OR just one client version & a HUGE "everything" squash file.

I'm sure there's all kinds of stuff I've forgotten to mention, but it'll all come out in the Qs.
Here's LanPuppy1-01.pup & MakePxeBootFloppy.tar.gz (PXE boot floppy disk).
Attachments
MakePxeBootFloppy.pup
DotPup to make a PXE boot floppy disk for a client PC.
(77.63 KiB) Downloaded 1325 times
Last edited by sunburnt on Mon 31 Jul 2006, 01:00, edited 3 times in total.

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Lobster
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#2 Post by Lobster »

Awesome
Created a wiki page for you here
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/LanPuppy

The Q and A format works well - for example
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/UsingThisWiki

8)
Puppy Raspup 8.2Final 8)
Puppy Links Page http://www.smokey01.com/bruceb/puppy.html :D

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sunburnt
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#3 Post by sunburnt »

Awesome indeed, the mighty crustacean leaps into action!

Wiki thoughts:
A number of the camel case words & maybe others should be links to web sites with that info.
I may have missed how to set the camel case words to link to another site, I'm not familiar with the Wiki.
I know HTML programming so adding links that way is familiar.
Example: The word: EtherBoot should link to: http://www.etherboot.org/
Last edited by sunburnt on Sun 30 Jul 2006, 05:29, edited 1 time in total.

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Lobster
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#4 Post by Lobster »

Code: Select all

"" ""
double speech marks around camel case that you do not want to page link to

links
[[http://link.com Link words here]] 
Hope that helps :)

more formatting here
http://demo.wikkawiki.org/FormattingRules

If you can do HTML - 10 minutes of study and wiki editing should be yours . . .
Puppy Raspup 8.2Final 8)
Puppy Links Page http://www.smokey01.com/bruceb/puppy.html :D

raffy
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Toast for LanPuppy

#5 Post by raffy »

A toast for LanPuppy! With Sunburnt's work, many organizations will begin looking seriously into using Puppy Linux.

Right now the 1.xx server packages can be built into the LanPuppy CD and a full room of PCs can be served with just a CD! See for example the Wikipedia static CD package for Puppy. Game and education contents can already be found here in the Forum.

The highmem kernel should enable LanPuppy to be a true server-on-DVD. This is an exciting development that coincides with NTFS writing ability in Puppy.

There are soft spots, though, such as the multi-user access, but the setup can be adjusted for this in time.

Congratulations!
Puppy user since Oct 2004. Want FreeOffice? [url=http://puppylinux.info/topic/freeoffice-2012-sfs]Get the sfs (English only)[/url].

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sunburnt
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#6 Post by sunburnt »

OK....... someone MUST have something to say, over 10 people have downloaded LanPuppy.

I'd like to hear how it's working, & suggestions, gripes, etc.

The BIG Q I want to know is if the utility: "xmklanpup" is working,
& what versions of Puppy1 have been converted to LanPups & successfully booted from the PupServer.

raffy; I'm working on a multi user login version, & with the help I"ve gotten from MU it won't be long.

NOTICE: In thinking about possable problems with LanPuppy it occured to me that the sequential IP add. numbering could interfere with existing PCs IP adds., as the LanPuppy boot code doesn't check for existing IP adds.
The problem is that DHCP servers all allocate IPs differently, my D-Link router starts at about x.x.x.100 and allocates around there.
If it can be controlled, set nonLanPuppy PCs IP adds. up high around x.x.x.200
PupServer starts allocating IP adds. at x.x.x.11 & goes up, there's an immediate problem if there's existing PCs there.
In the next version of LanPuppy I'll have PupServer ping for existing PCs & avoid them.
If HOME dir. work spaces are accessed by user login name instead of IP add., then the job's easier.

gabev
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XMKLANPUP

#7 Post by gabev »

so far I tried to create the vmlinuz, image.gz and usr_cram.fs files by using the xmklanpup tool and the only file it creates is vmlinuz which is found under mnt/home/tftpboot/ISO-puppy-lanpup folder.the other 2 files image.gz and usr_cram.fs are nowhere to be found.How do we fix that?

tedward
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#8 Post by tedward »

[quote="sunburnt"]OK....... someone MUST have something to say, over 10 people have downloaded LanPuppy.

I'd like to hear how it's working, & suggestions, gripes, etc.


Thanks, Sunburnt.
Will comment as soon as I get your software running.
My puppies have been starved of this necessary diet for a long time.
Should put some flesh around their bones.

Cool!
Woof Woof.

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sunburnt
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#9 Post by sunburnt »

tedward; hope to hear from you... let me fix gabev's problem.

With nobody responding I assumed there wasn't much interest in LanPuppy.

gabev; The only file that gets modified is image.gz,
vmlinuz & usr_cram.fs are just extracted from the ISO file.
To use the new LanPuppy copy vmlinuz & image.gz to /tftpboot,
& copy usr_cram.fs to /lanpup/sys
vmlinuz & image.gz are needed to boot, usr_cram.fs is Samba mounted later.

I'll look at xmklanpup & see what the problem is, it's been almost 4 months!

I've been working on LanPuppy-1.1, but I've gotten sidetracked again.
It'll have user login & a common install dir. for all clients.
The boot code will also handle existing networks better.

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slapshot
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#10 Post by slapshot »

Hi Sunburnt,

I'm interested too your LanPuppy. I tried just one time and I was be able to boot from lan, which is great for me :-) but then I had some errors and X could not start. I could not be more precise because I did not try anymore, but the project for me is just in standby. Together with LTSP is a good one for our LUG.

I will let you soon.
Bye
Slapshot
EduPup 2.0 at
http://www.pieroni.biz/edupup
http://www.giovelug.org
http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/edupup/

gabev
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#11 Post by gabev »

hi sunburnt,

thats exactly my problem;vmlinuz gets created; image.gz and usr_cram.fs are nowhere to find.I was able to connect the pxe thin client to LanPuppy.I used another program to create the usr_cram.fs file and image.gz and placed them in the appropriate folders as per instructions.then the remote boot halts when the thin client cant find the init. Thats why I was hopping that xmklanpup will be able to build a correct image.gz file.Any advice?

gabev
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#12 Post by gabev »

I used HackyRemaster to create vmlinuz,image.gz and usr_cram.fs.I used SimplePup-0.3.1.iso distro .I placed vmlinuz and image.gz in tftpboot folder and usr_cram.fs in lanpup/sys folder.x win tries to boot but it halts giving the following warning :

Warning ; Unable to open an initial console
Kernel panic :No init found. Try passing init = option to kernel.

My thinclient has 128 of RAM.

this is where i'm stack.I hoped xmklanpupy would solve this issue by creating the wright files for LanPuppy. How do I solve this issue?

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sunburnt
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#13 Post by sunburnt »

gabev; I looked at xmklanpup & saw what could cause your problem.
I've rewritten it & improved it, then tested it & it seems to work well.
I've learned a bit more about Bash programming in the last 4 months...

I improved it by adding code to make the file: /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default
This file gives parameters for the client to boot (very critical).

When you do this stuff you tend to overlook stuff that's simple to yourself,
but others aren't prepared to deal with the "gutsy stuff".
LAN booting isn't complicated really, but it does have a number of parts & files.
I don't know what your knowledge level of PXE booting is,
if you need more intruction just say so & I'll be glad to explain.

Here's the PxeLinux site to refer to; http://syslinux.zytor.com/pxe.php

You don't say if your using PupServer or Win. for a boot server.
The server has to provide Samba shares (Win. shares) to LanPuppies,
they are: docs, public, sys, & homes/pup-1, homes/pup-2, etc.
The number of clients is controlled by the the number of home dirs.

Try the new xmklanpup utility & be sure to post back here if it worked or not.
If you still have trouble tell me what Puppy-1 version you want for a client,
& I'll make one for you (that way you won't waste any more time).

I intended to make full working versions of PupServer & many LanPuppies,
but with the total lack of response & interest to my post I didn't bother.
Instead I began working on the next generation, LanPuppy-1.1
Attachments
xmklanpup.gz
This is the NEW LanPuppy make utility.
Please post back any problems you have.
(1.09 KiB) Downloaded 1226 times

gabev
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#14 Post by gabev »

sunburn,

I use puppy seamonkey as a server platform and as a client.I use a pxe capable box with no harddrive nor cf or flash card but with 128 MB of RAM.I tried before to run puppy from a live cd I made and run it all from memory.So technically i believe i can try to boot a thin client over the network with the the os loading into the memory only.LanPuppy works ok , the issue I have right now is how to build the "compatible" files needed for the pxe boot to succed.Thas where I hope the new xmklanpuppy might make things easier.
So , I will try the new file right away and post the results.Lets hope it will work.Gabe

gabev
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#15 Post by gabev »

by the way , how do i "pup" the xmklanpup.gz ? I uncompresse it but it doesnt execute just open by itself in the text editor.

gabev
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#16 Post by gabev »

i had to chmod the xmklanpup to 755.After extraction it had a 644 mode and thats why it didnt execute.Now we gonna start the testing ... :)

gabev
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#17 Post by gabev »

Testing result:

Iso file used : puppy 2.11 - seamonkey
in mnt /home/tftpboot/puppy211-seamonkey-lanpup
3 new files were created :
default
isolinux.cfg
vmlinuz
all have mode 644

In mnt/home/lanpup/sys
no file was created ( I was expecting usr_cram.fs )
So far image.gz and us_cram.fs were not created.

Anyway to cut the chase short, the pxe client I wanna load is puppy211 -seamonkey.
If you cam make those file please upload them so I can start to test LanPuppy.
Gabe

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sunburnt
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#18 Post by sunburnt »

Yep; usually I run scripts with: ./
Example: ./xmklanpup
The file I posted runs fine with a click in ROX.

ATTENTION:

As I said above... LanPuppy-1.0 (this one) is ONLY for versions of Puppy-1.

Puppy-2.x.x WON'T WORK!!!!!

So I can't make a client for you out of SeaMonkey. (Sorry)

The reason being that Barry changed the way the boot scripts work.
Puppy-1 most of the work is done in: /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit
Puppy-2 most of the work is done in: /sbin/init

Maybe I'll make a LanPuppy version for Puppy-2.x.x, most people are using it.
I haven't yet seen anything that Puppy-2 does that Puppy-1 won't do.
So I'm not all that influenced to bother to upgrade to Puppy-2 yet.
Also Puppy-1 sort of lends itself to being a LanPuppy (file structure).

The Puppy-1 SimplePup I liked because of the Xfce window manager (beautiful).
ANY of the NEWER Puppy-1 versions should work (1.0.5 - 1.0.9).
John Murga's Puppy version would boot & run without the need for Samba.
This simplifies the setup & booting a fair amount.

What window manager & apps. do you want the client to have?
Also you didn't say what the server was, Puppy or Win.?
Last edited by sunburnt on Thu 16 Nov 2006, 04:38, edited 2 times in total.

gabev
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#19 Post by gabev »

OKi Dokiii

Im gonna download the version pupy1.Back to testing.

gabev
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#20 Post by gabev »

iso file used puppy109CE.iso

So far so good.all files were created upon running of the xmklanpup.
x didnt start.I was able to power off system from promt.
Does 109CE has gui or its only command line?

So far I concluded that LanPuppy is working, just fine tunnings for now.I gonna go right back and try another puppy flavor.Back to testing.

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