The base files used in this proof of concept are from BarryK's Quirky Werewolf64-7.4.
In that Barry first introduced the idea of a new flag (Q_ID) who's location
on a fixed partition or stick when found at boot time, indicates the presence of both the main sfs (q.sfs) and the save file (s.sfs).
This type of frugal install allows for the Pup to load from a fast partition on a HD or SSD but then runs
entirely in ZRAM with the option to save at any point during the session and/or the option to save or not at the end of the session.
Combined with the above is the small (5MB) hybrid boot ISO technique that I used in Rapid Pup V1.
Using Barry's new code & flag means that isolinux.cfg can be greatly simplified, there being no need to specify in it
any kind of file/partition ID or label.
The 1st File: (5MB)
The hybrid boot ISO (The 1st file) may be written to any old SD card or USB stick using Window's Win32diskimager or Linux's dd command.
If using dd, the code if the ISO is in your "Downloads" folder would be:
Code: Select all
dd if=/root/Downloads/bootqww64-7.4.iso of=/dev/sdx && sync
If your card or stick is seen as sdc1 when plugged in, replace sdx in the above with sdc i.e. the device ID NOT the partition ID (sdc1)
dd will completely overwrite your card or USB stick: Any data on it will be lost so if you use this method you'll want to use it with a dedicated card or stick. This task takes 5 seconds.
The card or stick should be placed at the top of your BIOS boot order. Once booted, you can if you wish remove it to free off the port.
The 2nd File: (Self_extract.sfx) 412MB - (A 3 minute job)
This compressed self extracting file (sfx) should be placed on an empty dedicated 10GB Linux HD/SSD partition before left clicking it to extract the contents.
If using an SSD, format the partition as f2fs. No flags need be set.
The 1st file and the 2nd file, together with their MD5 sums, can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
The following screenshot shows the desktop, the contents of in my case, the SSD partition (sdb14), the contents of the hybrid
boot ISO and the very simple one line isolinux.cfg
Press F11 to go full screen then click on link below.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view ... 1d1WVVMUDg
Final Thoughts:
1. At least 2GB of RAM is recommended with this method as everything is loaded into ZRAM.
2. Nothing has been removed from Barry's base ISO files but Google Chrome Stable, HTOP & a faux firstrun procedure have been added.
3. If booted on a UEFI PC it must be in CSM mode with secure boot disabled.