Free Rescue CD

"app-cdr/cdrecord-prodvd"

well I don't think this is free software, so this may be removed.

or try dvdrtools instead.

Reminds me of the linux on a floppy thing I saw a while ago. It was the kernel and some important basic tools for rescueing a system and partitioning. Pretty cool that it's that small, I wouldn't use it though. My PC doesn't even have a floppy drive. Don't use 'em; my 1 GB flash disk renders them useless (I'd rather pay $40 dollars or so for an upsize of 512 MB flash drive to 1 GB than for a floppy drive, especially considering how much more space is on the flash drives).

By the way, I'd include irssi. I know it's not essential at all for rescueing a system but I use it regularly when fixing something using a livecd because if I need help during the process: no need to reboot into the installed system (that is if what I am fixing isn't too borked) or hop onto another computer. Also, it's really small. Last time I checked it was like 3600 KB. :smiling:

Replaced app-cdr/cdrecord-prodvd (which is semifree) with app-cdr/dvdrtools.
Added net-irc/irssi. Newbs may need help while on the CD.

What do you think about adding Python?

I would think not, Python can be quite big, as well as the point people would always grumble about choice of editors +++ so to keep size down I wouldnt personally include python. It might be a good idea to put a very small vesa X server, and fluxbox for people to use just in case they arent very good ( or cant see very well) on the command line.

I don't see why you'd need a desktop for a simple rescue CD, plus the size.

I think that if they can install Gentoo they should be fine without X.

It'd be great to have games-misc/bsd-games on there so that people could have some fun while things compile etc. but it's not a must.

It looks like a great project with nice selection of needed tools. As for X I don't think it is essential, but I like to see a console at a 800x600 or even 1024x768 resolution. It looks neater so maybe it could be set up to use something like vesafb to render the console.

I really like how that gentoo livecd (install cd) looks like in console.

This isn't for compiling. It's for things like fixing the bootloader and partitioning.

I'll make the default console 1280x1024 (use the kernel parameter vga=794).

Added sys-libs/gpm (console mouse).
Added media-gfx/w3mimgfb.

What do you think about media-gfx/zgv?

I don't think 1280x1024 would optimally work on some older monitors.. Maybe 1024x768 would be better (and enough for console I would think)?

Thanks
Daniel

How about a command line web browser. I'd suggest w3m. I've used it myself before when X died and I needed to check stuff like sourceforge.net.

You got wget?

W3M (with framebuffer graphics) and ELinks are on there.

Added net-misc/wget.
Added sys-boot/grub.
Added sys-boot/lilo.

Cool.

What do you need for sftp, or does fto from the command line handle that too?

Seems it's in Perl. Include it?

I sent in an application for a Savannah project.

Actually after giving it some thought, I'd add Python. Doesn't have to be everything, but at minimum packages. :smiling:

Perhaps things like rpm, dpkg, pacman, etc etc are useful?

What do you need python for on a rescue cd?

Because it's an awesome language used very often.
Because a lot of useful scripts and little programs are written in it.

Entirely up to you and yes, my recommendation is biased. :grinning:

Those would only work for CD/DVD RWs, which are quite rare. Just make your own live CD if you want to change the packages.

How so? Save altered files into swap, or onto a usbdisk. I can't see why RPM, dpkg and pacman aren't useful. :smiling:

Well, I thought package managers would be useful when you can't boot your system because you accidentally uninstalled, say, the init scripts. Use the livecd to download the package and install it to the system you are rescueing. I know, not a common problem, but if you can solve it this way, why not?

While your at it, add Alien to convert deb packages into rpm pages and visa versa. :smiling:

:/ Savannah will host everything but the ISOs. Anyone willing to?

Added app-arch/dpkg.
Added app-arch/rpm.
Added app-arch/alien.

Might do some digging. Mayhaps, no promises though. :smiling:

Because us terminal junkies want to work in style cplay. This means you're going to need all up:

python-curses/pyncurses
cplay (not sure if you can get is an installable package - it's a small python script)
python-oss
mpg321
ogg123
mpg123
splay
madplay
mikmod
fintl
ID3-py
pyvorbis
xmp

Don't include madplay, mpg124, mpg321 to make it non-proprietary, iirc.
sox
speex

Umm... You're not supposed to be using the CD for very long...

Yea... s'ppose.

Finally I've gotten started on this by starting to install Gentoo. This is pretty fun

I think sourceforge.net can host OS distrio ISOs, despite of its use/advertising of proprietary software and annoying ads...

Using SourceForge is like using LFDO. I'm pretty sure I'll (at first) use BitTorrent.

Hmmm.... a_thing, as soon as I get the net as my room I will try and host it for you

Added sys-apps/util-linux.
Added sys-apps/shadow.
Added sys-apps/net-tools.

By the way this will be compiled for i686, not i386. Does anyone use anything older?

If anyone here wants to compile it for more architectures, go ahead