DSL Ideas and Suggestions :: damnsmalllinux server edition



Perhaps we should all consult one another...
It seems we want to do this but have different ideas on what we want and what it should do.

If the developer/testers can all agree on what can/should be done work can go forward...as it stands we all want something different and cant agree on how it should be done.

My ideas:
1.  Complete rework of the DSL system, stripping all but "core" needed files with a WEBGUI configuration option
    A.  MyDSL apps can be burned to iso image to make server
    B.  Config file burned to iso to make OS completely CD bootable
    C.  No X server loaded so memory usage of the RAMDRIVE is saved for "server processing"
    D.  All OS programs run from CD, thus saving entire data drive for data, no need to clutter with OS programs
    E.  In the event of a crash a reboot will restore DSL-server back to original working condition

2.  Dual Purpose "Standard" practically unmodified DSL system that using scripting will determine if DSL boots as desktop release or "server" distro
    A.  config file/restore file in a pre-determined location (/dev/hda1)
    B.  MyDSL apps reside in smaller partition on HD (cant have server without a HD)that script will call up and load and use config file to start
    C.  DSL sees config file and instead of booting into "Desktop Mode" drops into a command line only mode with WEBGUI configurator (either built in or required MyDSL app) which makes customizing/changing alot easier (and reduces having to change stock DSL iso from the original)
    D.  Now DSL has "true" multi-purpose functionality since the "DSL-server" and "Desktop" distros are practically the same, just scripting changes its functions
    E.  Easier to implement..."Core" DSL doesnt change much from original except a few simple init scripts

I see it either way there has to be a "small" partition located on the harddrive to keep the settings/configuration/logs of the server daemons

Brian
AwPhuch
Your idea #1 sounds like what I was thinking of.

There definately needs to be the ability to use the hard disk for bulk storage of html files, inames, apps being ftp'd, etc.

The OS runs completely off of the cd, in ram perhaps, but everything else lives on the hdd.

So that when someone does break in and mess with stuff you only have to reboot to be 90% back in business.

Idea #2 is interesting, though. And it would be easier to keep DSL consolidated in a single ISO, if the new bootscripts (that would have to be made) were to be incorporated into DSL proper.

We could even come up with a "Install DSL Server Edition to Hard Disk" script to set up the server and filesystem. You could choose what servers you want to install (Apache, FTP, Telnet, etc), the script would download and unpack the appropriate .dsl(s) from the repository, and set up whatever file that the new boot script would be looking for.

We could even add another "cheat code" for boot time. Want classic DSL? It's the same as always. Want to fire up your server? Boot "dsl server". The toram option would probably still be good, too.



Although I see the good points to both of these, and personally, I like idea 1 better, idea 2 will be a lot easier to implement. And it will keep DSL all together.

-J.P.
my plan:
a complete remaster of the cd, rip out junk and replace with useful stuff, including if there is space: apache, on bootup it mounts all the avaliable hd/usb key partitions as read only and looks for a config file in the root of them, this tells it to use this partition, all others are unmounted and the partition with the config file is mounted rw. /htdocs in the partition is symlinked with that of the webserver being used and where possible an internet connection and network card are started, dhcp is searched for on the lan and if found used, if not then a default (although not conflicting with anything else) ip is assigned. the server then begins serving. the config file can be written to contain a name and password for a dyndns.org to be notified of a new ip address, if so then the script notifies dyndns, if not then it doesn't.
before the user knows what is happening X starts and presents a friendly configuration gui, to change and edit anything the user wants and change settings in the config file and/or create a config file on another partition and some other stuff.
this should be a very very very unique distro if i can get it going in under 50mb.
It sounds excellent, and almost exactly what I've been looking for.

I really like (and need) the idea of earlier, that's just a core with Apache, MySQL, & PHP from the CD.  I'll make my own script if need be to link up the SQL DB from somewhere that's got RW perms, but I just need something at the moment that's straightforward and simple, does Apache, MySQL and PHP, no GUI.


And the sooner I can figure this out, the sooner I can have my father off my ass.



Anyone got a prototype I can test / work on / help build ?


Even if it's over the 50 MB limit, that's what they have 700MB CD's for - make a big 'un, then simplify it down to what you want, either to the mini CD's (the 181MB ones) or the credcard ones.


Besides, who really burns DSL to a credcard CD ?  Most burn 'em to a full-size, and the rest mount 'em up or put 'em on the mini's.
I do.

I still have about 20 left from my last purchase and I intend to use most of them for burning the base DSL iso.
Next Page...
original here.