RTFM

[Read This Fine Material] from Joshua Hoblitt

Insepecting Gentoo livecd builds with Linux loopback devices

2007-10-26 by jhoblitt | 0 comments

I’ve recently been building a number of custom Gentoo liveCDs and wanted to be able to inspect the results of the build without having to boot them on a machine. The “running”system image on a livecd is stored as a squashfs image that gets unpacked during the boot process. So in order to view the true system image you need to setup a loopback device both for .iso image and the squashfs image which is contained in the cd image.

Here is an example of mounting a livecd image

losetup /dev/loop0 /var/tmp/catalyst/builds/default/install-amd64-minimal-2007.0-serial.iso
mount /dev/loop0 /mnt/tmp
losetup /dev/loop1 /mnt/tmp/image.squashfs
mount /dev/loop1 /mnt/tmp1

And conversely, you need to unmount the loop back devices in the proper order.

umount /mnt/tmp1
losetup -d /dev/loop1
umount /mnt/tmp
losetup -d /dev/loop0

Things todo BEFORE leaving town

2007-09-09 by jhoblitt | 1 Comment

Checklist:

  • wash all used towels
  • empty trash
  • clean/purge espresso machine
  • close windows
  • check fridge/purge kitchen cabinets perishables
  • turn the washing machine water valve off
  • replace roach bait stations (so the strong perfume wears off while your gone)

Please call the operator if your phone isn’t working…

2007-07-21 by jhoblitt | 0 comments

From: Information Technology Services <announce@hawaii.edu>
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:56:19 -1000
To: announce@hawaii.edu
Subject: UH-Manoa Campus Phone Problems

We have been experiencing phone problems on the Manoa campus since a service
outage at approximately 4am Monday, July 16. The problems have resulted in
severe static on calls and dropouts of audio signal.

Since early morning UH staff have been working to resolve the problems with our
phone system maintenance provider (Hawaiian Telcom), our phone system
manufacturer (Nortel) and our long distance provider (Sprint). The problems
have been isolated to a clock controller card within the phone system. Hawaiian
Telcom is in the process of installing and testing the replacement card.

ITS will issue an “all clear” when we believe the problems have been resolved.
If you experience problems after that time please dial “0” to report the problem
to the operator.

Our sincere apologies for the difficulties you have encountered today, and thank
you for your patience as we work to restore full service.

—

This message was sent on behalf of Information Technology Services.
Please do not reply to this message, as it was sent from an
announce-only address that cannot accept incoming email.

1184630152-22802