read-only root filesystem

the_crowbar · n00b Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 21 Location: US

I am currently building a pc to act as the stereo in my car. To keep things simple I want to have the ability to just turn the car off and not cause problems for my pc. Specifically, I would like to mount the root filesystem read-only. After searching the forums here I have not found any answers. What do I need to do to have a working install running from a read-only root filesystem?

Thanks,
James

David_Escott · l33t Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 952 Location: Boston, MA

You should look at the live cd. All you are really talkin about is running a "live hardrive", so you could essentially copy the live cd to the hard drive and be ready to go.

MacMasta · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject:

The short answer is "not much".

Just make sure everything that might want to be written to is mounted elsewhere (/var, possibly /usr, /home, etc).

As I recall, there are car-style UPSs that note that the car has been turned off and have enough power to turn the computer off (and are smart enough to tell it to).

Probably easier to just get one of those.

~Mac~

the_crowbar · n00b Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 21 Location: US

Both of these sound like good suggestions. I guess I will need to dig through the LiveCD first. It seems though that its hardware auto-config might be a little more than I need. My system will be a static set of hardware.

Regarding the car UPS/power supplies, yes there are some that are made specifically for this purpose. (Search for Opus Solutions if interested) The problem with doing this the "right" way is cost. The 90 watt Opus (w/ integrated UPS style PC shutdown) is ~$165. There are cheaper devices that will do it, but the Opus is the best I have found.

Until I can purchase the Opus I just want a quick and dirty "LiveCD" style boot, but from a CF card.

Thanks for the replies,
James