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Linux on a CF card configured as a "Live CD" to minimize/eliminate writes?

BlueToast
BlueToast Posts: 20
in Applications

Subject: Linux on a CF card configured as a "Live CD" to minimize/eliminate writes?

Greetings,

I found a SATA to CF adapter

IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41jHNvv08qL.jpg)

IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410CianSg0L.jpg)

I know that CFs wear out more quickly, so this brings me to my question. How would it be possible to setup Linux (like Mint) properly on a CF card for minimal wear and tear? In my mind, I'm kind of thinking of it like a Live CD on the CF card -- but configured with programs I want and particular system settings of my preferences -- how do I do that?

Comments

  • woboyle
    woboyle Posts: 501
    Use something like Unetbootin to install the image on a CF or other flash device. It will create a live image for you. For Ubuntu (and possibly clones like Mint) you can also allocate some of the space for read/write access (user data). Check out www.untebootin.net.
  • BlueToast
    BlueToast Posts: 20
    But how to I configure it with certain applications and settings that I want, and then lock it down as a Live CD so that it stays persistent and cannot be changed without "unlocking" it or something?
  • woboyle
    woboyle Posts: 501
    In this case, you will need to install it on the CF device directly, and then make it read-only. In that situation, it will be a full Linux installation - not just a Live CD/DVD/USB device.
  • BlueToast
    BlueToast Posts: 20
    How would I go about making it read-only?
  • marc
    marc Posts: 647
    Configure the mount options as read only

    Regards
  • mfillpot
    mfillpot Posts: 2,177
    It won't necessarily have to be read-only unless you want a persistent image, you can write read and write to the CF like a normal disk, but it will be slower and you will have to configure the bootloader to write to the CF and select the CF as the primary in bios every time you wish to boot.
  • BlueToast
    BlueToast Posts: 20
    I would like a persistent image; I want to treat this like a ThinClient/public station. Would like everything to load into RAM like on a Live CD.
  • mfillpot
    mfillpot Posts: 2,177
    With that being the case you will want to review the steps on https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCDCustomization , that will direct you to create a persistent image, however I do not know if it will boot like a live CD or a mounted disk, so the boot process may take some testing.

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