Background information on motivation

12.12.2024

Dear Linux friends,

I plan to make my D.I.Y. Linux Live System named matrixxx available to the public. (Please don’t read too much into the name - I usually call my users xxx, like an anonymous signature, and matrix is, in the broadest sense, the organization of the system in layers of the used overlay filesystem)

I have been an enthusiastic user of KNOPPIX for many years. This system by Prof. Klaus Knopper introduced me to Linux. However, I have always adapted the system to my own ideas. Initially using the designated remastering tools, and later also using custom shell scripts and more in-depth interventions. I’m talking about a few years during which a lot of scripts have accumulated. The system that emerged from it has actually become my primary work system (for simply trying something out, the system is just great).

Knoppix is essentially a 32-bit system, although the kernel can be either 32 or 64-bit. Unfortunately, it is the case that more and more programs are only being delivered in a 64-bit version, including those that I have been using and enjoying for a long time.

So, that was the idea, why not recreate Knoppix with scripts, I already had some (or so I thought). Some of it was executed quite cleanly according to my ideas, while other parts were rather quick and dirty. After more than a year and a half, my respect for Klaus Knopper can hardly grow any larger.

Now I have a collection of scripts to create a system according to my own needs and ideas. It is important to me to note this here, as I do not know if anyone other than myself is interested in such a script collection. Nevertheless, I will still invest time in better structuring and testing.

The three script packages are then planned as follows:

• for the creation of custom system-specific kernels and the associated module package in the form of a SquashFS container and additionally suitable aufs-tools (tools of my preferred overlay filesystem)
• for creating bootable media (USB flash media or hard drives) as a live system with an integrated system-specific kernel and mini initramfs
• for the creation of a Debian-based operating system in the form of multiple SquashFS containers

The operating system is set up during the primary init process of the initramfs as an overlay filesystem of the SquashFS containers with a writable top layer.

Some things that were possible in Knoppix are currently not included or planned.

• Currently, the operating system consists only of pure 32-bit or 64-bit versions (the 32-bit version is supposed to be compatible with both kernel variants)
• the use of cloop containers with the newer kernels is not currently available
• the use of an external storage medium for persistent storage has not yet been implemented
• the operating system only includes the LXDE desktop environment
• Compiz has not yet been sufficiently tested, but it should become easy to use again
• ADRIANE (Audio Desktop Reference Implementation and Networking Environment) by Klaus Knopper is currently not integrated
• the terminal server and Bootfrom functionality are currently removed
• a real installation is not planned (there’s an easier way to do this)

The scripts, data, and associated descriptions will be made available on github.

So that is the plan - in the hope that this will also be of interest to others.

Best regards

Holger Schwarz