Hello,

I am new to Linux images (pxe, livecd). I would like to add files to a linux image, like something under etc or var, and have the files be available on the client.
The server I am working on was already configured with a pxe image, and only 2 files are present under the pxe client folder: initrd and vmlinuz. So I am wondering if either of these files contain the dirs /etc, /var, etc..., and how I could add files to them.

To give some background, I have done the same thing in Windows. An image in Windows is typically either boot.img or install.img. You can mount either of these to a folder using the Windows SDK tool imagex.exe /mountrw <img file> 1 <mount point>. From here you can add/remove/modify any files you want. Then commit the changes with imagex.exe /unmount <mountpoint> /commit.

Can someone provide insight to the linux image creation process, which of the files (initrd, vmlinuz/vmlinux, etc...) contain what for the client boot, or something similar to the Windows Image editing process?

I know I'm asking for a range of info, but pointers to any material to help my understanding will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jon

vmlinuz is the kernel, so no files there.
initrd is the ramdisk image. You can modify that if you know what you are doing:

http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/07/...te-initrd-img/

1 members found this post helpful.

It would depend on how you are booting this image. Some images rely on a type of compressed image like squashfs. If that is the type of file you mean you wish to edit then you mount the file with the same version of squashfs. Mount the image, copy off the files to a folder, and then add the ones you wish. Then re-squash them back.

Thanks!

Both posts have given some insight. I will do some more research on squashfs. There is a line in the boot loader specifying loop=/livecd.squashfs. I will do a find tomorrow, but do you happen to know where /livecd.squashfs resides as it is not in / ?

Telling us about this distro would help a lot.

Likely in /tftpboot or whatever is the specified dir in the PXEboot setup.

Yes, the source would be someplace depending on what you have. It could be in the iso image, unfolded to a folder like in tftp or nfs or where ever you boot to.

Pretty sure it means that /livecd.squashfs will reside in / after it boots.