I am downloading a Live CD version of CentOS 5.2 to run on a Dell PC. I going to use it to try to download some things that I can't download with the CentOS 5.2 regular version I have installed on a server that is not permitted to connect to the domain, here at work. When I launch the OS, will I be able to download and save program files (like Kickstart Configurator, etc.) for the OS to the Live Cd to be used again every time I launch it, or is the whole OS pretty much just "read only?" I have a DVD-RW drive and I am using DVD-RWs.

The cd/dvd is read-only AFAIK.

Some live-distribution allow for e.g. a usb pendrive to be inserted which contains some additional configuration info.

I don't know aout CentOS, though.

ArlenNY:

Live CD is read-only, you may not be able to write on it. But running Linux on a live cd you may write (save) a file INTO an existing volume (hard drive or pen drive).

First you must have a formatted volume, hard disk or usb thumb. Then, while running Linux on a live cd you mount the volume.

Second, you may now create a folder on the mounted volume and copy files into it. To find out whether the copied files are saved reboot the live cd, remount the volume and browse check if the saved file in the previous session is still there.

If you copy files from the internet be sure to browse into the mounted /mnt/volume/folder/ and there save the file.

I don't run centOS I'm not sure of the syntax, but in my slackware I did it this way:

# mount -t ntfs /dev/sda1 /mnt (I used an ntfs formatted disk)
# cd /mnt
# mkdir myfolder

Then used it to hold copied files.

Hope this helps.

Goodluck.

Ah yes, all valuable information. Should I format the drive I am going to use in FAT32?

Hi,

Only if you need FAT32. What are your needs for the partition/drive?

My needs are basic. To learn how to use Linux and some of the software. Using the CLI, learning different shells, Minicom, VIM and figuring how to make a Kickstart Boot Disk are primarily what interest me. I need to use Linux at work and part of the time I am here at work learning to use it, the other fraction of the time I am back at home looking to install a linux distribution on my Macbook that I have VMWare installed on. I think it it will be fun to partition the Macbook and have and entire Linux partition to experiment with.
While at work, I have run into some problems trying to get certain software updates for the CentOS 5.2 I installed on a server. I am not allowed to connect the server to the domain... so I can't get the latest software updates, including having yum install system-config-kickstart download my Kickstart Configurator (it doesn't come installed on this version). Since I can't download anything directly to the server, I have small hurdles to overcome while learning. Luckily I have a laptop pc right in front of me where I download most of what I need, like the CentOS 5.2 Linux distribution ISO itself.
I recently downloaded a CentOS live CD and booted from it on my Dell PC and was able to see what it looks like when you can access the internet with Linux. So not that I can experiment with a live CD, I see the limits. I know it's slower, and I can't save things I want to save to a harddrive since it's a CD-ROM. Whenever I eject the CD have to start all over again with my settings. Since I am looking to save some files to USB flash drive, will I need to format the drive to FAT32? What other options do I have? If I want to partition a hard drive on a mac or pc, what kind of file systems will support Linux?

No, even being an idiot newbie I think I found a way-it's kinda experimental 'cause I'm a newb and don't know alot-yet
Anyway-I made a DSL CD using my scripts and alot of detective work-I won't go into the details here as the post's are pretty long-
Any when I made the ISO I had a folder(the DSL backup.tar.gz), in the iso, and if you use CD-RW/DVD-RW it should expand the backup.tar.gz to it's limit.
Also, when Puppy does a frugal install it creates an expanding EXT2 filesystem within a folder on your HD-
Also-Billix-0.18 has a storage space called "harddisk" that is 60+MB (fixed maybe) in the Qemu folder that the virtual DSL saves backups too etc.
I am working on all this now...as a project(extended).
If you really wanna see what I'm talkin about ask about the post and I'll put the link in-but it is long...

Yes please include a link to read more about what you are talking about.

Hi,

You can save or download as long as the device you are wanting to save to is recognized with a prepared filesystem. The filesystem you choose will depend on how you will need to share between alternate OS. If you need to share between a M$ and GNU/Linux then a FAT filesystem would work.

Your LiveCD should recognize the device and allow you to prepare the device for a filesystem. You would need to create the filesystem of choice on the device. Some LiveCD do allow you to save sessions to a alternate storage device.

I want to share files between two computers; a Macbook (Mac OS Journaled Extended), Dell Dimension 8200 (NTFS), and two External hard drives (both formatted with FAT 32 to be able to read AND write from the Macbook). When I add a Linux partition on the Macbook, I can either boot from it or run it as a virtual machine, and I'd like to share files between all these hard disks and operating systems. It seems like FAT32 is the only way to go unless there are other choices I don't know about that will let me do this.

Hi,

You can look into 'ntfs-3g'.