Identify the distro with a(few) file(s)
 

Hi all,

I received an hard-drive with an OS installed in it.

I need to identify the OS installed in the hard-drive without running it. (forbidden by the process).

I can mount it in readonly mode on another running sytem, but I can't boot directly on the hard-drive i received.

Which file(s) could help me to identify the OS installed on the hard-drive ?

Thanks

If you can mount read-only, then mount the / directory and check in the /etc directory for a version file. It will usually be /etc/<vendor-name>-release

use the system rescue cd or a forensic cd

... the files required will be clear only if you fix your list of possible OS(s).

Do you mean which OS, or which Linux OS?

for Linux, you can also sometimes get a clue in the /boot directory, /var (eg the package manager file in /var/lib), or /lib/modules

This doesn't sound like a class lab to anyone else?

Does not fit the pattern of the typical homework troll---but you could still be right.

Who cares, it's not against the rules. The rules state to not expect answers at least in a direct sense. So you can choose to ignore if you think it's homework.

It is a Windows admin who gave me this, and told me it is a Unix system.

However, as he is not into Uix/Linux, he is not making any difference in between them.

However, i noticed the filesystem is a 44BSD: so it could be open/net/free bsd.

I am not used of BSD systems.
You know how I can recognize which system is installed ?

Thanks

I think we need to know more about this. Exactly why is it "forbidden"?

If it's a forensic analysis you are looking for, then say so. I may be able to help, as I have had some success with this sort of thing in the past.

You can corrupt the system by getting it online.
To understand what is wrong in the system hosted in the hard-drive, you need the keep the system as it was when it crashed.