MEPIS Live: can we install somethg with apt-get install ?

frenchn00b · 01-03-2008, 03:58 AM

Hello,
First, I didnt found best reply in the forum, I hope this thread is useful.
Mepis 7.0 live

after apt-get update

Code:

mepis1:~# apt-get install 
W: Not using locking for read only lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock
E: Unable to write to /var/cache/apt/
E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

Error

kate /etc/apt/sources.list
chmod uog+rwx sources.list
is not possible

isnt mepis like knoppix, where almost everthg is made possible with it ?

pixellany · 01-03-2008, 06:52 AM

If "live" means "live CD", then installing something does not make sense....it will be gone after re-boot.

This said, the filesystem for live CD operation lives in RAM--you should be able to run commands like the ones you mention. (or so I thought) Were you logged in as root or maybe "guest" or something similar?

archtoad6 · 01-03-2008, 07:04 AM

I haven't d/l'd & burned MEPIS 7.0, but unless something has changed & there is a boot option that mentions "ufs", i.e. the union file system, there is no adding software because you can't write to a CD, even a CD-RW (AFAIK

), on the fly.

Knoppix has had UnionFS for some time, AntiX 7 has an aufs boot option.

frenchn00b · 01-03-2008, 07:55 AM

I am lookign for a debian live cd, that has kwlan and ipw3945, wiht knoppix professional installable distro.. actually

thanks

pixellany · 01-03-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archtoad6

I haven't d/l'd & burned MEPIS 7.0, but unless something has changed & there is a boot option that mentions "ufs", i.e. the union file system, there is no adding software because you can't write to a CD, even a CD-RW (AFAIK

), on the fly.

Knoppix has had UnionFS for some time, AntiX 7 has an aufs boot option.

Yes, but....

Is it not true that a filesystem is created in RAM? If so, you can---space permitting---install things.

More to the original point: Live distros are meant for evaluation only--if you want to install SW, then install to hard disk.

frenchn00b · 01-03-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

Yes, but....

Is it not true that a filesystem is created in RAM? If so, you can---space permitting---install things.

More to the original point: Live distros are meant for evaluation only--if you want to install SW, then install to hard disk.

well or install it on a usb pendrive, ubuntu live and knoppix were made installable for sure. That's pretty handy sometimes.

I am rather stuck up to now... I'll see if I can find other distro.

--
kwlan, ipw3945, knoppix like?

archtoad6 · 01-03-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

Is it not true that a filesystem is created in RAM? If so, you can---space permitting---install things.

Yes, but ... I guess that the problem is that while the ramfs holds /var & maybe /etc, designers assume that will not be room there for /usr & /lib; & w/o the ability to mount those r/w, there is no installing new software. Just my guess.

I've only recently owned a box w/ enough RAM to try the "put the CD into RAM" Knoppix option. It's my main desktop & I haven't tried that feature yet, so I don't know how well it works, besides Knoppix already has UnionFS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

More to the original point: Live distros are meant for evaluation only--if you want to install SW, then install to hard disk.

... as well as diagnosis & repair. Two small nits to pick:

My reading about DFS indicates that it is designed for regular, i.e. normal, operation in live mode. Yes, it's installable, but there is no mandate to do so to get a normal system.
Since at least SimplyMEPIS 3, there has been "traveller disk" or "on the go" feature which stored /home on a flash drive to accompany the live CD.

masinick · 01-03-2008, 11:11 AM

MEPIS is intended to be evaluated Live but installed to disk if it does what you want it to do. That said, it is certainly possible to install it to various media including USB sticks and it is also possible, given sufficient RAM, to load it directly into memory. Personally I install it to disk. It is not necessarily the MOST flexible Live CD around but it has really great, usable desktop software on it, yet it certainly CAN be used effectively as a Live CD if you have either memory or USB options available to you. It is also possible to run live and mount disk partitions to share data or store files. You therefore have quite a few options to choose from.

I really recommend MEPIS as a very stable desktop system; that is its forte, in my opinion.

Eric-Jan · 03-30-2009, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

If "live" means "live CD", then installing something does not make sense....it will be gone after re-boot.

Hi all,

i've seen this comment more than once on LQ.

I think installing software while running from a liveCD can be very helpful. For example: i created a fileserver at my work, and i wanted to grant a colleague access. He works with Windows, so i popped in a liveCD, installed nfs system files wile running from CD and he could access the server.

Alos, if you want to try out some programs on that new distro you want to try out and see how they work there, it is mandatory that you CAN install and try out. If you have a soundcard problem when visiting Flash sites, you may want to try a new live version. But maybe you will have to install Flashplayer on some distro's.

So, i have plenty of uses for installing software on a liveCD.

EJ

archtoad6 · 03-31-2009, 05:46 AM

Since my last post in this thread (~15 mo. ago), I have used both MEPIS 7 & 8. In addition to the "toram" option which puts the CD into RAM for faster operation (after a much longer boot), they both have an "r/w" item on the menu -- "aufs" kernel option. This causes the use on a union file system, which in turn allows the installation of new software.

However, it's still a live CD, & you still lose it on shutdown.

I haven't seen any sign of earlier versions "On The Go" feature which I mentioned in that last post. This doesn't mean it's not there, just that I haven't noticed it.