[Planetlab-devel] bootcd_v3 for wireless/mesh myplc

[Thierry Parmentelat]

Hi there

Just a quick note to mention a utility that I wrote quite a while back. 
Its name is cdcustom.sh, it is located under bootcd
Its initial purpose was to create node-specific cd images. I later 
upgraded it so that you can also change some of the files on the root cd 
file filesystem, such as /etc/init.d/pl_netinit or the like
Invoke with --help for a short description -- It basically needs
*) the regular iso image as provided by plc
*) a set of custom files. just create a dummy dir, e.g. mybootcd/, then 
store in there your own custom stuff, e.g. 
mybootcd/etc/rc.d/init.d/pl_netinit
*) optionally a set of node config files
Then invoke
$ cdcustom.sh -c mybootcd/ generic.iso default mynode.txt
and you'll obtain two iso images, one would be the new custom 
node-independant image (because you mentioned 'default') and the other 
iso image will have your custom stuff too, but tailored for 'mynode'

I wouldn't advice using this method for shipping a custom kernel though, 
but when it comes to quickly checking a new script it's really faster 
than the other methods. In addition only the iso file is required, you 
dont need the build chain at all.

Last, I'd like to make a few comments on the way this is implemented. I 
basically create a third image (in addition to bootcd.img and 
overlay.img); I had to guess the order in which these 3 images need to 
be loaded (I cant read assembly..), so I can only hope this still works 
as expected. Please report any issue on this to me and I'll get it fixed 
if needed.

hope this helps - thierry


Marc E. Fiuczynski wrote:
> Hi Winson,
>
> Here you go.
>
> Marc
>
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: devel-bounces at planet-lab.org
>> [mailto:devel-bounces at planet-lab.org]On Behalf Of Chan, Winson C
>> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 2:35 PM
>> To: Marc E. Fiuczynski; devel at lists.planet-lab.org
>> Subject: RE: [Planetlab-devel] bootcd_v3 for wireless/mesh myplc
>>
>>
>> Marc,
>>
>> Looks like I will have to use a specific kernel.  In the instructions
>> below, you mentioned about the attached kupdate.sh file.  I don't see
>> it.  Can you resend kupdate.sh to me?
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Winson
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: devel-bounces at planet-lab.org [mailto:devel-bounces at planet-lab.org]
>> On Behalf Of Marc E. Fiuczynski
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 2:21 PM
>> To: devel at lists.planet-lab.org
>> Subject: RE: [Planetlab-devel] bootcd_v3 for wireless/mesh myplc
>>
>> Hi Winson,
>>
>> The attached script has replaces the bootcd kernel with a custom kernel.
>> It
>> assumes that you have built the kernel using Mark Huang's build module.
>>
>> cvs -d :pserver:anonymous at cvs.planet-lab.org:/cvs co build
>> cvs -d :pserver:anonymous at cvs.planet-lab.org:/cvs co bootmanager
>> cd build
>>
>> cp kupdate.sh . # this is the attached file
>> # build a custom PL kernel as an RPM
>> # I believe I've sent you instructions for this a while back
>>
>> sudo ./kupdate.sh RPMS/i686/kernel-xxxxx.rpm
>> # where xxxxx is the specific kernel that you want to install
>>
>> sudo service plc start bootcd
>> # you should now have a bootcd with your custom kernel.
>> # If you've built special device driver modules, etc., they
>> # will be part of the RPM and so will show up on the bootcd
>> # already.
>>
>> Hope this help.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Marc
>>
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