[ILUG] Modifying an initrd (ext2 based) as a user

[Rory Browne]

Hello Darragh

I'm not sure if putting the correct line in the /etc/fstab with the option
to allow it to be mounted by a
normal user would help, but I thought I'd throw it in there.

Alternatively you may be able to do something with dump/restore, but I've
never actually used them ( just read about them ), so I don't know.

Rory

2008/6/24 Darragh Bailey <felix at compsoc.nuigalway.ie>:

> Lead up, I'm working on a build system, part of it needs to produce an
> iso. Need to be able to add a file to the initrd used by the kernel in
> the iso when it boots, which is a compressed ext2 image.
>
> The normal procedure would be to mount the ext2 file system as loop
> back. The copy in the file, umount and compress with gzip.
>
> Since I do not want the builds to have to run as root, I'm looking for a
> solution that works with normal user privileges.
>
> Obviously I could just do the change each time the file needs to be
> altered and make the modified initrd available to the builds via the
> code repository. Then have the build system bomb any time the modified
> initrd is older than the file that should be added to it. Less than
> ideal.
>
> Alternatively I could try putting together a script and install it on
> the build systems that takes a given file and initrd.img, uncompresses
> the initrd, mounts it, adds the file, umounts, and recompresses the
> image. Then add permissions to allow users to execute the script,
> provided they own the initrd they are modifying.
>
> Of course if anyone happens to know of an alternative method that could
> work for a normal user, it would be very useful.
>
>
> --
> Darragh
>
> "Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool."
> --
> Irish Linux Users' Group mailing list
> About this list : http://mail.linux.ie/mailman/listinfo/ilug
> Who we are : http://www.linux.ie/
> Where we are : http://www.linux.ie/map/
>