Linux Desktop Notes

Create a custom Linux distribution based on Mandriva:

http://qa.mandriva.com/twiki/bin/view/Main/MakeCD

Installing i686 Mandriva LE 2005 on AMD 64

If USB doesn't work, try changing the ACPI append option in Lilo.conf to "on" (from "ht"). This for some reason loads the USB drivers correctly...

Mandriva mini-cd

This installs a minimal version of Mandriva, with IceWM as the window manager. No Draktools, no nothing!

After installing, you can go to easyurpmi to download updated packages.

General desktop/laptop installations

• section
• Thinkpad T41 Mandriva 2005LE notes

Use SSHFS to remotely mount servers

This technique is very handy for working on web sites on remote servers, if you have shell access.

First, install sshfs (which requires fuse and several other packages):

• sudo apt-get install sshfs keychain

We also suggest using keychain and ssh-add to load public keys to make this easier. So at the start of each session, go into a shell and type these commands:

• keychain
• ssh-add

... you'll get prompted for the passphrase for your SSH key.

Now you're ready to use sshfs. Create a directory to work from. In this example, we'll be working with shuksan.freelock.lan:

• mkdir shuksan

Finally, mount the directory:

• sshfs shuksan.freelock.lan:/path/to/webroot shuksan

... now you can transparently access everything on Shuksan right in your home directory!

Note that certain things don't work well over SSHFS, including managing working copies in subversion. For these activities, log into the server directly.