antix 21-b2-live persistent name for different machines

[Member norm]

Hello,
I am testing antix21-b2 on my Lenovo desktop by successfully creating a small “antiX-Persist” p_static_root partition into my 300 GB external USB portable hard drive.
Everything works OK, setting sound was a bit work around on Lenovo desk top, but it worked (it required manually enter sound card from control center > hardware, then adjust volumes from alsa mixer). Volume icon then appeared on task bar.

Q: I want to create another “antiX-Persist” partition into same external USB Hd to test my HP Laptop, 2nd computer.
Is there confusion using the same device name (“antiX-Persist”) to load 2nd persist device for my 2nd machine from same external USB Hd source?
Can I re-name my persist devices such as “for_machine-1-persist” and “for_machine2-persist”?
Thank you

[Anonymous]

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http://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/docs-antiX-19/FAQ/boot-params.html#_persistence

On a LiveCD the default persistence device is whatever device has the disk label antiX-Persist. If you specify a persistence device with one of the three options below then the defaults are ignored.

pdev=<dev> The name of the persistence device. For example: pdev=sdb2.

plab=<label> The partition label of the persistence device.

puuid=<uuid> The UUID of the persistence device.

Please read, or re-read, the provided FAQ then post to followup with any remaining questions.

[Member Xecure]

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I propose you use a different folder instead of a separate partition.
You can create a folder named “Persistence” in the root of the live USB partition, and use the pdir boot option to point to it.

For example, on my live USB I have both antiX 21b2 runit and 21b2 sysvinit in different folders. I have an extra boot menu entry in grub.cfg to select one or the other at boot time.

Let us imagine ou create a new folder named “Persistence”. The list of folders you would see at the root of the live partition would look like:

antiX
Persistence
boot
EFI
Live-usb-storage
lost+found

Now, next time you boot into the live USB, if you want to use the “Persistence” folder to store the persistence files in live, use the boot parameter
pdir=Persistence
and it will create the new persistence files in “Persistence” folder and use them.

You can later create a new boot menu entry if this works fine for you.

antiX Live system enthusiast.
General Live Boot Parameters for antiX.

[Anonymous]

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pdir=

@norm
This wiki page, more comprehensive than the FAQ page linked above, details the available Boot Parameters, including “pdir=”
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters

[Member norm]

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Thank you,

I am a newbie, however I Like to learn new stuff in Linux..
I want to use a single storage device for Antix21 for multiple machines, i.e. boot antix from live USB stick, then select “p_static_root” option for machine1, machine2, etc.

I don’t know how to signal the “pdevice=sdd2”, could you please tell me how can I point the live USB stick (sdb) —> to pdevice=sdd2 (my external USB HD partition for 2nd machine root storage)? or plabel=<computer2_partition> options?
I created sdd2 specifically for machine 2 root storage, but it did not work.
I tried the F5 from live USB stick, it recognized sdd2 HD part’n but as you mentioned it loaded sdd1 by default (antiX-Persist) for my computer 1.

*BTW: With GParted app of antix21-beta2 I had some issues of partitioning delete, create, format etc + it took so long (>45 minutes).
So I used my LinuxMint20-uma computer1 for these GParted tasks.

I appreciate your help.

[Member norm]

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Thank you,

I will try it,

Q1: May be I need to enlarge my existing antiX-Persistent partition to accommodate my 2nd computer?

Q2: Do I need to select F5 persistence option, if so how can I avoid to load default device (machine1 — antix-Persist)?
Can I create multiple Persist1, Persist2 etc directories to execute each machine separately?

[Anonymous]

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The “F5” and similar options are a convenience mechanism for setting linux bootline options. Every/anything that we can select via F options, we can instead just specify within the bootline.

blahblah quiet splash
^—- can append various additional space-separated options, for instance pdir=/machine2
(If you have created a “machine2” dir in the root of the pendrive, and wish its persistence files to be saved to / read from there)

> enlarge my existing antiX-Persistent partition

antiX does not employ the “casper” persistence construct, as seen in Ububooboo and LinuxMint.
antiX, by default, utilizes persistence files read from an all-in-one liveboot partition.
Although you _can_ (for either antiX liveboot and/or frugal install(s) configure use of separate partitions…
…setting that up is an “advanced usage” scenario that I, personally, have minimal experience with so am unprepared to coach.
( to get started, refer to the descriptions provided regarding bdir= and puuid= and other directives described in the linked wiki page )

A further alternative for providing bootline directives: edit the (foggy memory here) menu.cfg or syslinux bootloader config file, adding additional menu “lines” pointing to each of your co-existing systems. {— That’s for legacy boot. (I’m ignorant of the specifics applicable to EFI booting)

[Member norm]

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Skidoo, thanks for your input.
I didn’t realize creating multiple frugal/persistence in antiX would be such complicated task for me.
I have no problem creating a “single” antiX-Persistence, it is straightforward, similar to Puppy Linux USB installation, which I created for bionic and xenial puppies.
I realize other distros such as ubuntu, mint, pclos, lite etc. do not have the persistence installation option.

XeCure, Thank you for your suggestion. I will try it. How/where/when can I activate the pdir=Persistence?

“Now, next time you boot into the live USB, if you want to use the “Persistence” folder to store the persistence files in live, use the boot parameter
pdir=Persistence
and it will create the new persistence files in “Persistence” folder and use them.”

Thanks again for your help.

[Member Xecure]

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It is the contrary of difficult.

First, boot into the live USB normally. Then, navigate in root file manager to /live/boot-dev/ and create all the folders you want that you want the perisstence files to exist. For now, let us imagine you only create one named “Persistence”.

Shut down your system (no need to save changes). After rebooting, if your system boots in Legacy boot, you will see this screen (or something similar). Leaving all menus as they are, you just need to WRITE (type with your keyboard) inside the “Boot Options” line (second ellipse from the top in the linked picture)
pdir=Persistence
Then hit the Enter key and it will use the “Persistence” folder created previously to store the persistence changes.

That is it. On each machine, if you want a difference persistence save, you use a different folder name. You just need to create the folder first before using it for storing/loading your persistence changes.

The documentation should be clear enough and complement the information provided here.

antiX Live system enthusiast.
General Live Boot Parameters for antiX.

[Member norm]

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Hi Xecure, antix21-b2 I tried to create “Persistence” folder as root, but I got error message (see attached screenshot).
No problem at all creating single F5 p_static_root and antiX-Persist.

(I noticed my old live USB HD 2.0 is acting up, sometimes it fails to load..)
I will try it with a USB 3.0 stick.

Thanks for your help.

Attachments:

1. 

   create_persistence.jpg
   

[Member Xecure]

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If you don’t mind, could you explain how you set up the live-USB? Was it with the live USB maker in antiX/MX? Are you using Rufus or a different tool?
Is the partition containing the live USB read only (dd mode)?
How did you set up the antiX-Persist partition and how are you telling the antiX live system to find the partition? Are the boot options saved for the next reboot or do you need to select them each time?

I think that trying to set it up the “puppy” way is more complicated than setting it up with the antiX tools, so I am not sure what are the correct instructions.
If your antiX-Persist partition contains a folder named “antiX” that houses the persistence files, then maybe creating the other folders and passing their name using the pdir boot parameter would also work (instead of creating the folders in the antiX live main partition).

antiX Live system enthusiast.
General Live Boot Parameters for antiX.

[Moderator christophe]

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This is an interesting thread.

That said, I am wondering why you want to have a separate persistence file for different computers. Normally, one uses the same persistence files across (potentially many) different computers.

I’m thinking that what you are (attempting) to do is kind of fun, advanced. Exploring possibilities…

But I wonder – is there a “need” you have for this type of setup, or are you just trying to figure out how to setup regular persistence for your live usb, which will be used on 2 different computers?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by christophe.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Forum Admin rokytnji]

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Cant do this the puppy way. Puppy Linux home folder does not work like Debian or AntiX home folder. Save Files are kept in there using squashfsf file system compression.

Puppy runs as root. Blah blah blah.

Sometimes I drive a crooked road to get my mind straight.
Not all who Wander are Lost.
I'm not outa place. I'm from outer space.

Linux Registered User # 475019
How to Search for AntiX solutions to your problems

[Member norm]

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Xecure:

1. 15 yrs old 300 GB Seagate external USB HD 2.0 > insert into LinuxMint20 > open Mint GParted > Extr 300GB HD create a primary ext4 partition (for antiX-Persistence) + create a swap partition > eject 300GB HD. (I had bad luck with antix21-b2 live USB stick to operate GParted).

2. LinuxMint20 > download antix21-b2.iso from AntiX website > check iso integrity 256 with GtkHash > clamtk virus scan > burn iso into 12 GB usb2.0 stick using Linux Mint “create USB iso” application > shut off computer.

3. load computer from usb stick > antix loads 1st time from live 12 gb USB stick > select legacy bios option > F5 select “p-static-root option > insert 300GB USB HD > follow screen instructions > select 300 GB USB HD (sdd2) for antiX-Persistence device > assign secure passwords > make some minor noticable changes to screen to differentiate from live boot session (ex change wallpaper, connect to wifi , install some minor apps etc) > shut off machine.

4. Load 12 gb stick , then 300GB USB > F5 p-static-root select > normal boot> Antix finds p-static-root device > machine loads properly (new wallpaper , wi-fi, new minor apps etc ) are all loaded. All further additional new changes (new software installations, updates, upgrades etc) are properly stored in sdd2.

So far so good, when I want to install a new “Persistence” test folder as root, I get ‘error exit status 1’ message.

Christophe:

I thought I may need two different persistence devices for two different machine hardware configuration purposes, I am not sure how Antix works. That’s the only reason.
For Puppy, I have only one universal persistent USB stick which works for every machine.

Thank you all

[Moderator christophe]

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https://antixlinux.com/the-most-extensive-live-usb-on-the-planet/

Read that & watch the GREAT video tutorials at the end of the article on the “antiX way” of persistence.

You’ll be a quick study, I’m sure. 😉

• This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by christophe.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

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