[SORTED] Persistence

[Member Peter Linu]

Hiyall,
I’ve read copious documents on how to use it but I can’t understand what it and does.
Can someone explain it in a non-technical way, please?

• This topic was modified 10 months ago by Peter Linu.

Live-USB = zzz-IceWM-antiX21-runit-64-base: static persistence
VirtualBox= zzz-IceWM-antiX21-runit-64-base

[Moderator christophe]

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When you enable persistence, you make the “live” instance of antiX behave like an “installed” instance of antiX.

Depending on how you configure it, it will save changes to RAM only, and you can choose to “save” those changes to your system “permanently” upon shutdown or at any point that you run “Save Persistence Changes” from the menu. This first way is called “Dynamic Persistence.” The thing about Dynamic persistence is, that the saved changes will be loaded into RAM on each boot. So it takes up your RAM — make sure you still have enough for normal computer operations…

Another way is “Static Persistence” — which saves your changes immediately to your persistence file. These changes are NOT loaded into RAM on boot, but read from the persistence file directly, so you have your full compliment of RAM available to run your computer.

Now, your persistence file WILL fill up. So you’ll want to “remaster” before your persistence file fills up. Reboot right after you run remaster – it incorporates the changes in your persistence file into the main system (as if antiX came setup that way, customized to your liking). Then you repeat the process of making a new persistence file to capture your new changes…

“Home persistence” is a compliment to this – it can be used with or without the “root” persistence. It only saves your /home files. It always saves to disk (persistence file) immediately. This persistence file lasts between remasters, and isn’t loaded into RAM.

That’s the basics of it. There is a lot more to it, of course. The main point is to try it out – play with it to see what works best for you. 😉

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by christophe.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member Peter Linu]

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I checked out Wiki and there was a light bulb moment quite dim though. Probably 25 watts.

My next question is:
What settings do I need that allows me to save the USB‘s OS after each session and also allows me to update the OS and add programs as required? The data doesn’t need persistence as it will be changed weekly.

Live-USB = zzz-IceWM-antiX21-runit-64-base: static persistence
VirtualBox= zzz-IceWM-antiX21-runit-64-base

[Moderator BobC]

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Here is an explanation of the different types of persistence.

https://download.tuxfamily.org/antix/docs-antiX-19/live-boot/persistence.html

[Moderator christophe]

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Peter Linu wrote:

What settings do I need that allows me to save the USB‘s OS after each session and also allows me to update the OS and add programs as required? The data doesn’t need persistence as it will be changed weekly.

For an experiment, try “persist root.” This is the “dynamic” type (saved to ram). Use half your ram as the persistence file size.
Set the persistence save method to automatic. (Automatically save everything at shutdown).
Remaster after you update or install packages. (Then reboot.)

My suggestions are general, and is only for an experiment. I don’t know your RAM, disk space, etc. But just try something. If it doesn’t work out right, then just start over. This is an experiment. 😉

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Moderator BobC]

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I found this confusing:

“The data doesn’t need persistence as it will be changed weekly.”

If there is no /home persistence, the data and your configuration settings that get saved in your /home directory will be completely lost every time you reboot. But maybe that’s what you wanted…

I agree, read, experiment, learn, try again till you get what you want.

[Moderator christophe]

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Something else worthy of note. If you are storing any large personal files (e.g., audio or video files), store them in the “Live-usb-storage” folder, under your home folder. This way it won’t take up space in your persistence file. (Whether you understand what this means now or not, it’s a good practice.)

Also, when you remaster, you will be asked if you want to save /home in your new remaster. I would say “yes” unless you are experienced enough to know otherwise – if in doubt, choose yes.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member blur13]

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This is a bit of a tangent but what are some of the typical use-cases for running a “live” instance vs an installed instance?

[Moderator christophe]

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Live is good to use on a guest computer, where you have all your “stuff” there on the usb.

I use live (“frugal”) always. I run it from the hdd (when the computer I use has a hdd).

I personally do this:
I set up my system as I like it, then remaster immediately. I enable only “home persistence,” so any desktop tweaks I make are saved, but if I ever install something new or run an apt upgrade, then I remaster again before I shut down. This way (I feel) nothing can corrupt my system (unless I do it myself). It may be a bit of a placebo effect, but I “feel” safer. I can also do a simple copy to back everything up, or to transfer it to another computer or live usb.

But that’s just me. I’ve tried (I think) all the possible live system combinations, and that just fits for me.

confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019

[Member Peter Linu]

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Thanx Christophe,
Well explained.

Live-USB = zzz-IceWM-antiX21-runit-64-base: static persistence
VirtualBox= zzz-IceWM-antiX21-runit-64-base

[Member olsztyn]

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christophe wrote:

This is a bit of a tangent but what are some of the typical use-cases for running a “live” instance vs an installed instance?

As Christophe already explained a great case of running Live instead of traditionally installed, I just wanted to add that I also run Live antiX for all my laptops in a similar manner:
– Live from USB sticks (usually small usb plugs such as Cruzer Fit), typically USB 2.0. One additional advantage of Live is that it dynamically adjusts driver configuration to specific hardware of any laptop I run it on.
– Live from internal SATA disks.

All instances of Live antiX I run with no persistence, as the system and application composition has been been fully configured and remastered. Any data I want to save, if any at all, I would save either in Live-USB-Storage or network share.
Running Live with no persistence I do not need to worry about any corruption or inadvertent installation of garbage. I can also experiment as much as I want as reboot will bring the system back to the established pristine state.

• This reply was modified 10 months ago by olsztyn.
• This reply was modified 10 months ago by olsztyn.
• This reply was modified 10 months ago by olsztyn.

Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters

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