Need help with Porteus linux setup

[bonk_sama]

Hi,

I was searching for a linux distro which I can run from my USB drive when I came across Porteus. Since I have only extensively used Windows, my exposure to linux is very less. I have used Linux Mint and that was my first choice to use on my USB but the issue is the size of the distro. Since Porteus is made to run from USB and can also run from RAM it looks like the best choice for me.

I will be using Porteus mainly for browsing web and uploading stuff on Mega cloud. So the only programs I need are Firefox, megacmd & Mullvad VPN. I saw that there is something like modules in this distro so I am not sure if I can install application like I used to in Linux Mint. Please help me understand if I can install applications normally or not.

Also my requirement is that I need the browser to remember logins and history, the WiFi to remember the network passwords. So Live install will not work, I need a persistent install. So please advise me on how to install and setup the Porteus linux.

Furthermore, it is not necessary but if I am able to run the distro from RAM directly and save the snapshot in the USB drive to load it next time I boot it up then that would be great, since I will not be restricted by the speed of my USB when using the OS. I would like to know if its possible.

[Blaze]

Welcome on the board!

1) Firefox you can build vis Browser Selection and Update Tool (you can find it at Start menu)

2) MEGAcmd-1.6.3-x86_64 + deps

Code: Select all

Short how2:
$ mega-cmd
MEGA CMD> help

You can see available commands.

MEGA CMD> login --help
Usage: login [--auth-code=XXXX] [email [password]] |
  exportedfolderurl#key | session

3) mullvadvpn-app-2023.4-x86_64-1_SBo.xzm

4) Install Porteus on ext2 partition and all changes are saved.

5)

Code: Select all

su
toor

# pmod - a simple wrapper for slackpkg
pmod -u
pmod -s search-by-package-name
pmod -m package-name

# or
slackpkg update gpg
slackpkg update
slackpkg install package-name

# or
getpkg package-name

[bonk_sama]

Welcome on the board!

1) Firefox you can build vis Browser Selection and Update Tool (you can find it at Start menu)

2) MEGAcmd-1.6.3-x86_64 + deps

Code: Select all

Short how2:
$ mega-cmd
MEGA CMD> help

You can see available commands.

MEGA CMD> login --help
Usage: login [--auth-code=XXXX] [email [password]] |
  exportedfolderurl#key | session

3) mullvadvpn-app-2023.4-x86_64-1_SBo.xzm

4) Install Porteus on ext2 partition and all changes are saved.

5)

Code: Select all

su
toor

# pmod - a simple wrapper for slackpkg
pmod -u
pmod -s search-by-package-name
pmod -m package-name

# or
slackpkg update gpg
slackpkg update
slackpkg install package-name

# or
getpkg package-name

Thanks for your help. As far as I can understand, I can install firefox module directly. And for megacmd and mullvad you have provided the modules here.

So I need to install Porteus on ext2 partition and I will be good to go. But I did not understand what you are trying to say with point no. 5.

Right now what I have done is made a live USB of Porteus with Rufus just to see how everything works. And its all good. Could you please tell me how to proceed from now and how to install Porteus on ext2 partition? One way I can think of is to run Porteus from RAM and use the built-in Porteus Installer to install it on the USB. Is it the right way or is there another way to do it?

[Blaze]

I can install firefox module directly. And for megacmd and mullvad you have provided the modules here.

Yes for both.

But I did not understand what you are trying to say with point no. 5.

This is FAQ how to download modules.

One way I can think of is to run Porteus from RAM and use the built-in Porteus Installer to install it on the USB.

This way right too.

[bonk_sama]

bonk_sama wrote: ↑
24 Sep 2023, 07:04
One way I can think of is to run Porteus from RAM and use the built-in Porteus Installer to install it on the USB.

This way right too.

As it turns out, this way is not right. I just tried it and the installer displayed the "This application cannot be used when using copy2ram cheatcode". What should I do now?

[ncmprhnsbl]

What should I do now?

so.. to install to the (readonly)USB you booted from:
1.boot up in copy2ram
2. open gparted, format the drive to your preferred filesytem (fat32: will allow uefi booting(needs a savefile for persistence)), ext(2,3,4) will allow persistence in a folder, ntfs some folks like that for some reason) (use msdos not gpt if you need to rebuild the partion table)
3. open a root file manager(in the menu under either accessories or system) and find your ISO image(that hopefully you still have somewhere), rightclick>choose "mount iso" (or something similar)
4. copy all the files of the ISO to your newly formatted usb
5. navigate to the usb /boot folder , rightclick>open a terminal here or open a terminal, su (password toor), cd /mnt/<your usb>/boot
6. type: ./Porteus-installer-for-Linux.com ...make sure it is the right drive and comfirm .. done.
7. reboot

[Ed_P]

1.boot up in copy2ram

the installer displayed the "This application cannot be used when using copy2ram cheatcode".

Don't use the copy2ram cheatcode. If you don't have the cheatcode changes=EXIT in the boot parms the USB drive should be both writable, and removable.

[Blaze]

bonk_sama, damn.
You can use two usb flah drive.
Boot up Porteus from 1st usb flash drive.
Format via gparted second usb flash drive and via Porteus installer try to install Porteus on the 2nd usb flash drive with ext2 partition.

[ncmprhnsbl]

Don't use the copy2ram cheatcode. If you don't have the cheatcode changes=EXIT in the boot parms the USB drive should be both writable, and removable.

this:

what I have done is made a live USB of Porteus with Rufus

like using dd, which means the usb behaves like a cd, ie. not writable.

[bonk_sama]

1.boot up in copy2ram

the installer displayed the "This application cannot be used when using copy2ram cheatcode".

Don't use the copy2ram cheatcode. If you don't have the cheatcode changes=EXIT in the boot parms the USB drive should be both writable, and removable.

this:

I dont understand what you are trying to say. Can you please tell me step by step what to do? Where to put changes=EXIT?

What I did initially was choose to RAM option from the boot screen instead of normal default option. How should I proceed this time?

[Ed_P]

what I have done is made a live USB of Porteus with Rufus

like using dd, which means the usb behaves like a cd, ie. not writable.

Obviously I'm not a Rufus user. Sorry for the confusion bonk. Based on that Blaze's suggestion is easier to follow.

I dont understand what you are trying to say. Can you please tell me step by step what to do? Where to put changes=EXIT?

At this point nowhere.

What I did initially was choose to RAM option from the boot screen instead of normal default option. How should I proceed this time?

My not being a Rufus user, how are you booting the USB drive? Does Rufus give you a menu to select multiple USB drives? Or are you using Grub2 menu to boot USB drives? Or are you using the pc/notebook's boot menu to boot the USB drive? Did you read the USB_INSTALLATION.txt file in the ISO?

I would recommend booting in Graphics Mode. TTBOMK when booting everything in the /porteus/base and /porteus/modules folders is loaded to RAM and is executable.

Added in 5 hours 52 minutes 47 seconds:
Bonk, could you post the output of an LS -on command for your USB drive?

[bonk_sama]

Bonk, could you post the output of an LS -on command for your USB drive?

1.

Did you read the USB_INSTALLATION.txt file in the ISO?

2. I am not sure which set of instructions to follow. I will format the USB to start from scratch. You tell me how to proceed.

FOR EFI SYSTEMS:
Ensure the first partition is of type FAT32.
a) Copy the EFI, boot and porteus folders onto the FAT32 partition.
You may create a second partition with a linux filesystem for the porteus folder.
If you do so, you need to add the from=/mnt/sdb2 cheatcode to the porteus-v4.0-x86_64.cfg file.
This file is located in the porteus folder.

FOR BIOS SYSTEMS:
From Windows:
a) copy the contents of the ISO image to your drive
b) navigate to the \boot folder and launch the
'Porteus-installer-for-Windows.exe' script
c) verify you are installing to the correct drive and press 'Enter' to
complete the installation

[Ed_P]

Sorry I used LS to emphasis the ls -on command.

So the USB drive is not booting an ISO. How big is the USB?

For my USBs I format them as FAT32 so I can share files on them with other systems and they can be booted on EFI or BIOS systems. I simply copy the 3 ISO folders and .txt file to the USB drive and run the appropriate /boot/Porteus-installer app. To boot the USB drives I either boot them from a grub2 menu or via the machine's boot menu by pressing F12 when booting my Dell notebook.

To save system changes I make I create a 512 MB save.dat file on the USB drive and a Modules folder and an Optional folder for apps I add. I also make a backup folder of my /home/guest folder.

Added in 1 hour 19 minutes 28 seconds:
My USB drive.

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:/mnt/sdb1$ ls -on
total 240
drwxrwxrwx  3 1000 16384 May  4  2020 EFI/
drwxrwxrwx 13 1000 16384 Sep 23 14:53 Guest/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000    61 Aug 13  2022 If_Found.txt*
drwxrwxrwx  2 1000 16384 Sep 21 15:29 Modules/
drwxrwxrwx  4 1000 16384 Nov 27  2022 My_Files/
drwxrwxrwx  2 1000 16384 Sep 21 01:08 Optional/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000  1512 Nov 16  2019 USB_INSTALLATION.txt*
drwxrwxrwx  5 1000 16384 Aug 20 23:47 boot/
drwxrwxrwx  2 1000 16384 Aug 13  2022 changes/
drwxrwxrwx  5 1000 16384 Mar  8  2023 i586files/
drwxrwxrwx  6 1000 16384 Aug 20 09:56 porteus/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000  6151 Aug 20 23:47 porteus-usb.sh*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000  4458 Aug 21 00:14 porteusbkup.cfg*
guest@porteus:/mnt/sdb1$ 

[bonk_sama]

Sorry I used LS to emphasis the ls -on command.

So the USB drive is not booting an ISO. How big is the USB?

For my USBs I format them as FAT32 so I can share files on them with other systems and they can be booted on EFI or BIOS systems. I simply copy the 3 ISO folders and .txt file to the USB drive and run the appropriate /boot/Porteus-installer app. To boot the USB drives I either boot them from a grub2 menu or via the machine's boot menu by pressing F12 when booting my Dell notebook.

To save system changes I make I create a 512 MB save.dat file on the USB drive and a Modules folder and an Optional folder for apps I add. I also make a backup folder of my /home/guest folder.

Added in 1 hour 19 minutes 28 seconds:
My USB drive.

Code: Select all

guest@porteus:/mnt/sdb1$ ls -on
total 240
drwxrwxrwx  3 1000 16384 May  4  2020 EFI/
drwxrwxrwx 13 1000 16384 Sep 23 14:53 Guest/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000    61 Aug 13  2022 If_Found.txt*
drwxrwxrwx  2 1000 16384 Sep 21 15:29 Modules/
drwxrwxrwx  4 1000 16384 Nov 27  2022 My_Files/
drwxrwxrwx  2 1000 16384 Sep 21 01:08 Optional/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000  1512 Nov 16  2019 USB_INSTALLATION.txt*
drwxrwxrwx  5 1000 16384 Aug 20 23:47 boot/
drwxrwxrwx  2 1000 16384 Aug 13  2022 changes/
drwxrwxrwx  5 1000 16384 Mar  8  2023 i586files/
drwxrwxrwx  6 1000 16384 Aug 20 09:56 porteus/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000  6151 Aug 20 23:47 porteus-usb.sh*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 1000  4458 Aug 21 00:14 porteusbkup.cfg*
guest@porteus:/mnt/sdb1$ 

My USB is already FAT32. I will try by just copying the files as you said.