Knoppix Instructions

For Labs 10 and 11, User Account Management and File Systems, you may use Knoppix, a CD-only Linux installation which starts directly from the CD.  It does not require installation, nor does it normally make any changes to the hard drive.  For complete information, please see the Knoppix web site.

You may check out a Knoppix CD for use in the computer lab; ask your instructor if you would like to obtain a CD to take home.  Alternatively, if you have a broadband Internet connection at home, you can download a 700 MB "ISO" CD image file and create a CD with a CD writer; see the Knoppix web site for download locations.  (Make sure you have a broadband connection; by modem, 700 MB would take three days to download!)

Getting Knoppix

1. Visit the Knoppix web site.
   
2. Click the "Download" link
   
3. In the "Download from" column, click on a site in the USA.
   
4. At "KNOPPIX download agreement," click "Accept".
   
5. Scroll to the bottom of the Index page, and click to download the most recent English version of the Knoppix CD image ISO file:
   • The file name should begin with "KNOPPIX" and end with "-EN.iso" (not "DE", which is the German version).
   • The file should have a size of over 700,000 KB
   • Note into which folder you put the file, so you can find it in the next steps.
     
6. Wait for the file to download; it may take hours, even at high speed.
   

Running Knoppix from CD

1. If you have not made a Knoppix CD yet, create one out of the ISO file with a CD writer program and write a label on it.
2. Place the Knoppix CD in the CD drive.  In Windows, the Knoppix CD may automatically open a browser window to the CD's instruction set.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Knoppix starts with an opening screen with the prompt "boot:" at the bottom.  You have about 30 seconds to respond before Knoppix automatically starts booting into its X-Windows KDE environment.
• Trouble?  If Knoppix doesn't start, and your computer starts normally instead, change your BIOS so that your computer will boot from CD.
5. Wait 30 seconds, or just hit the Enter key to run the full Knoppix X-Windows environment.
6. If you see a message about an invalid video mode, either just wait 30 seconds, or tap the Space bar.
• If you see a list of video modes from which to choose, select mode 0 as the most generally reliable.
7. If you have compatible hardware, Knoppix will proceed through its startup process, auto-detecting your hardware, and end up in the KDE ("Kool Desktop Environment") graphical user interface.
   • Knoppix automatically logs you in as the restricted user "knoppix" -- not "root"!  Therefore, you cannot perform functions that require root privileges, including many operations in the File Systems and User Account Management lab exercises.  So:
   • To get a root shell command prompt so you can complete the labs, see "Getting a Root Shell Command Prompt" below.
8. Remember that all changes or additions you make to the file system will disappear when you shut down or reboot!  Therefore, complete all of your work in one session. 
• If you have no Internet access as described below, you'll have to take notes so you can answer the lab questions after you reboot back to MS Windows.
9. When you finish your work, reboot by clicking the "K" start button, Log Out, and Restart Computer.
• Knoppix will eject the CD when it completes its shutdown, and prompt you to remove it before proceeding further.
10. Remove the CD and diskette, if present, then press Enter to restart.
    

Running Knoppix in a Virtual Window

Do you have an Intel Mac or an MS Windows computer? If so, here's how you can run Knoppix in a virtual window, without rebooting:

1. Download and install the free VirtualBox program:
   • Click "Downloads"
   • Click "Binaries (all platforms)"
   • Under Platform, select "Mac OS X (Intel)" or "Windows x86" as needed.
   • Download and install VirtualBox.
2. Then, with the exceptions noted below, you can follow the instructions in "Using VirtualBox to run Linux from within Windows" to run a Knoppix CD image ISO file in a virtual window.
   • Follow the directions to create a new virtual machine for Knoppix, selecting Linux 2.6 as the OS Type, and give it 256 MB of RAM.
   • (Warning:  If your computer has less than 1 GB (about 1024 MB) of RAM, then your computer may run very slowly when you switch out of and back into the virtual window.)
• But before running the virtual machine, click Settings, CD/DVD-ROM, Mount CD/DVD Drive, ISO Image File, and the folder icon to browse to your Knoppix ISO. Click OK.
3. Start your Knoppix virtual machine.
4. If you have compatible hardware, Knoppix will proceed through its startup process, auto-detecting your hardware, and end up in the KDE ("Kool Desktop Environment") graphical user interface.
   • Knoppix automatically logs you in as the restricted user "knoppix" -- not "root"!  Therefore, you cannot perform functions that require root privileges, including many operations in the File Systems and User Account Management lab exercises.  So:
   • To get a root shell command prompt so you can complete the labs, see "Getting a Root Shell Command Prompt" below.
5. Remember that all changes or additions you make to the file system will disappear when you close the Knoppix session!  Therefore, complete all of your work in one session. 
6. To switch your mouse cursor out of the virtual window:
   • On the Mac, use the left-hand Command key
   • In Windows, use the right-hand Ctrl key
7. When you finish your work, close the Knoppix session by clicking the "K" start button, Log Out, and Turn Off Computer.  When you see the prompt to remove the CD, hit Enter or Return to close the virtual window.

Getting a Root Shell Command Prompt

1. Launch a terminal window by clicking on the black terminal window icon on the task bar at the bottom of the screen.
2. In a terminal window, enter:

   sudo -i

3. Proceed with your commands as root!
4. See below for directions to copy-and-paste from the terminal window to your web answer form.

About Internet Access

• If you have broadband Internet access, or in the campus lab, Knoppix will automatically set up an Internet connection through DHCP. You can then open web sites using a web browser in the KDE graphical environment, including your instructor's web pages and web-based answer forms.

  If you can open the web-based answer form for your lab, then you can copy and paste terminal window text to the web form:  

  • Drag the mouse cursor across the text you want to copy, then click Edit, Copy.
  • Click in the desired blank in the answer form, and click Edit, Paste.