Title: FuguITA: OpenBSD live-cd | |
Author: Solène | |
Date: 18 November 2020 | |
Tags: openbsd | |
Description: | |
In this article I will explain how to download and run the FuguITA | |
OpenBSD live-cd, which is not an official OpenBSD project (it is not | |
endorsed by the OpenBSD project), but is available since a long time | |
and is carefully updated at every release and errata published. | |
FuguITA official homepage | |
I do like this project and I am running their European mirror, it was | |
really long to download it from Europe before. | |
> Please note that if you have issues with FuguITA, you must report it | |
to the FuguITA team and not report it to the OpenBSD project. | |
## Preparing | |
Download the img or iso file on a mirror. | |
Mirror list from official project page | |
The file is gzipped, run gunzip on the img file | |
FuguIta-6.8-amd64-202010251.img.gz (name may change over time because | |
they get updated to include new erratas). | |
Then, copy the file to your usb memory stick. This can be dangerous if | |
you don't write the file to the correct disk! | |
To avoid mistakes, I plug in the memory stick when I need it, then I | |
check the last lines of the output of dmesg command which looks like: | |
```dmesg output sample | |
sd1 at scsibus2 targ 1 lun 0: <Corsair, Voyager 3.0, 1.00> removable serial.1b1… | |
sd1: 15280MB, 512 bytes/sector, 31293440 sectors | |
``` | |
This tells me my memory stick is the sd1 device. | |
Now I can copy the image to the memory stick: | |
```shell command as root | |
# dd if=FuguIta-6.8-amd64-202010251.img of=/dev/rsd1c bs=10M | |
``` | |
Note that I use /dev/rsd1c for the sd1 device. I've added a r to use | |
the raw mode (in opposition of buffered mode) so it gets faster, and | |
the c stands for the whole disk (there is a historical explanation). | |
## Starting the system | |
Boot on your usb memory stick. You will be prompted for a kernel, you | |
can wait or type enter, the default is to use the multiprocessor kernel | |
and there are no reason to use something else. | |
If will see a prompt "scanning partitions: sd0i sd1a sd1d sd1i" and be | |
asked which is the FuguIta operating device, proposing a default that | |
should be the correct one. | |
FROM HERE, YOUR KEYBOARD IS IN QWERTY. | |
Just type enter. | |
The second question will be the memory disk allowed size (using TMPFS), | |
just press enter for "automatic". | |
Then, a boot mode will be showed: the best is the mode 0 for a livecd | |
experience. | |
Official documentation in regards to FuguITA specifics options | |
Keyboard type will be asked, just type the layout you want. Then answer | |
to questions: | |
* root password | |
* hostname (you can just press enter) | |
* IP to use (v4, v6, both [default]) | |
When prompted for your network interfaces, WIFI may not work because | |
the livecd doesn't have any firmware. | |
Finally, you will be prompted for C for console or X for xenodm. THERE | |
ARE NO USER except root, so if you start X you can only use root as a | |
user, which I STRONGLY discourage. | |
You can login console as root, use the two commands "useradd -m | |
username" and "passwd username" to give a password to that user, and | |
then start xenodm. | |
The livecd can restore data from a local hard drive, this is explained | |
in the start guide of the FuguITA project. | |
## Conclusion | |
Having FuguITA around is very handy. You can use it to check your | |
hardware compatibility with OpenBSD without installing it. Packages can | |
be installed so it's perfect to check how OpenBSD performs for you and | |
if you really want to install it on your computer. | |
You can also use it as an usb live system to transport OpenBSD anywhere | |
(the system must be compatible) by using the persistent mode, | |
encryption being a feature! This may be very useful for people | |
traveling on lot and who don't necesserarly want to travel with an | |
OpenBSD laptop. | |
As I said in the introduction, the team is doing a very good job at | |
producing FuguITA releases shortly after the OpenBSD release, and they | |
continuously update every release with new erratas. |