[X2go-dev] Suggestion: Make x2gothinclientsystem less invasive

[Michael Hierweck]

Hi x2go folks,

I would like to suggest a solution to make x2gothinclientsystem less
invasive.

Instead of mounting a ramdisk and removing/symlinking some files and
directories (which might be a Debian packaging policy violation) it
might be smarter to mount a read only root filesystem and transparently
overlay it with a tempfs.

I can this be achieved?

a) Install aufs modules in the clients' chroot environment. Aufs modules
are part of Squeeze's default kernel.

b) Add "aufs" to /etc/initramfs-tools/modules.

c) Set "BOOT=aufs" in /etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf.

d) Add a "magic" script (see attachment) named "aufs" to
/etc/initramfs-tools/scripts

e) Call update-initramfs -u inside the chroot.

The "aufs" script is based on Debian's
/usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/nfs script.

The attached script provides a three layer file root filesystem.

ro nfsroot/master (generic thinclients' chroot)
ro nfsroot/<ip-address> (individual thinclient's configuration
overriding master)
rw tempfs (simulates a fully rw root file system)

Pros:

* simple (to my mind)
* flexible
* less "hacky" (less/no conflicts with other packages)
* therefore more Debian compliant (to my mind)
* x2go related stuff currently stored in /ramdisk can go into
/var/lib/x2go...

Cons:

* any?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Michael

-- 
EDV-Serviceteam Annika & Michael Hierweck GbR
Egerstraße 53, 44225 Dortmund (Germany)
http://www.edv-serviceteam.net
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