Customizing Tom's Root Boot stand-alone Linux floppy

Introduction

This quick tutorial will show you how to customize a tomsrtbt floppy.

How to add/remove modules

Auto-completion

Ie. the TAB key to save on keystrokes.

Setting up command aliases

alias ll='ls -alF --color'

Turning off beeps when using vi

Support for the 3Com 905c NIC

Removing the root password

The default is xxxx.

Adding support for history

Including ! Command history is via ile from /bin/login, see "man ile" and /bin/login.

Forcing video mode and keyboard layout

Tired of hitting the SPACE bar and choosing the keyboard layout every time

Troubleshooting

After editing rc.custom and settings.s, LILO's boot prompt says "Other distribuboot:" instead of "Boot:"

Resources

• Rescuing Linux Systems--Generic and Distribution-Specific Safety Nets by Bill von Hagen
• Downloading "tomsrtbt" Root Boot Disk and How to Install It by Daniel B. Sedory

Temp stuff

• auto-completion
• alias -> rc.custom
• Turn off vi's beep
• support for 905c
• how to set root's password to null (edited $PASSWD to null, edited /etc/passwd)
• support for ! in history
• Edited settings.s file -> "Other distriboot"
• How to force video mode and keyboard layout?
• How to mount floppy drive during bootup? /etc/fstab OK, but mount not run
• Check how to mount NFS share automatically
• smbfs
• less instead of more