Create squashfs iso with some persistence?

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1

I’m trying to create a small NixOS ISO that has a few persistent folders (e.g. network settings). The default squashfs builders work great, but as far as I know, they don’t allow persistence.

I’m thinking of using the fileSystems option then somehow magically adding a tiny persistent partition to the ISO and have it be auto-mounted. Would this be the best way to achieve the goals stated above? If not, what would be?

Also, is there a declarative way to create partitions on an ISO?

Thanks!

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2

for clues take a look at

/nixpkgs/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/iso-image.nix

you’ll see

 # In stage 1 of the boot, mount the CD as the root FS by label so
    # that we don't need to know its device.  We pass the label of the
    # root filesystem on the kernel command line, rather than in
    # `fileSystems' below.  This allows CD-to-USB converters such as
    # UNetbootin to rewrite the kernel command line to pass the label or
    # UUID of the USB stick.  It would be nicer to write
    # `root=/dev/disk/by-label/...' here, but UNetbootin doesn't
    # recognise that.
    boot.kernelParams =
      [ "root=LABEL=${config.isoImage.volumeID}"
        "boot.shell_on_fail"
      ];

    fileSystems."/" =
      { fsType = "tmpfs";
        options = [ "mode=0755" ];
      };

    # Note that /dev/root is a symlink to the actual root device
    # specified on the kernel command line, created in the stage 1
    # init script.
    fileSystems."/iso" =
      { device = "/dev/root";
        neededForBoot = true;
        noCheck = true;
      };

    # In stage 1, mount a tmpfs on top of /nix/store (the squashfs
    # image) to make this a live CD.
    fileSystems."/nix/.ro-store" =
      { fsType = "squashfs";
        device = "/iso/nix-store.squashfs";
        options = [ "loop" ];
        neededForBoot = true;
      };

    fileSystems."/nix/.rw-store" =
      { fsType = "tmpfs";
        options = [ "mode=0755" ];
        neededForBoot = true;
      };

    fileSystems."/nix/store" =
      { fsType = "overlay";
        device = "overlay";
        options = [
          "lowerdir=/nix/.ro-store"
          "upperdir=/nix/.rw-store/store"
          "workdir=/nix/.rw-store/work"
        ];
      };

    boot.initrd.availableKernelModules = [ "squashfs" "iso9660" "uas" "overlay" ];

    boot.initrd.kernelModules = [ "loop" "overlay" ];

    # Closures to be copied to the Nix store on the CD, namely the init
    # script and the top-level system configuration directory.
    isoImage.storeContents =
      [ config.system.build.toplevel ] ++
      optional config.isoImage.includeSystemBuildDependencies
        config.system.build.toplevel.drvPath;

    # Create the squashfs image that contains the Nix store.
    system.build.squashfsStore = pkgs.callPackage ../../../lib/make-squashfs.nix {
      storeContents = config.isoImage.storeContents;
    };

    # Individual files to be included on the CD, outside of the Nix
    # store on the CD.
    isoImage.contents =
      [
        { source = config.boot.kernelPackages.kernel + "/" + config.system.boot.loader.kernelFile;
          target = "/boot/" + config.system.boot.loader.kernelFile;
        }
        { source = config.system.build.initialRamdisk + "/" + config.system.boot.loader.initrdFile;
          target = "/boot/" + config.system.boot.loader.initrdFile;
        }
        { source = config.system.build.squashfsStore;
          target = "/nix-store.squashfs";
        }
        { source = config.isoImage.splashImage;
          target = "/isolinux/background.png";
        }
        { source = pkgs.writeText "version" config.system.nixos.label;
          target = "/version.txt";
        }
      ] ++ optionals canx86BiosBoot [
        { source = pkgs.substituteAll  {
            name = "isolinux.cfg";
            src = pkgs.writeText "isolinux.cfg-in" isolinuxCfg;
            bootRoot = "/boot";
          };
          target = "/isolinux/isolinux.cfg";
        }
        { source = "${pkgs.syslinux}/share/syslinux";
          target = "/isolinux";
        }
      ] ++ optionals config.isoImage.makeEfiBootable [
        { source = efiImg;
          target = "/boot/efi.img";
        }
        { source = "${efiDir}/EFI";
          target = "/EFI";
        }
        { source = (pkgs.writeTextDir "grub/loopback.cfg" "source /EFI/boot/grub.cfg") + "/grub";
          target = "/boot/grub";
        }
      ] ++ optionals (config.boot.loader.grub.memtest86.enable && canx86BiosBoot) [
        { source = "${pkgs.memtest86plus}/memtest.bin";
          target = "/boot/memtest.bin";
        }
      ] ++ optionals (config.isoImage.grubTheme != null) [
        { source = config.isoImage.grubTheme;
          target = "/EFI/boot/grub-theme";
        }
      ] ++ [
        { source = config.isoImage.efiSplashImage;
          target = "/EFI/boot/efi-background.png";
        }
      ];

around this you should be able to specifiy hack this with filesystems. and isoImage.contents.

there may be an easier way of doing this, this is a bit hacky, which is sometimes all you need.

3 Likes
3

@generic-specialty can you share your solution?

// keywords: unetbootin, mkusb, install nixos on usb flash drive with persistence, tails linux, mx linux, antix linux, persistent nixos on usb stick

4

@milahu @generic-specialty sorry for necroposting, but did you managed to solve this? :slight_smile: