Member Avatar for Gayal

Hi,

I'm looking for a Linux based Final Year Project for my Computer Science degree.

I am looking to save custom settings done by users on a GNU/Linux CD to a portable flash drive so that every time user runs the live CD, it retrieves the saved setting details from the portable device.

Does anyone have an idea where to start working on this?

Thanx

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For a live CD to pick up and apply user-customized settings from a flash drive you need two things: a writable, well‑defined store on the USB stick, and a small piece of startup logic inside the live system that finds that store and merges or mounts its contents into the running session. This keeps the CD read‑only while allowing persistent preferences to travel with the user. ’s goal is best treated as a simple architecture problem rather than a GUI feature.

Practical choices that make the project reproducible: put a dedicated Linux filesystem area on the flash drive (an ext2/3/4 partition or an encrypted container) and mark it with a clear label or a hidden marker file so the live system can detect it reliably. Inside that store keep a small, predictable layout (for example profiles/<username>/ plus a short manifest listing which files or directories to restore). Build a tiny init hook in the live image that waits for USB devices, mounts the labelled partition to /mnt/persist, and then either bind‑mounts or copies the listed files into place so desktop apps see them immediately.

Notes and cautions: FAT/FAT32 on the stick will be convenient for cross‑platform exchange but does not preserve Unix ownership, permissions, or symlinks—use a native Linux FS for config data. Keep UIDs consistent (or chown at restore) so file ownership matches the live user. If privacy matters, store the persistent area inside a LUKS container and prompt for a passphrase at boot. Timing issues (USB not ready) are common—ensure the detection runs after udev settles and include a sensible fallback when no persistence is found. For an FYP, demonstrate both the detection/mount flow and one real application (e.g., browser profile or home dotfiles), then document testing steps and failure modes; that gives a clean, verifiable proof of concept that builds on the pointers from and .

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Member Avatar for pheeror

unionfs/aufs
look at SLAX distribution
or
use CD for booting only

Member Avatar for Stylish

Does it need to be a Live CD? Could try for a Live USB.

Or are you looking to build a custom Live CD that has this functionality? Would probably just take a bash script or two to automount any USB devices, search for configs, and modify settings accordingly.

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