rescuing files with a liveCD - Revision history

Woozle: /* Steps */ updated command links

2015-12-14T02:04:22Z

Steps: updated command links

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:04, 14 December 2015
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	===Steps===		===Steps===
	* Boot the unusable machine with the liveCD. (This may be slow. If you know how – which I don't – you can select a command-line-only mode for faster booting; graphics are not needed.) A terminal window should come up.		* Boot the unusable machine with the liveCD. (This may be slow. If you know how – which I don't – you can select a command-line-only mode for faster booting; graphics are not needed.) A terminal window should come up.
	* Find out what the machine's IP address is using ~~{{Linuxcmd\|~~ifconfig}} (no parameters). You should see at least two network interfaces listed: (1) a real network interface, probably "eth0", and (2) the loopback interface, "lo". Look for the line "inet addr" in eth0 (or any of the real interfaces, if there are more than one); the first address listed (I got "192.168.0.109) is the machine's local IP address.		* Find out what the machine's IP address is using [[ifconfig]] (no parameters). You should see at least two network interfaces listed: (1) a real network interface, probably "eth0", and (2) the loopback interface, "lo". Look for the line "inet addr" in eth0 (or any of the real interfaces, if there are more than one); the first address listed (I got "192.168.0.109) is the machine's local IP address.
	* Change the password for user "root" (necessary because by default root has no password, which means you can't log in from outside; any password will do, as long as you can remember it):		* Change the password for user "root" (necessary because by default root has no password, which means you can't log in from outside; any password will do, as long as you can remember it):
	~~{{Linuxcmd\|~~su}}		[[su]]
	~~{{Linuxcmd\|~~passwd}}		[[passwd]]
	''(enter new password at the prompts; it will ask twice)''		''(enter new password at the prompts; it will ask twice)''
	* Start the ssh daemon:		* Start the ssh daemon:
	[[/etc/init.d]]~~/{{Linuxcmd\|ssh}}~~ start		/etc/init.d/[[ssh]] start
	*:This should churn for a bit and print out a lot of gobbledygook about generating secure keys and fingerprints. If that doesn't seem to work:		*:This should churn for a bit and print out a lot of gobbledygook about generating secure keys and fingerprints. If that doesn't seem to work:
	~~{{Linuxcmd\|~~ls}} [[/etc/init.d]]\|{{~~Linuxcmd~~\|less}}		[[ls]] /[[etc/init.d]]\|{{l/gnu\|less}}
	*:will give you a list of daemons; look for anything beginning with ssh (possibly sshd).		*:will give you a list of daemons; look for anything beginning with ssh (possibly sshd).
	* Now you need to determine the [[filespec]] of the drive you want to rescue. Also, Knoppix will not {{Linuxcmd\|mount}} it automatically (other liveCDs might), so you will need to mount it. Fortunately, Knoppix ''does'' put recognized drives into the [[/etc/fstab]] file, so you don't have to puzzle out how to mount them manually. On the example system, I was able to mount the main hard drive with this command:		* Now you need to determine the [[filespec]] of the drive you want to rescue. Also, Knoppix will not {{Linuxcmd\|mount}} it automatically (other liveCDs might), so you will need to mount it. Fortunately, Knoppix ''does'' put recognized drives into the [[/etc/fstab]] file, so you don't have to puzzle out how to mount them manually. On the example system, I was able to mount the main hard drive with this command:
	{{Linuxcmd\|mount}} /dev/hda2		{{Linuxcmd\|mount}} /dev/hda2
	* If that's not the drive you're looking for, do "{{~~Linuxcmd~~\|cat}} [[/etc/fstab]]" to see what other drives might be available.		* If that's not the drive you're looking for, do "{{l/gnu\|cat}} /[[etc/fstab]]" to see what other drives might be available.
	* Go over to the host computer.		* Go over to the host computer.
	* Optional steps to test the ssh connection:{{quoteon}}		* Optional steps to test the ssh connection:{{quoteon}}
	(On the "host" computer) start a shell session and (if using Linux) type:		(On the "host" computer) start a shell session and (if using Linux) type:
	~~{{Linuxcmd\|~~ssh}} root@<u>bad.machine's.ip.addr</u>		[[ssh]] root@<u>bad.machine's.ip.addr</u>
	Example:		Example:
	~~{{Linuxcmd\|~~ssh}} root@192.168.0.109		[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109
	You should be able to log in using the password you just set. Type "exit" to close the ssh connection.		You should be able to log in using the password you just set. Type "exit" to close the ssh connection.
	{{quoteoff}}		{{quoteoff}}
	* Navigate (i.e. {{~~Linuxcmd~~\|cd}}) to the directory where you would like to save the directory-structure from the unusable machine.		* Navigate (i.e. {{l/gnu\|cd}}) to the directory where you would like to save the directory-structure from the unusable machine.
	* Type this (first line is general, and the second line is the actual command I used):		* Type this (first line is general, and the second line is the actual command I used):
	scp -prv root@<u>bad.machine's.ip.addr</u>:<u>/path/to/files/to/rescue/*</u> <u>path/to/local/destination</u>		scp -prv root@<u>bad.machine's.ip.addr</u>:<u>/path/to/files/to/rescue/*</u> <u>path/to/local/destination</u>
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	* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).		* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).
	* Sit back and watch as files are copied.		* Sit back and watch as files are copied.

	==other methods==		==other methods==
	Another method which preserves timestamps and attributes involves [[tar (command)\|tar]]ring the files on the remote machine and piping the output of the tar over the network connection. This method might also not give the reassuring feedback of showing filenames as they are processed. ''These examples have not been used successfully; I am recording them for later testing. --[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]] 07:04, 1 February 2006 (EST)''		Another method which preserves timestamps and attributes involves [[tar (command)\|tar]]ring the files on the remote machine and piping the output of the tar over the network connection. This method might also not give the reassuring feedback of showing filenames as they are processed. ''These examples have not been used successfully; I am recording them for later testing. --[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]] 07:04, 1 February 2006 (EST)''

Woozle: /* other methods */ explanation from serif

2006-05-09T21:59:57Z

other methods: explanation from serif

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:59, 9 May 2006
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	[[ssh]] ''user''@''machine'' 'cd /path; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf -' \|tar xzf -		[[ssh]] ''user''@''machine'' 'cd /path; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf -' \|tar xzf -

	~~the~~ "v" in "czvpf" is for "verbose", i.e. show the files as they are being tarred.		The "v" in "czvpf" is for "verbose", i.e. show the files as they are being tarred. Both of these commands tar, stream, and untar the files. The dashes on the tar parameter lists indicate stdout/stdin; in other words, the command says "tar to stdout \| ssh to machine \| tar from stdin".

	[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpC /mnt/hda2 -vf - *' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -		[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpC /mnt/hda2 -vf - *' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -
	[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[cd]] /mnt; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf - hda2' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -		[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[cd]] /mnt; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf - hda2' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -

	==other distros==		==other distros==
	With the [[ubuntu]] or [[kubuntu]] liveCDs, you will need to install the ssh package (which includes the ssh server and client). Run Adept or Synaptic, whichever is available, for user-friendly GUI-based installation of packages.		With the [[ubuntu]] or [[kubuntu]] liveCDs, you will need to install the ssh package (which includes the ssh server and client). Run Adept or Synaptic, whichever is available, for user-friendly GUI-based installation of packages.

Woozle: /* Notes */ -> other methods; other distros

2006-05-09T17:43:29Z

Notes: -> other methods; other distros

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:43, 9 May 2006
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	* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).		* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).
	* Sit back and watch as files are copied.		* Sit back and watch as files are copied.
	==~~Notes~~==		==other methods==
	Another method which preserves timestamps and attributes involves [[tar (command)\|tar]]ring the files on the remote machine and piping the output of the tar over the network connection. This method might also not give the reassuring feedback of showing filenames as they are processed. ''These examples have not been used successfully; I am recording them for later testing. --[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]] 07:04, 1 February 2006 (EST)''		Another method which preserves timestamps and attributes involves [[tar (command)\|tar]]ring the files on the remote machine and piping the output of the tar over the network connection. This method might also not give the reassuring feedback of showing filenames as they are processed. ''These examples have not been used successfully; I am recording them for later testing. --[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]] 07:04, 1 February 2006 (EST)''

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	[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpC /mnt/hda2 -vf - *' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -		[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpC /mnt/hda2 -vf - *' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -
	[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[cd]] /mnt; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf - hda2' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -		[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[cd]] /mnt; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf - hda2' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -
			==other distros==
			With the [[ubuntu]] or [[kubuntu]] liveCDs, you will need to install the ssh package (which includes the ssh server and client). Run Adept or Synaptic, whichever is available, for user-friendly GUI-based installation of packages.

Woozle: /* Steps */ notes

2006-04-13T16:57:59Z

Steps: notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:57, 13 April 2006
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	* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).		* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).
	* Sit back and watch as files are copied.		* Sit back and watch as files are copied.
			==Notes==
			Another method which preserves timestamps and attributes involves [[tar (command)\|tar]]ring the files on the remote machine and piping the output of the tar over the network connection. This method might also not give the reassuring feedback of showing filenames as they are processed. ''These examples have not been used successfully; I am recording them for later testing. --[[User:Woozle\|Woozle]] 07:04, 1 February 2006 (EST)''

			[[tar (command)\|tar]] czpf - dir \|[[ssh]] user@host 'cd /dir/path; tar xzpf'

			[[ssh]] ''user''@''machine'' 'cd /path; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf -' \|tar xzf -

			the "v" in "czvpf" is for "verbose", i.e. show the files as they are being tarred.

			[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpC /mnt/hda2 -vf - *' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -
			[[ssh]] root@192.168.0.109 '[[cd]] /mnt; [[tar (command)\|tar]] czvpf - hda2' \|[[tar (command)\|tar]] xzf -

Woozle at 16:56, 13 April 2006

2006-04-13T16:56:10Z

New page

[[Computing]]: [[Linux]]: [[rescuing files with a liveCD]]

* '''Scenario''': Unusable machine (won't boot, bad keyboard/display, whatever) with important files trapped on the hard drive. Let's say it's a laptop, so pulling out the drive and connecting it to another machine is at least difficult and risky.
* '''Solution''': Boot up using a [[liveCD]], connect to it through your LAN, and copy the files.

==Using Knoppix==
I'm using [[Knoppix]] as the example here, because I wasn't able to get the display to work right on [[Dell SmartStep 100N|this particular laptop]] ''(there's probably a way to do it without using a keyboard, but I don't know enough about Knoppix, e.g. what is the default password for any default user?)'' with any other liveCD.

You will need:
* a Knoppix liveCD (or other liveCD where you know the equivalents of the details given here)
* a connection to a LAN with a suitable host computer on it (details follow)
* that computer must have:
** [[ssh]] ([[ssh (Linux command)|Linux]] always does, but it's available for Windows too). ''This is only needed for testing the ssh connection''
** [[scp]] (again, [[scp (Linux command)|Linux]] does)
** enough space to store the files you intend to rescue
===Steps===
* Boot the unusable machine with the liveCD. (This may be slow. If you know how – which I don't – you can select a command-line-only mode for faster booting; graphics are not needed.) A terminal window should come up.
* Find out what the machine's IP address is using {{Linuxcmd|ifconfig}} (no parameters). You should see at least two network interfaces listed: (1) a real network interface, probably "eth0", and (2) the loopback interface, "lo". Look for the line "inet addr" in eth0 (or any of the real interfaces, if there are more than one); the first address listed (I got "192.168.0.109) is the machine's local IP address.
* Change the password for user "root" (necessary because by default root has no password, which means you can't log in from outside; any password will do, as long as you can remember it):
{{Linuxcmd|su}}
{{Linuxcmd|passwd}}
''(enter new password at the prompts; it will ask twice)''
* Start the ssh daemon:
[[/etc/init.d]]/{{Linuxcmd|ssh}} start
*:This should churn for a bit and print out a lot of gobbledygook about generating secure keys and fingerprints. If that doesn't seem to work:
{{Linuxcmd|ls}} [[/etc/init.d]]|{{Linuxcmd|less}}
*:will give you a list of daemons; look for anything beginning with ssh (possibly sshd).
* Now you need to determine the [[filespec]] of the drive you want to rescue. Also, Knoppix will not {{Linuxcmd|mount}} it automatically (other liveCDs might), so you will need to mount it. Fortunately, Knoppix ''does'' put recognized drives into the [[/etc/fstab]] file, so you don't have to puzzle out how to mount them manually. On the example system, I was able to mount the main hard drive with this command:
{{Linuxcmd|mount}} /dev/hda2
* If that's not the drive you're looking for, do "{{Linuxcmd|cat}} [[/etc/fstab]]" to see what other drives might be available.
* Go over to the host computer.
* Optional steps to test the ssh connection:{{quoteon}}
(On the "host" computer) start a shell session and (if using Linux) type:
{{Linuxcmd|ssh}} root@bad.machine's.ip.addr
Example:
{{Linuxcmd|ssh}} root@192.168.0.109
You should be able to log in using the password you just set. Type "exit" to close the ssh connection.
{{quoteoff}}
* Navigate (i.e. {{Linuxcmd|cd}}) to the directory where you would like to save the directory-structure from the unusable machine.
* Type this (first line is general, and the second line is the actual command I used):
scp -prv root@bad.machine's.ip.addr:/path/to/files/to/rescue/* path/to/local/destination
scp -prv root@192.168.0.109:/mnt/hda2/* .
'''Note the final "."''' in the example – this refers to the current folder, i.e. (in the example) where I wanted the files to go.
* Answer prompts as needed (you will probably need to answer "yes" to one prompt, and then to enter in root's password on the unusable system).
* Sit back and watch as files are copied.