Hi, I was Wondering if there was a tool for Linux in general that let me undo the system changes at reboot or something like that, For example:
I want to set a standard configuration in a machine and then let that machine to be used by many users, but as soon as the user Log Out (preferably in that moment) I want the machine to undo all the possible changes the user may have done while he/she was using it.
I've seen this behavior on Windows Machines in Schools and Offices, and I know it has something to do about a server controlling all the individual computers but I want to apply that behavior to a Single Linux computer without having the server in the middle...
If there's not a "General Linux Tool" I would like to Know wich distro and desktop enviroment are the best choice to get this done, using what tools,
P.S. it's like... Having a customized "LiveCD Behavior" but with the system installed, so if I need to do changes, I can ensure I can do them without many problems, and then "Lock the system" again...
Hope somebody knows,
Thanks!
On 08/11/2011 11:58 PM, Manuel Escudero wrote:
Hi, I was Wondering if there was a tool for Linux in general that let me undo the system changes at reboot or something like that, For example:
I want to set a standard configuration in a machine and then let that machine to be used by many users, but as soon as the user Log Out (preferably in that moment) I want the machine to undo all the possible changes the user may have done while he/she was using it.
I've seen this behavior on Windows Machines in Schools and Offices, and I know it has something to do about a server controlling all the individual computers but I want to apply that behavior to a Single Linux computer without having the server in the middle...
If there's not a "General Linux Tool" I would like to Know wich distro and desktop enviroment are the best choice to get this done, using what tools,
P.S. it's like... Having a customized "LiveCD Behavior" but with the system installed, so if I need to do changes, I can ensure I can do them without many problems, and then "Lock the system" again...
Hope somebody knows,
Sounds like "kiosk" mode - you may be able to do this with virtualbox - since I've not used linux in kiosk mode - I'll leave it for others who actually know how to explain the way ...
On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 8:58 PM, Manuel Escudero Jmlevick@gmail.com wrote:
Hi, I was Wondering if there was a tool for Linux in general that let me undo the system changes at reboot or something like that, For example:
I want to set a standard configuration in a machine and then let that machine to be used by many users, but as soon as the user Log Out (preferably in that moment)
Why not keep a known good home directory on hand, and replace it on logout?
With KDE it's as easy as: cat > /home/kioskuser/.kde/shutdown/reset-home.sh #!/bin/sh rm -rf $HOME/* cp -pr /usr/local/share/kioskuser-home/* $HOME ^D chmod +x /home/kioskuser/.kde/shutdown/reset-home.sh
Other desktops should have similar functionality.
I want the machine to undo all the possible changes the user may have done while he/she was using it. I've seen this behavior on Windows Machines in Schools and Offices, and I know it has something to do about a server controlling all the individual computers but I want to apply that behavior to a Single Linux computer without having the server in the middle... If there's not a "General Linux Tool" I would like to Know wich distro and desktop enviroment are the best choice to get this done, using what tools, P.S. it's like... Having a customized "LiveCD Behavior" but with the system installed, so if I need to do changes, I can ensure I can do them without many problems, and then "Lock the system" again... Hope somebody knows, Thanks! -- Manuel Escudero Linux User #509052 Twitter: @Jmlevick Blogger: Blog Xenode PGP/GnuPG: E2F5 12FA E1C3 FA58 CF15 8481 B77B 00CA C1E1 0FA7 Xenode Systems - xenodesystems.com - "Conéctate a Tu Mundo"
-T.C.
On Fri, 2011-08-12 at 00:05 -0700, T.C. Hollingsworth wrote:
On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 8:58 PM, Manuel Escudero Jmlevick@gmail.com wrote:
Hi, I was Wondering if there was a tool for Linux in general that let me undo the system changes at reboot or something like that, For example:
I want to set a standard configuration in a machine and then let that machine to be used by many users, but as soon as the user Log Out (preferably in that moment)
Why not keep a known good home directory on hand, and replace it on logout?
With KDE it's as easy as: cat > /home/kioskuser/.kde/shutdown/reset-home.sh #!/bin/sh rm -rf $HOME/* cp -pr /usr/local/share/kioskuser-home/* $HOME ^D chmod +x /home/kioskuser/.kde/shutdown/reset-home.sh
Other desktops should have similar functionality.
Looking at this, btrfs' snapshots come to my mind. I think it could be easy to use for this case (just a simple init script [or sytemd unit file]). See https://btrfs.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/SysadminGuide#Snapshots for more details.
Vratislav Podzimek
I want the machine to undo all the possible changes the user may have done while he/she was using it. I've seen this behavior on Windows Machines in Schools and Offices, and I know it has something to do about a server controlling all the individual computers but I want to apply that behavior to a Single Linux computer without having the server in the middle... If there's not a "General Linux Tool" I would like to Know wich distro and desktop enviroment are the best choice to get this done, using what tools, P.S. it's like... Having a customized "LiveCD Behavior" but with the system installed, so if I need to do changes, I can ensure I can do them without many problems, and then "Lock the system" again... Hope somebody knows, Thanks! -- Manuel Escudero Linux User #509052 Twitter: @Jmlevick Blogger: Blog Xenode PGP/GnuPG: E2F5 12FA E1C3 FA58 CF15 8481 B77B 00CA C1E1 0FA7 Xenode Systems - xenodesystems.com - "Conéctate a Tu Mundo"
-T.C.
devel mailing list devel@lists.fedoraproject.org https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/devel
On fre, 2011-08-12 at 00:05 -0700, T.C. Hollingsworth wrote:
Why not keep a known good home directory on hand, and replace it on logout?
Though you still have the user's files in other locations on disk. It'd be better to just create a new user for each login.
Or xguest, or LVM or btrfs snapshots.
/abo
You should look into the xguest package on Fedora. It provides a sandboxed user which gets wiped on logout. If you need to add more tools for the guest to use I'd suggest contacting Dan Walsh for additional help since he is the maintainer.
Dave
On 8/11/2011 11:58 PM, Manuel Escudero wrote:
Hi, I was Wondering if there was a tool for Linux in general that let me undo the system changes at reboot or something like that, For example:
I want to set a standard configuration in a machine and then let that machine to be used by many users, but as soon as the user Log Out (preferably in that moment) I want the machine to undo all the possible changes the user may have done while he/she was using it.
I've seen this behavior on Windows Machines in Schools and Offices, and I know it has something to do about a server controlling all the individual computers but I want to apply that behavior to a Single Linux computer without having the server in the middle...
If there's not a "General Linux Tool" I would like to Know wich distro and desktop enviroment are the best choice to get this done, using what tools,
P.S. it's like... Having a customized "LiveCD Behavior" but with the system installed, so if I need to do changes, I can ensure I can do them without many problems, and then "Lock the system" again...
Hope somebody knows,
Thanks!
-- Manuel Escudero Linux User #509052 Twitter: @Jmlevick http://twitter.com/Jmlevick Blogger: Blog Xenode http://xenodesystems.blogspot.com/ PGP/GnuPG: E2F5 12FA E1C3 FA58 CF15 8481 B77B 00CA C1E1 0FA7 Xenode Systems - xenodesystems.com http://www.xenodesystems.com/ - "Conéctate a Tu Mundo"
xguest is the way to do this because it involves much more than simply wiping the hard drive. xguest also locks down the account with selinux so that the vector for attacks is quite minimal.
On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 3:21 AM, Dave Quigley selinux@davequigley.com wrote:
You should look into the xguest package on Fedora. It provides a sandboxed user which gets wiped on logout. If you need to add more tools for the guest to use I'd suggest contacting Dan Walsh for additional help since he is the maintainer.
Dave
On 8/11/2011 11:58 PM, Manuel Escudero wrote:
Hi, I was Wondering if there was a tool for Linux in general that let me undo the system changes at reboot or something like that, For example:
I want to set a standard configuration in a machine and then let that machine to be used by many users, but as soon as the user Log Out (preferably in that moment) I want the machine to undo all the possible changes the user may have done while he/she was using it.
I've seen this behavior on Windows Machines in Schools and Offices, and I know it has something to do about a server controlling all the individual computers but I want to apply that behavior to a Single Linux computer without having the server in the middle...
If there's not a "General Linux Tool" I would like to Know wich distro and desktop enviroment are the best choice to get this done, using what tools,
P.S. it's like... Having a customized "LiveCD Behavior" but with the system installed, so if I need to do changes, I can ensure I can do them without many problems, and then "Lock the system" again...
Hope somebody knows,
Thanks!
-- Manuel Escudero Linux User #509052 Twitter: @Jmlevick http://twitter.com/Jmlevick Blogger: Blog Xenode http://xenodesystems.blogspot.com/ PGP/GnuPG: E2F5 12FA E1C3 FA58 CF15 8481 B77B 00CA C1E1 0FA7 Xenode Systems - xenodesystems.com http://www.xenodesystems.com/ - "Conéctate a Tu Mundo"
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