Re: [PLUG] adding files to iso image

[JP Vossen <jp@jpsdomain.org>]

> Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:10:23 -0400
> From: Matthew Rosewarne <mukidohime@case.edu>
>
> On Tuesday 24 July 2007, Sonny To wrote:
> > Is there a way to mount an iso read/write?
>
> No.  But you can edit an ISO image file.  I haven't ever used it, but you can 
> try "ISO Master".  (Debian package "isomaster")
>
> http://littlesvr.ca/isomaster/

AFAIK, and as suggested by others, the only way to modify files on an 
ISO is to mount it, copy it, change it, and re-master it.  It sounds 
like isomaster automates this with a GUI, which sounds pretty cool.


The following is NOT really a solution to the question as asked, but is 
something I just find terribly fascinating.  A guy named Dave Dittrich 
came up with the idea (circa 2002) to leave a "hole" in the ISO image 
file, then to copy the ISO file and patch it as needed.  This is 
brilliant (IMO), yet obvious in hind-sight.

PDF of the scanned hardcopy of the IEEE article is here: 
http://www.honeynet.org/tools/cdrom/eeyore/custom/docs/customization.pdf

If you are clever enough when you set up the master ISO this allows you 
to do just about anything, such as:
* Create custom ISO images containing a serial number
* Customize startup options (via patched conf and/or init files)
* Allow all kinds of other customizations of otherwise static LiveCDs (I 
have suggested that this be incorporated into Ubuntu LiveCDs 
(https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/40062), but haven't yet had time to 
more formally expand on the idea as requested.)
* Whatever else you can think of.


I hope you all find this idea as interesting as I do, even though I'm 
punting on the original question. :-)

Later,
JP
----------------------------|:::======|-------------------------------
JP Vossen, CISSP            |:::======|        jp{at}jpsdomain{dot}org
My Account, My Opinions     |=========|      http://www.jpsdomain.org/
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