24.1.4. Interesting combinations

Boot a kernel with a MFS in it with a special /sbin/init which...

A -- Using DOS

• mounts your C: as /C:
• Attaches C:/freebsd.fs on /dev/vn0
• mounts /dev/vn0 as /rootfs
• makes symlinks
  /rootfs/bin -> /bin
/rootfs/etc -> /etc
/rootfs/sbin -> /sbin
  (etc...)
  

Now you are running FreeBSD without repartitioning your hard disk...

B -- Using NFS

NFS mounts your server:~you/FreeBSD as /nfs, chroots to /nfs and executes /sbin/init there

Now you are running FreeBSD diskless, even though you do not control the NFS server...

C -- Start an X-server

Now you have an X-terminal, which is better than that dingy X-under-windows-so-slow-you-can-see-what-it-does thing that your boss insist is better than forking out money on hardware.

D -- Using a tape

Takes a copy of /dev/rwd0 and writes it to a remote tape station or fileserver.

Now you finally get that backup you should have made a year ago...

E -- Acts as a firewall/web-server/what do I know...

This is particularly interesting since you can boot from a write- protected floppy, but still write to your root filesystem...