MINDI(8)                    System Manager's Manual                   MINDI(8)



NAME
       mindi - a tool for creating boot/root disks

SYNOPSIS
       mindi
       mindi -v| --version| -V| -version
       mindi --findkernel
       mindi --makemountlist file
       mindi --usb device
       mindi [--max-compressed-size max] --custom parameters

DESCRIPTION
       mindi  creates  a bootable ISO/USB image using files from the system it
       runs on.  mindi will try hard to reproduce the environment of its  host
       system including loaded modules to ensure that the system can be booted
       properly from  the  created  rescue  media.   mindi  is  used  by  mon‐
       odarchive(8)  to  produce  the  required USB/ISO images but can also be
       used stand-alone.

       For stand-alone usage,  mindi  is  called  without  any  parameters  or
       switches.  It  will then interactively ask the user for all information
       required to create a set of boot/root media.

       The probably more frequent way of calling  mindi  is  non-interactively
       from  mondoarchive(8)  using the --custom switch. All required informa‐
       tion is then provided via command line  parameters.   The  sequence  of
       these parameters is listed below.

OPTIONS
       -v| --version| -V| -version
              Printstheversionofmindi.

       --findkernel
              Findstheimageoftherunningkernelinthefilesystem.

       --makemountlist file
              Creates a mount list and writes it to file file.

       --usb device
              CreateabootableUSBdevice

       --max-compressed-size max
              Maximum size for disk image in KB.

       --custom parameters
              Provide  all  required  parameters  to mindi for non-interactive
              calling. This usually means a call  from  mondoarchive(8).   The
              following parameters are used:
              01) directory to use for temporary files
              02) directory to put disk images in
              03) path to kernel image
              04) tape device
              05) tape size [MB]
              06) total number of files in file list
              07) use LZO [yes|no]
              08) CD recovery media [yes|no]
              09) devices to include
              10) conservative LiLo settings [yes|no]
              11) number of last file list
              12) estimated total number of slices
              13) devices to exclude
              14) compare mode [yes|no]
              15) use lilo [yes|no]
              16) use star (rather than tar) [yes|no]
              17) internal tape block size [bytes]
              18) number of differential backup
              19) make non-bootable [yes|no]
              20) use gzip [yes|no]
              (Blank parameters must be specified as "" on the command line.)

DIAGNOSTICS
       mindi  writes  some  output to the console and extensive information to
       log file /var/log/mindi.log.  When seeking technical support for mindi,
       please attach this file to your email.

FILES
       /var/log/mindi.log
              Log file of mindi run. Contains important information to analyze
              mindi problem reports.

       /etc/mindi/deplist.txt
              List of files to be included on boot/root disks.

       /var/cache/mindi/N.tar.gz
              Number N of multiple tar balls  together  containing  root  file
              system for rescue media.

       /var/cache/mindi/all.tar.gz
              Single tar ball of root file system for rescue media.

       /var/cache/mindi/initrd.img
              initrd image for bootable ISO image.

       /var/cache/mindi/mindi-bootroot.img
              mindi boot and root media.

       /var/cache/mindi/mindi.iso
              mindi bootable ISO image.

SEE ALSO
       mondoarchive(8), mondorestore(8).

       See mailing list at http://www.mondorescue.org for technical support.

AUTHORS
       Bruno Cornec (lead-development) bruno_at_mondorescue.org
       Andree Leidenfrost (co-developer) aleidenf_at_bigpond.net.au

ORIGINAL AUTHORS
       Hugo Rabson (original author) hugo.rabson_at_mondorescue.org
       Jesse Keating (packaging) hosting_at_j2solutions.net
       Stan Benoit (testing) troff_at_nakedsoul.org
       Mikael Hultgren (docs) mikael_hultgren_at_gmx.net



Mondo Rescue 3.2.2-r3893          2024-11-20                          MINDI(8)