Accessing and Modifying ZENworks files on the ZfD3 Bootable Imaging CD

Novell Cool Solutions: Trench
By Colin Rhodes

Digg This - Slashdot This Posted: 9 Aug 2001

Version: ZENworks for Desktops 3

Existing Cool Solutions articles give us solutions for modifying the behaviour of the ZfD 3 Imaging, by modifying files on the two Imaging floppy disks.

However, for those of us using bootable CD-ROMs to do ZEN Image installs, there are a few more steps to go through in order to update our CD-ROM equivalent of ZfD3 floppy disk 1. I was unable to achieve this using Windows, so instead took a tour through Linux to find a solution.

Procedure:

1. Copy the file bootcd.zim from your ZfD3 Imaging CD to a directory on your linux box:

   mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom      #Mount CDROM
   cp /mnt/cdrom/bootcd.zim /home/<username>/newdir   #Copy file off CD

2. Dump this image file to a floppy disk (note - this will overwrite your floppy disk!):

   cd /home/<username>/newdir      #cd to working dir
   dd of=/dev/fd0 if=bootcd.zim bs=10k count=144   #Write to floppy

   This will provide you with a floppy containing a 'cdised' version of the ZfD 3 floppy disk 1.

3. Mount this floppy disk for modification:

   mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy        #Mount floppy disk
   cd /mnt/floppy    #cd to mounted floppy
   .
   .
   Make Modifications Here!!!! -- In my case I needed to modify SYSLINUX.CFG
   .
   .
   umount /mnt/floppy      #save changes back to floppy

Once the floppy has been modified, use the following procedure to create a new iso image/iso cdrom.

Note: The following assumes that you have a linux box (RedHat?) with "mkisofs.xxxxxxx.rpm " installed (or similar).

1. Dump the contents of the modified floppy to a new image file:

   rm /home/<username>/newdir/bootcd.zim     #Del original file
   cd /home/<username>/newdir     #cd to working dir
   dd if=/dev/fd0 of=bootcd.zim bs=10k count=144   #copy floppy to file

2. Create a new directory structure on your linux box with bootcd.zim at the root. Ensure that the following files are present:

   bootcd.zim, lang.tgz, root.tgz, settings.txt, & <any other files you wish to include? Image files?>

   Note: this is a multi-session-capable CD-ROM - i.e. you can add stuff later.

   Note 2: Do NOT include the file BOOT.CAT -- this will be created during the next step.

3. Create the new iso image - which you can use to burn a new bootable CD-ROM:

   cd /home/<username>/newdir     #cd to working dir
   mkisofs -b bootcd.zim -c boot.cat -o ZEN cd.iso *   #make iso image!

This creates a new bootable ISO image that you can burn later using your favourite CD-burning method.

Useful Tips:

• To mount an ISO image (for read-only access):

  Mount --o loop --t isp9660 <isoFileName> <mountpoint>
  Where <mountpoint> could be: /mnt/cdrom

• To mount a BOOTCD.ZIM image (for read-only access):

  Mount --o loop --t vfat bootcd.zim <mountpoint>
  Where <mountpoint> could be: /mnt/floppy

If you have any questions you may contact Colin at rhodesc@airways.co.nz

Reader Comments

• this is good, BUT it does not apply to the SP2 CD becuase there is not a bootcd.zim file. I guess there is another file doing the same job but I don't know what it is.

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