Provided by: live-config-doc_3.0.23-1+deb8u1_all 
NAME
live-config - System Configuration Scripts
DESCRIPTION
live-config contains the scripts that configure a Debian Live system during the boot process (late
userspace).
CONFIGURATION
live-config can be configured through boot parameters or configuration files. If both mechanisms are used
for a certain option, the boot parameters take precedence over the configuration files. When using
persistency, live-config scripts are only run once.
To configure the live-config parameters used by default in a live image, see the --bootappend-live option
in the lb_config(1) manual page.
Boot Parameters (scripts)
live-config is only activated if 'boot=live' is used as a boot parameter. Additionally, live-config needs
to be told which scripts to run through the 'live-config' parameter or which scripts to not run through
the 'live-noconfig' parameter. If both 'live-config' and 'live-noconfig' are used, or, if either one is
specified multiple times, always the later one takes precedence over the previous one(s).
live-config | config
All scripts are run. This is what Debian Live images use by default.
live-config=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn | config=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn
Only the specified scripts are run. Note that the order matters, e.g. 'live-config=sudo,user-setup'
would not work since the user needs to be added before it can be configured for sudo. Look at the
filenames of the scripts in /lib/live/config for their ordering number.
live-noconfig | noconfig
No script is run. This is the same as not using any of 'live-config' or 'live-noconfig'.
live-noconfig=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn | noconfig=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn
All scripts are run, except the specified ones.
Boot Parameters (options)
Some individual scripts can change their behaviour upon a boot parameter.
live-config.debconf-preseed=filesystem|medium|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn |
debconf-preseed=medium|filesystem|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn
Allows to fetch and apply one or more debconf preseed files to be applied to the debconf database.
Note that the URLs must be fetchable by wget (http, ftp or file://).
If the file is placed on the live medium, it can be fetched with file:///lib/live/mount/medium/FILE,
or with file:///FILE if it is in the root filesystem of the live system itself.
All preseed files in /lib/live/config-preseed/ in the root filesystem of the live system can be
automatically enabled with the keyword 'filesystem'.
All preseed files in /live/config-preseed/ of the live medium can be automatically enabled with the
keyword 'medium'.
If several mechanisms are combined, then filesystem preseed files are applied first, then medium
preseed files, and last the network preseed files.
live-config.hostname=HOSTNAME | hostname=HOSTNAME
Allows to set the hostname of the system. The default is 'debian'.
live-config.username=USERNAME | username=USERNAME
Allows to set the username that gets created for autologin. The default is 'user'.
live-config.user-default-groups=GROUP1,GROUP2 ... GROUPn | user-default-groups=GROUP1,GROUP2 ... GROUPn
Allows to set the default groups of the users that gets created for autologin is member of. The
default is 'audio cdrom dip floppy video plugdev netdev powerdev scanner bluetooth'.
live-config.user-fullname="USER FULLNAME" | user-fullname="USER FULLNAME"
Allows to set the fullname of the users that gets created for autologin. The default is 'Debian Live
user'.
live-config.locales=LOCALE1,LOCALE2 ... LOCALEn | locales=LOCALE1,LOCALE2 ... LOCALEn
Allows to set the locale of the system, e.g. 'de_CH.UTF-8'. The default is 'en_US.UTF-8'. In case the
selected locale is not already available on the system, it is automatically generated on the fly.
live-config.timezone=TIMEZONE | timezone=TIMEZONE
Allows to set the timezone of the system, e.g. 'Europe/Zurich'. The default is 'UTC'.
live-config.keyboard-model=KEYBOARD_MODEL | keyboard-model=KEYBOARD_MODEL
Allows to change the keyboard model. There is no default value set.
live-config.keyboard-layouts=KEYBOARD_LAYOUT1,KEYBOARD_LAYOUT2 ... KEYBOARD_LAYOUTn |
keyboard-layouts=KEYBOARD_LAYOUT1,KEYBOARD_LAYOUT2 ... KEYBOARD_LAYOUTn
Allows to change the keyboard layouts. If more than one is specified, the tools of the desktop
environment will allow to switch it under X11. There is no default value set.
live-config.keyboard-variants=KEYBOARD_VARIANT1,KEYBOARD_VARIANT2 ... KEYBOARD_VARIANTn |
keyboard-variants=KEYBOARD_VARIANT1,KEYBOARD_VARIANT2 ... KEYBOARD_VARIANTn
Allows to change the keyboard variants. If more than one is specified, the same number of values as
keyboard-layouts values should be specified as they will be matched one-to-one in the order
specified. Blank values are allowed. The tools of the desktop environment will allow to switch
between each layout and variant pair under X11. There is no default value set.
live-config.keyboard-options=KEYBOARD_OPTIONS | keyboard-options=KEYBOARD_OPTIONS
Allows to change the keyboard options. There is no default value set.
live-config.sysv-rc=SERVICE1,SERVICE2 ... SERVICEn | sysv-rc=SERVICE1,SERVICE2 ... SERVICEn
Allows to disable sysv services through update-rc.d.
live-config.utc=yes|no | utc=yes|no
Allows to change if the system is assuming that the hardware clock is set to UTC or not. The default
is 'yes'.
live-config.x-session-manager=X_SESSION_MANAGER | x-session-manager=X_SESSION_MANAGER
Allows to set the x-session-manager through update-alternatives.
live-config.xorg-driver=XORG_DRIVER | xorg-driver=XORG_DRIVER
Allows to set xorg driver instead of autodetecting it. If a PCI ID is specified in
/usr/share/live/config/xserver-xorg/DRIVER.ids within the live system, DRIVER is enforced for these
devices. If both a boot parameter and a override is found, the boot parameter takes precedence.
live-config.xorg-resolution=XORG_RESOLUTION | xorg-resolution=XORG_RESOLUTION
Allows to set xorg resolution instead of autodetecting it, e.g. 1024x768.
live-config.hooks=filesystem|medium|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn | hooks=medium|filesystem|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn
Allows to fetch and execute one or more arbitrary files. Note that the URLs must be fetchable by wget
(http, ftp or file://), the files are executed in /tmp of the running live system, and that the files
needs their dependencies, if any, already installed, e.g. if a python script should be executed the
system needs python installed. Some hooks for some common use-cases are available at
/usr/share/doc/live-config/examples/hooks/ and <http://live.debian.net/other/hooks>.
If the file is placed on the live medium, it can be fetched with file:///lib/live/mount/medium/FILE,
or with file:///FILE if it is in the root filesystem of the live system itself.
All hooks in /lib/live/config-hooks/ in the root filesystem of the live system can be automatically
enabled with the keyword 'filesystem'.
All hooks in /live/config-hooks/ of the live medium can be automatically enabled with the keyword
'medium'.
If several mechanisms are combined, then filesystem hooks are executed first, then medium hooks, and
last the network hooks.
Boot Parameters (shortcuts)
For some common use cases where it would require to combine several individual parameters, live-config
provides shortcuts. This allows both to have full granularity over all the options, as well keep things
simple.
live-config.noroot | noroot
Disables the sudo and policykit, the user cannot gain root privileges on the system.
live-config.noautologin | noautologin
Disables both the automatic console login and the graphical autologin.
live-config.nottyautologin | nottyautologin
Disables the automatic login on the console, not affecting the graphical autologin.
live-config.nox11autologin | nox11autologin
Disables the automatic login with any display manager, not affecting tty autologin.
Boot Parameters (special options)
For special use cases there are some special boot paramters.
live-config.debug | debug
Enables debug output in live-config.
Configuration Files
live-config can be configured (but not activated) through configuration files. Everything but the
shortcuts that can be configured with a boot parameter can be alternatively also be configured through
one or more files. If configuration files are used, the 'boot=live' parameter is still required to
activate live-config.
Configuration files can be placed either in the root filesystem itself (/etc/live/config.conf,
/etc/live/config/*), or on the live media (live/config.conf, live/config/*). If both places are used for
a certain option, the ones from the live media take precedence over the ones from the root filesystem.
Although the configuration files placed in the conf.d directories do not require a particular name or
suffix, it is suggested for consistency reasons to either use 'vendor.conf' or 'project.conf' as a naming
scheme (whereas 'vendor' or 'project' is replaced with the actual name, resulting in a filename like
'debian-eeepc.conf').
The actual content of the configuration files consists of one or more of the following variables.
LIVE_CONFIGS=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn
This variable equals the 'live-config=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn' parameter.
LIVE_NOCONFIGS=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn
This variable equals the 'live-noconfig=SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2, ... SCRIPTn' parameter.
LIVE_DEBCONF_PRESEED=filesystem|medium|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn
This variable equals the 'live-config.debconf-preseed=filesystem|medium|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn'
parameter.
LIVE_HOSTNAME=HOSTNAME
This variable equals the 'live-config.hostname=HOSTNAME' parameter.
LIVE_USERNAME=USERNAME
This variable equals the 'live-config.username=USERNAME' parameter.
LIVE_USER_DEFAULT_GROUPS=GROUP1,GROUP2 ... GROUPn
This variable equals the 'live-config.user-default-groups="GROUP1,GROUP2 ... GROUPn"' parameter.
LIVE_USER_FULLNAME="USER FULLNAME"
This variable equals the 'live-config.user-fullname="USER FULLNAME"' parameter.
LIVE_LOCALES=LOCALE1,LOCALE2 ... LOCALEn
This variable equals the 'live-config.locales=LOCALE1,LOCALE2 ... LOCALEn' parameter.
LIVE_TIMEZONE=TIMEZONE
This variable equals the 'live-config.timezone=TIMEZONE' parameter.
LIVE_KEYBOARD_MODEL=KEYBOARD_MODEL
This variable equals the 'live-config.keyboard-model=KEYBOARD_MODEL' parameter.
LIVE_KEYBOARD_LAYOUTS=KEYBOARD_LAYOUT1,KEYBOARD_LAYOUT2 ... KEYBOARD_LAYOUTn
This variable equals the 'live-config.keyboard-layouts=KEYBOARD_LAYOUT1,KEYBOARD_LAYOUT2 ...
KEYBOARD_LAYOUTn' parameter.
LIVE_KEYBOARD_VARIANTS=KEYBOARD_VARIANT1,KEYBOARD_VARIANT2 ... KEYBOARD_VARIANTn
This variable equals the 'live-config.keyboard-variants=KEYBOARD_VARIANT1,KEYBOARD_VARIANT2 ...
KEYBOARD_VARIANTn' parameter.
LIVE_KEYBOARD_OPTIONS=KEYBOARD_OPTIONS
This variable equals the 'live-config.keyboard-options=KEYBOARD_OPTIONS' parameter.
LIVE_SYSV_RC=SERVICE1,SERVICE2 ... SERVICEn
This variable equals the 'live-config.sysv-rc=SERVICE1,SERVICE2 ... SERVICEn' parameter.
LIVE_UTC=yes|no
This variable equals the 'live-config.utc=yes|no' parameter.
LIVE_X_SESSION_MANAGER=X_SESSION_MANAGER
This variable equals the 'live-config.x-session-manager=X_SESSION_MANAGER' parameter.
LIVE_XORG_DRIVER=XORG_DRIVER
This variable equals the 'live-config.xorg-driver=XORG_DRIVER' parameter.
LIVE_XORG_RESOLUTION=XORG_RESOLUTION
This variable equals the 'live-config.xorg-resolution=XORG_RESOLUTION' parameter.
LIVE_HOOKS=filesystem|medium|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn
This variable equals the 'live-config.hooks=filesystem|medium|URL1|URL2| ... |URLn' parameter.
CUSTOMIZATION
live-config can be easily customized for downstream projects or local usage.
Adding new config scripts
Downstream projects can put their scripts into /lib/live/config and do not need to do anything else, the
scripts will be called automatically during boot.
The scripts are best put into an own debian package. A sample package containing an example script can be
found in /usr/share/doc/live-config/examples.
Removing existing config scripts
It is not really possible to remove scripts itself in a sane way yet without requiring either to ship a
locally modified live-config package or using dpkg-divert. However, the same can be achieved by disabling
the respective scripts through the live-noconfig mechanism, see above. To avoid to always need specifing
disabled scripts through the boot parameter, a configuration file should be used, see above.
The configuration files for the live system itself are best put into an own debian package. A sample
package containing an example configuration can be found in /usr/share/doc/live-config/examples.
SCRIPTS
live-config currently features the following scripts in /lib/live/config.
debconf
allows to apply arbitrary preseed files placed on the live media or an http/ftp server.
hostname
configures /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts.
user-setup
adds a live user account.
sudo
grants sudo privileges to the live user.
locales
configures locales.
locales-all
configures locales-all.
tzdata
configures /etc/timezone.
gdm configures autologin in gdm.
gdm3
configures autologin in gdm3 (squeeze and newer).
kdm configures autologin in kdm.
lightdm
configures autologin in lightdm.
lxdm
configures autologin in lxdm.
nodm
configures autologin in nodm.
slim
configures autologin in slim.
xinit
configures autologin with xinit.
keyboard-configuration
configures the keyboard.
sysvinit
configures sysvinit.
sysv-rc
configures sysv-rc by disabling listed services.
login
disables lastlog.
apport
disables apport.
gnome-panel-data
disables lock button for the screen.
gnome-power-manager
disables hibernation.
gnome-screensaver
disables the screensaver locking the screen.
kaboom
disables KDE migration wizard (squeeze and newer).
kde-services
disables some unwanted KDE services (squeeze and newer).
debian-installer-launcher
adds debian-installer-launcher on users desktop.
module-init-tools
automatically load some modules on some architectures.
policykit
grant user privilegies through policykit.
sslcert
regenerating ssl snake-oil certificates.
update-notifier
disables update-notifier.
anacron
disables anacron.
util-linux
disables util-linux' hwclock.
login
disables lastlog.
xserver-xorg
configures xserver-xorg.
ureadahead (ubuntu only)
disables ureadahead.
openssh-server
recreates openssh-server host keys.
xfce4-panel
configures xfce4-panel to default settings.
hooks
allows to run arbitrary commands from a script placed on the live media or an http/ftp server.
FILES
/etc/live/config.conf
/etc/live/config/*
live/config.conf
live/config/*
/lib/live/config.sh
/lib/live/config/
/var/lib/live/config/
/var/log/live/config.log
/live/config-hooks/*
live/config-hooks/*
/live/config-preseed/*
live/config-preseed/*
SEE ALSO
live-boot(7)
live-build(7)
live-tools(7)
HOMEPAGE
More information about live-config and the Debian Live project can be found on the homepage at
<http://live.debian.net/> and in the manual at <http://live.debian.net/manual/>.
BUGS
Bugs can be reported by submitting a bugreport for the live-config package in the Debian Bug Tracking
System at <http://bugs.debian.org/> or by writing a mail to the Debian Live mailing list at
<debian-live@lists.debian.org>.
AUTHOR
live-config was written by Daniel Baumann <daniel@debian.org>.