System-tools

This page tells you more about the important linux software which comes with this system rescue disk:

Detailed package list

• Browse the x86 detailed package list:
  • sysresccd-x86-packages-list
• Browse the Sparc detailed package list:
  • sysresccd-sparc-packages-list

kernel info

Linux-kernel-3.14

The current version is based on the Long-Term-Supported linux-3.14 kernel. The precompiled kernel includes a lot of drivers, in order to work for most users.

recovery tools

Here is a short description of some of the recovery tools.

sfdisk

sfdisk [1]

a partition table tool. Save/restore partition table to/from a file. Use it before and after changing partitions or like right now to save partition definitions.

FSArchiver

FSArchiver [2]

it's a flexible system tool that allows you to save the contents of a file-system to a compressed archive file. The file-system can be restored on a partition which has a different size and it can be restored on a different file-system. It provides multi-threading compression and supports lzma compression (very high compression level) as well as lzo, gzip and bzip2. Everything is checksummed in the archive in order to protect the data. It supports all the linux-filesystems including ext4 so you should use it if you are interested in linux backups. This program can also be used to clone ntfs partitions.

Partimage

Partimage [3]

It's a disk imaging software. It can be used for backups and hard drive recovery since it works at the block level. Used blocks of a partition are saved to a compressed image file. It can be used to restore your system or data after a hard drive crash or after accidental deletion of data.

TestDisk

TestDisk[4]

Popular disk recovery software. Recovers lost partitions and repairs unbootable systems by repairing boot sectors. It can also be used to recover deleted files from FAT, NTFS and ext2 filesystems. File system recovery is supported for reiserfs, ntfs, fat32, ext2/3 and many others.

PhotoRec

PhotoRec[5]

Another data recovery software focused on lost files including video, photos, documents and archives.

lftp

lftp [6]

an extended ftp client to send them off to another system.

dvd+rw-format [7] and mkudffs[8] to write a DVD

System tools

GParted

GParted[9]

Graphical partition editor displays, checks, resizes, copies, moves, creates, formats, deletes, and modifies partitions.

GNU-Parted

GNU-Parted[10]

Text based partitioning tool.

GRUB

GRUB[11] / lilo[12]

Multi Bootloaders Install or restore bootloader. If Microsoft Windows removed a multi bootloader, run it from this CD, and reinstall it.

File System specific tools

File System tools

Each file system has its own tools. For example XFS provides xfsprogs. It allows the user to format an existing partition, to resize another one, ... We provide reiserfsprogs for ReiserFS, Reiser4progs, xfsprogs for XFS, jfsprogs for JFS, e2fsprogs for ext2/ext3/ext4, ntfsprogs and ntfs-3g-AR for NTFS, dosfstools for FAT/VFAT.

NTFS-3g[13]

allows mounting NTFS partitions with full Read and Write support. Read the manual for information about how to use it.

archivers

Archiving tools

tar/gzip/bzip2 are provided for Unix users. zip/unzip, rar/unrar/unace for Microsoft Windows users. It allows users to backup/restore their data from this bootable disc. Dar (Disk Archiver) It's like tar but it's a lot more powerful. 7z (=7zip) which is used on Unix and on Microsoft Windows is also provided.

editors

Editors

During a system rescue, you may need to edit system files. nano (a lightweight editor), vim[14] (VI Improved), qemacs (emacs clone) and joe are included. Geany[15], a graphical text editor for X windows is also available.

Midnight Commander

Midnight Commander[16]

Text file manager shows directories and files in a graphical display. It is very easy to use, and allows browse, copy, rename, delete, move, search and edit files.

CD/DVD burners

CD/DVD burning tools

cdrecord is a package that comes with mkisofs. It is the linux standard CD burning command from console. Mkisofs allows you to create an ISO image file to use with cdrecord. Cdw is a text based front end to make cdrecord and mkisofs easier to use. Udftools are provided for packet writing. Now, you can also use dvd+rwtools.

network utilities

Network Tools

allow exchanging data with other computers. lftp, ssh (client and server), ppp (connect to the internet), lynx (console web browser). LUFS (Linux Userland File System), NFS, and Samba mount -t smbfs //ip/share /mnt/path allow you to mount remote file systems

Network admin tools

including nslookup (DNS-tool), nmap (network exploration), netcat (network piping tool).

Chkrootkit

Security tools

Chkrootkit searches for a rootkit installed on your system (rootkit is a package installed by a hacker that allows them to hack it).

Web Browsers

text Web browsers

elinks [17] (from X terminal). Useful for viewing documentation during recovery of the system.

programming languages

Ruby[18]

object-oriented programming language.

Python[19]

object-oriented programming language.

Perl[20]

Many administration scripts are written in perl.

Secure HardDisk wipers

Secure Deletion

Several wiping tools (such as shred and wipe) ensure that files are really erased from the hard disk.

md5deep

Misc Tools

md5deep calculates the MD5 sum in subdirectories

Boot images

The CD comes with several floppy disk images. These can be used as if they were real boot floppy disks.

• FreeDos[21] allows running DOS programs without proprietary MS-DOS
• MemTest+ tests the physical memory, and tells if it is damaged or not
• Gag (Graphical Boot Manager)[22] an easy to use Boot manager (such as LILO)
• Ranish Partition Manager a bootable partition editor. Revised documentation at [23]
• Aida a powerful hardware enumeration/diagnostic/discovery tool (as sandra). Details components like type of video subsystem, NIC and memory specifics.
• MHDD[24] low-level Hard Disk Drive Diagnostic. Reports S.M.A.R.T. data, firmware errorlog, runs firmware tests, scans surface reporting access times per sector and much more. Revised documentation at [25]