Using vmx to launch a browser (aka Boot to Firefox)

Currently, vmx requires that the kernel but launched from outside a disk image. So one cannot just download a Linux LiveCD type image and boot it.

There are a few distros for use on "web kiosks", that run an extremely minimal Linux meant for low powered hardware.

Rough Idea

• Take a web kiosk distro.

• Pull out the kernel and initrd files.

These need to be read by vmx, so they have to be outside the disk image file.

• Make an rc sript that with the vmx command to boot the thing

• Make an "install" script

Put the disk image and kernel in some "official" location, keeping in mind that the launch script needs to point there, and then put the launch script in /rc/bin or $home/bin/rc.

• Maintain the project

If the kiosk distro runs any sort of update that upgrades the kernel, this will break the ability to launch in with the launch script. So maintenance is basically just tracking when the distro is updated, and copying the necessary external files and putting that and its disk image on some git repo so user can just git/pull to keep it updated.

Bonus Points

Include a way to move files between the web kiosk on the host 9front system.

The simplest way may be for both to share a FAT format disk image.

Or use one of the Linux 9P projects if it works well enough.

Other Ideas

sirjofri — 11:24 AM Nice! I'd wish for it to be in this new vmthreads thingy (if that makes sense) and integrate plumber Should be doable with a browser plugin Also chording for snarf-paste if that makes sense with all the other browser stuff