Install REMnux on Mint

[odmetroit0]

Hi all,
I would like to run a Linux toolkit called Remnux on a bootable live LinuxMint (https://docs.remnux.org/install-distro/install-from-scratch )
As Mint is Ubuntu-Based and in Remnux's description :

If you're looking to recreate the lightweight environment provided by the REMnux pre-built virtual appliance, start with the 64-bit minimal Ubuntu 20.04 ISO installation file.

Download the Ubuntu 20.04 mini ISO image.

So can I Install and Run it properly ?

 

[Fanboi]

That's a pretty old version of Ubuntu being recommended, so I would guess that there might be issues -- and I hardly ever say this discussing issues of distro compatibility. You're dealing with third-party software. That said, you won't know unless you try. So give it a test in a VM, if it works, install it to metal once you are sure it does work... properly.

Of course the site offers VM and Docker images prebuilt. I'd recommend one of those routes as a start point. Clearly you're just getting started, so a VM is probably the best for now. Unless you have a PC you're not using to experiment on.

 

[bob466]

The Mint live session runs in volatile memory...anything installed is lost on Re-Boot...so the answer is no.

 

[KGIII]

The Mint live session runs in volatile memory...anything installed is lost on Re-Boot...so the answer is no. View attachment 23072

With some effort you can make a 'persistant' USB version of Mint. It retains things like installed applications and settings changes and still runs in the live environment.

 

[bob466]

With some effort you can make a 'persistant' USB version of Mint. It retains things like installed applications and settings changes and still runs in the live environment.

It also reduces the lifespan of the Flash Drive and is very slow as I found out a few years ago but who am I to say.

 

[odmetroit0]

The Mint live session runs in volatile memory...anything installed is lost on Re-Boot...so the answer is no. View attachment 23072

Hi and thanks
I'm not an expert but as I try to analyze a PDF file, it could be taken less than an hour so I do not mind If it will be wiped . Just I need to see an output.

 

[odmetroit0]

That's a pretty old version of Ubuntu being recommended, so I would guess that there might be issues -- and I hardly ever say this discussing issues of distro compatibility. You're dealing with third-party software. That said, you won't know unless you try. So give it a test in a VM, if it works, install it to metal once you are sure it does work... properly.

Of course the site offers VM and Docker images prebuilt. I'd recommend one of those routes as a start point. Clearly you're just getting started, so a VM is probably the best for now. Unless you have a PC you're not using to experiment on.

Hi and thanks
The old version of Ubuntu by Remnux you meant?
To be honest, I prefer to use the command line in Mint rather than downloading 5 GB ova , importing it, and involving in transferring files, setting , etc....
If I do not have any choice , I go with ova VM machine.
My task is simple and I m not expert and have to follow instruction for analyzing a PDF file for JS-embedded .
I asked about that , no one respond yet

 

[GatorsFan]

I think the reason they recommend that particular version of Ubuntu is that it is a MINI at around 60MBs or so - the last one Ubuntu released was 20.04 they no longer release it - but Debian still puts this out as a daily which is available here - https://d-i.debian.org/daily-images/amd64/daily/netboot/
So you might be able to substitute Debian for Ubuntu

 

[Fanboi]

My task is simple and I m not expert and have to follow instruction for analyzing a PDF file for JS-embedded .
I asked about that , no one respond yet

Well, if that's all you need, you could check out the PDF component: https://github.com/jesparza/peepdf
It's what Remnux (and a couple others) are using. That should make life way easier. You can just install it on your current system.

Hi and thanks
The old version of Ubuntu by Remnux you meant?

Yes, I meant it's old so I said there may be issues because Ubuntu changes very rapidly, which affects Mint downstream. Also, Mint is not just an Ubuntu clone, there's a lot of extra work that goes into Mint than just slap on a new theme and call it a day. They have their own tools and tweaks (thank gawd).

To be honest, I prefer to use the command line in Mint rather than downloading 5 GB ova , importing it, and involving in transferring files, setting , etc....

The image will come with optimal settings, obviously not your preferred ones. File transfer is pretty easy with a VM, though. But if bandwidth is an issue for you and you don't want to download 5GB, you can try using your Mint ISO in a VM and follow the Remnux instructions and just see.

 

[KGIII]

It also reduces the lifespan of the Flash Drive and is very slow as I found out a few years ago but who am I to say. View attachment 23075

That sort of depends. IF you have gobs of RAM then you'll load everything into RAM and (once booted and applications started) it will run quite well. This can be done with less RAM, but see the folks who use things like Puppy.

Startup is going to be slower than even an HDD, but once you're past that (again, if you have enough RAM) it'll run quite well. Everything you're needing is loaded into RAM already. The reads/writes to the drive are also going to be slower than they'd be with an HDD - unless it's USB3 or USB C, I suppose.

But, yes, it will shorten the life of the thumb drive.

I order them in bulk when they're on sale and consider them disposable. But, that's just me. I'm frequently handing them out to people with stuff on them and I don't ask for them back. I assume they keep using them as I tend to buy 64 to 128 GB thumb drives. I consider them inexpensive, at just a few dollars each when I buy the Team Group brand.

But, that's just me. I can't really speak for others.

 

[odmetroit0]

Well, if that's all you need, you could check out the PDF component: https://github.com/jesparza/peepdf
It's what Remnux (and a couple others) are using. That should make life way easier. You can just install it on your current system.


Yes, I meant it's old so I said there may be issues because Ubuntu changes very rapidly, which affects Mint downstream. Also, Mint is not just an Ubuntu clone, there's a lot of extra work that goes into Mint than just slap on a new theme and call it a day. They have their own tools and tweaks (thank gawd).


The image will come with optimal settings, obviously not your preferred ones. File transfer is pretty easy with a VM, though. But if bandwidth is an issue for you and you don't want to download 5GB, you can try using your Mint ISO in a VM and follow the Remnux instructions and just see.

Thanks for your response,
Finally with my explanation If I prefer using Mint , for an hour and just viewing my task's output , it would be fine ?

 

[Fanboi]

Thanks for your response,
Finally with my explanation If I prefer using Mint , for an hour and just viewing my task's output , it would be fine ?

Not sure what you mean, but if you mean watching the output using peepdf, then yes, however long you need for analysis (not sure it'll take an hour to analyze by my limited understanding, you can use it in interactive mode, have a look at objects it identifies as having executable code, and get and idea that "something's going on" which pretty much would be enough for me an an alarm bell, but with deeper analysis, you can unobfiscate code, etc.)
If you just meant, "Will it be fine to use Mint?" then short answer is yes. Any distro running Python.