Make Knoppix data non-volatile

By default, all data you create in Knoppix is volatile. In the previous section, we were introduced to a method to save the system configuration so you can reload it later. This is okay for system configurations, but it is not well suited to your own data files. You can combine the previous technique with a ``persisten home folder'' feature. This new feature saves all the data files to an existing partition.

You can make the ``home'' directory of Knoppix persistent. This way, data is being saved as you use Knoppix. This is useful if you want bookmarks in a browser be automatically saved. There is no need to ``restore'' because the files are readily accessible on a partition.

To use this feature, you need to click on the penguin icon, select ``Configure'', then select ``Create a persistent KNOPPIX home directory''.

A dialog box pops up to show you how this feature is used. Click ``Yes'' after you read the text.

In the next dialog box, select a partition to create the Knoppix home folder.

Then, you'll be asked whether you want the whole drive be reformatted for Knoppix, or just to use an image. Click ``No'' to use just an image. Of course, if you really want to dedicate a partition to Knoppix, you can click ``Yes''. Most people should select ``No''.

The next screen lets you select the size of the image. This is really up to you. Because the home folder does not contain the operating system, nor the application programs, the default of 30MB is really quite a lot. If you are running low on space, even 5MB should be quite sufficient.

Note that the ``image'' you create is readable only with Knoppix and other Linux distributions. The image appears as a single big file in Windows, even though you may save many files into the image.

Next, you can choose whether to encrypt the home directory. Most people can select ``No''. If your computer is shared with other people, and you want to save passwords to log in to websites, I recommend that you enable the encryption feature. This way, even if someone else makes a copy of your home folder image, the content is still safe and secure.

Be sure to read the last screen in this process.

If you just want to boot Knoppix using a persistent home folder, type the following in the boot option screen:

knoppix home=/mnt/hdb5

If you combine this technique with the previous one (to restore system configuration), you should type the following in the boot option screen:

knoppix myconfig=/mnt/hdb5 home=/mnt/hdb5