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Arch Linux based distro that runs upon any Linux distros without root


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securitybreach

JuNest

 

The Arch Linux based distro that runs upon any Linux distros without root access.

 

Description

 

JuNest (Jailed User NEST) is a lightweight Arch Linux based distribution that allows to have an isolated GNU/Linux environment inside any generic host GNU/Linux OS and without the need to have root privileges for installing packages.

 

JuNest contains mainly the package managers (called pacman and yaourt) that allows to access to a wide range of packages from the Arch Linux repositories.

 

The main advantages on using JuNest are:

  • Install packages without root privileges.
  • Isolated environment in which you can install packages without affecting a production system.
  • Access to a wide range of packages in particular on GNU/Linux distros that may contain limited repositories (such as CentOS and RedHat).
  • Available for x86_64, x86 and ARM architectures but you can build your own image from scratch too!
  • Run on a different architecture from the host OS via QEMU
  • All Arch Linux lovers can have their favourite distro everywhere!

JuNest follows the Arch Linux philosophy.......

 

https://github.com/fsquillace/junest

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I like the sound of this, most interesting. I wonder how it runs, slow/fast , how much cpu and ram etc. Would be nice to read a review or two. I would have a play but am busy busy busy at the moment. B)

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It does not require additional cpu/ram. It is based on a special chroot for unprivileged users that allows to access in the sandbox and install packages. It works even with graphical applications.

For instance, I installed last time steam and it works :)

 

It is extremely easy to use. For instance, if you want to install and run smplayer on ubuntu or whatever other distros:

 

myubuntu> junest -f
> pacman -S smplayer
...
...
> smplayer

 

Or even via CLI without entering in the JuNest terminal:

 

myubuntu> junest -f -- pacman -S smplayer
myubuntu> junest -- smplayer

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securitybreach

Thanks Feel and welcome to the forums. Sorry I haven't tested yet as I have been busy packing for the move.

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securitybreach

Sorry I haven't tested yet as I have been busy packing for the move.

Did I miss something? You're moving?

 

Yes, I am moving to New Orleans with my cousin as there are a lot more opportunities for me there. All of my family is here but it is a smaller area and I am trying to get into a different career path (hopefully tech related eventually), My cousin has a house 4 miles from bourbon st and there are a crapton of jobs that pay well there. I will be moving next Friday/Saturday.

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securitybreach

Good luck with the move . I thought you were already working in the tech field ? :fish:

 

Unfortunately, no :(

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No worries securitybreach, let me know your feedback whenever you can use it ;)

 

This project is growing pretty fast in terms of popularity. Several people are using it and they really like it.

I really would like to build a solid community on it.

Ideally, it would be nice if Arch Linux community could be aware of this project since I think there are people that might really need a system like this, but they probably do not know about JuNest.

 

Apart from the github page (https://github.com/fsquillace/junest) I have made an effort on creating a simple website (http://fsquillace.github.io/junest-site/index.html) which explain everything about this project.

 

There are multiple reason this project can be useful and I tried to explain them in the first blog post: http://fsquillace.github.io/junest-site/2014/10/18/everything-starts-from-zero.html

 

If you guys can use it and spread the word would be really helpful ;)

 

Thanks

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Sorry I haven't tested yet as I have been busy packing for the move.

Did I miss something? You're moving?

 

Yes, I am moving to New Orleans with my cousin as there are a lot more opportunities for me there. All of my family is here but it is a smaller area and I am trying to get into a different career path (hopefully tech related eventually), My cousin has a house 4 miles from bourbon st and there are a crapton of jobs that pay well there. I will be moving next Friday/Saturday.

Did Anubis give approval for this?
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No worries securitybreach, let me know your feedback whenever you can use it ;)

 

This project is growing pretty fast in terms of popularity. Several people are using it and they really like it.

I really would like to build a solid community on it.

Ideally, it would be nice if Arch Linux community could be aware of this project since I think there are people that might really need a system like this, but they probably do not know about JuNest.

 

Apart from the github page (https://github.com/fsquillace/junest) I have made an effort on creating a simple website (http://fsquillace.gi...site/index.html) which explain everything about this project.

 

There are multiple reason this project can be useful and I tried to explain them in the first blog post: http://fsquillace.gi...-from-zero.html

 

If you guys can use it and spread the word would be really helpful ;)

 

Thanks

 

So do some advertising posting on Josh's G+ site. :whistling:

 

https://plus.google.com/communities/113935870359973712582

Edited by abarbarian
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No worries securitybreach, let me know your feedback whenever you can use it ;)

 

This project is growing pretty fast in terms of popularity. Several people are using it and they really like it.

I really would like to build a solid community on it.

Ideally, it would be nice if Arch Linux community could be aware of this project since I think there are people that might really need a system like this, but they probably do not know about JuNest.

 

Apart from the github page (https://github.com/fsquillace/junest) I have made an effort on creating a simple website (http://fsquillace.gi...site/index.html) which explain everything about this project.

 

There are multiple reason this project can be useful and I tried to explain them in the first blog post: http://fsquillace.gi...-from-zero.html

 

If you guys can use it and spread the word would be really helpful ;)

 

Thanks

 

So do some advertising posting on Josh's G+ site. :whistling:

 

https://plus.google....870359973712582

 

LOL, I tried but I was banned by Josh :D

My topic is not strictly related to Arch Linux since JuNest is a derivative distro. So, it makes sense to avoid posting this on Josh's G+ group.

 

On the other hand, there are a LOT of people potentially interested in that group which could be a benefit for JuNest. ;D

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No worries securitybreach, let me know your feedback whenever you can use it ;)

 

This project is growing pretty fast in terms of popularity. Several people are using it and they really like it.

I really would like to build a solid community on it.

Ideally, it would be nice if Arch Linux community could be aware of this project since I think there are people that might really need a system like this, but they probably do not know about JuNest.

 

Apart from the github page (https://github.com/fsquillace/junest) I have made an effort on creating a simple website (http://fsquillace.gi...site/index.html) which explain everything about this project.

 

There are multiple reason this project can be useful and I tried to explain them in the first blog post: http://fsquillace.gi...-from-zero.html

 

If you guys can use it and spread the word would be really helpful ;)

 

Thanks

 

So do some advertising posting on Josh's G+ site. :whistling:

 

https://plus.google....870359973712582

 

LOL, I tried but I was banned by Josh :D

My topic is not strictly related to Arch Linux since JuNest is a derivative distro. So, it makes sense to avoid posting this on Josh's G+ group.

 

On the other hand, there are a LOT of people potentially interested in that group which could be a benefit for JuNest. ;D

 

I am sure there are lots of ways to include who you are and what you do in a legitimate Q about vanilla Arch. I manage to get in loads of plugs for Window Maker over at G +. Has to be a good Q though. Something like " what is the most popular WM/DE for Arch users " . Naturally my A to a Q like that would be Window Maker. See how easy it is. :breakfast:

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securitybreach

Well the problem is all of the archlinux derivatives market themselves as an easier way to install Archlinux (a couple were threatened with lawsuits so they had to change their wording and make a distinction between themselves. So we frequently get users posting about Manjaro, Archbang, BridgeLinux, etc. People think they are one in the same and come to Archlinux specific places to ask for help when they should be relying on said derivative. This is a problem as the derivatives hold back updates so you end up with different versions of software, different update cycle, and customized defaults. That's like someone going to the debian channel and asking for ubuntu specific help.

 

I personally have zero problem with people running derivatives but the Community is strictly for Archlinux related posts. It was such a problem that we had to write a specific rule for it (among others):

2. Shares containing information about Arch Linux Derivatives including but not limited to Antergos and Archbang will be deleted if they do not contain information directly relative to Vanilla Arch Linux and its repositories[1].

https://plus.google....sts/PfyGnQwPJ9z

 

Now I realize that this project is not really a derivative so it should be able to be in the Community but due to rules, it cannot. It is hard to keep things on topic as we have over 38,000 members and if we allowed discussion of derivatives, we would quickly become an offtopic mess that would not benefit anyone. I have seen other distro's Communities become a horrid mess because they allowed general Linux topics, discussion of derivatives and other offtopic posts and were not moderated very well.

 

Anyone can create a Community and most of the derivatives have their own Communities, forums and wikis but a lot of their users still think they are one in the same due to marketing.

 

It's really a shame.

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So we frequently get users posting about Manjaro, Archbang, BridgeLinux, etc. People think they are one in the same and come to Archlinux specific places to ask for help when they should be relying on said derivative.

 

Seems to me that if people just did a little bit of reading, they wouldn't make that kind of mistake.

 

Personally, I don't think it would hurt much to have an "Arch Derivatives" section or something at the Arch forums, but I certainly don't lose any sleep over the lack of that sort of thing.

 

I ran Bridge Linux, Chakra, and ArchBang before I ever installed Arch. It was clear to me right from the start that none of those were the same as installing and running Arch, and also that questions about those (or any) Arch derivatives were not welcomed at the Arch forums.

 

Myself, I'm not sure that I would have ever installed Arch if I hadn't first spent some time playing around with Bridge and ArchBang. Those two were what ultimately sold me on the idea of installing Arch. I guess that's why I feel like the folks at the Arch forums should be more welcoming to those who use Arch derivatives; maybe the end result would be more people wanting to run "the real thing."

 

But, maybe not. People do tend to look for the easy way, I guess.

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I get the rule about not posting about derivatives and I agree with it as it is bad manners and it wastes folks time.

If you were a Windows expert would you be happy if folk kept on knocking at your door asking technical questions about GNU/Linux or BSD or having hundreds of e-mails asking about the same. Would you walk in a Lap Dancing Bar and expect to see a Catholic priest about a confessional, of course not you would go to the nearest RC church.Would you look for a 5* holiday at a travel agents who had a big sign outside their door saying "Specialist Holidays In The Frozen Antarctic" of course not if you were a decent reasonably intelligent person.

You may if you were truly stuck, pop your head around the door and ask for directions with a "sorry to bother you, and a , "thanks for the help". Nine times out of ten you would be given some help as most folk do not mind giving a little helping hand to a genuine lost soul. However those poor sad folk who deliberately post about derivatives well they are just sad folk, maybe they will grow up one day and gain some manners and a sense of decency and a life.

As to having a Arch Derivatives section, I do not recon it is a good idea as it would just waste real Archers time. The derivative crowd can always set up their own G+ as it is easy and free or set up their own web site.

Thinking about it , you could have a Arch Derivatives section at the forums with one post as a sticky containing a whole series of links to all the derivative or alternative distro home sites. That way we would still be lending a helping hand without wasting too much time.

 

As to JuNest well that is a tricky one. To my uneducated barbaric mind it seems to not be a distro as you can only run it in a host to me it is more like a program along the lines of Docker for instance. So if it was made into a AUR package then you could legitimately talk about it on Arch forums. The thing that differentiates it from a derivative to me is that it uses pure Arch packages with additional scripts to help it run, nothing has been changed or altered. It seems to be a very good idea for folk who want to try out new and exiting stuff in a safe manner with tools that they are familiar with.The ability to run it on different distros is a great idea as it gives you the ability to take your favourite toy with you wherever you go. :breakfast:

 

I am a tad puzzled by the G+ reaction as Evo Lution Q's and plugs are allowed. :whistling:

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securitybreach

Well the official stance via Archlinux.org is that:

These boards are for the support of Arch Linux, and Arch ONLY

 

If you have installed Archbang, Antegros, Chakra, Evo/Lution, Manjaro, Whatever, you are NOT running Arch Linux. Similarly, if you followed some random video on YouTube or used an automated script you found on a blog, you are NOT running Arch Linux, so do not expect any support, sympathy or anything but your thread being closed and told to move along.

 

Arch is a DIY distro: if someone else has done it for you, then showing up here asking to have your hand held for more help is just help vampirism and is not welcome.

https://bbs.archlinu...c.php?id=130309

 

Since we are the Archlinux Community on G+, we try to go by the official stance that Archlinux.org has. They mention Evo|Lution but since then, the project has become just a installer for vanilla Archlinux so we support that. The only reason that there is not an installer for Archlinux anymore is that people stopped developing the previous one and just use bootstraps instead.

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securitybreach

Originally, I did not allow talk of Evo until I was shown that it is simply an installer and uses the same exact procedure after you make your selections: pacman commands and other commands. There are no custom repos or any custom commands. Everything is exactly like the wiki explains except they are automated with menu driven interface. You have to remember way back when (up until 2011 or so), Archlinux had an ncurses installer like Slackware and Debian have. They just changed over to the boostrap method a couple of years ago. This was pre-systemd and had one main configuration file for networking, daemons, etc.

 

There is one issue I have with Evo|Lution, they install and setup sudo for the user automatically. That is the only thing that is different from a normal Archlinux installation and when I mentioned it to the developers, they added a section asking if you use sudo or not.

 

Evo has since added an ARM installer for RPi and command line installer. http://sourceforge.n...ionlinux/files/

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securitybreach

Also, there would be no point in adding a derivative section some of them already have their communities on G+ and anyone can create one for the others:

 

Manjaro: https://plus.google.com/communities/107967642032305437112

Evo/Lution: https://plus.google.com/communities/114369022460755215964

 

 

BTW I have no problem with Evo as long as the user has previously installed Arch and understand how their system is setup. This is a nice tool for those that understand the process and I have used it a couple of times myself on my netbook and another device.

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securitybreach

Here is a comment from a G+ post on the Community that sums it up perfectly:

the Lution-AIS requires the user to use fdisk, gdisk or gparted depending on their needs. It doesn't partition the disks, it simply loads the selected tool and leaves the decisions to the user. That is the philosophy of the evo/lution-AIS installer; you provide the knowledge and they provide the framework. It's simply a tool.

 

Is Evo/Lution a distro? No.

Is Evo/Lution an installer? Yes

Should the community provide support for specific installers? No.

Should the community provide support for ARCH configuration issues? Yes.

 

In my opinion any experienced ARCH user that does not have evo/lution in their toolbox is handicapped. I've been installing, maintaining and supporting operating systems and applications for over 45 years. I can install ARCH or BSD in my sleep. I'm also a distro-slut known for installing 4 or 5 distros over a weekend, but I always come back to ARCH as my daily driver. And I use evo/lution to do it because it's quicker and more efficient. It's a tool. An ARCH tool. And a good one!

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Sorry I haven't tested yet as I have been busy packing for the move.

Did I miss something? You're moving?

 

Yes, I am moving to New Orleans with my cousin as there are a lot more opportunities for me there. All of my family is here but it is a smaller area and I am trying to get into a different career path (hopefully tech related eventually), My cousin has a house 4 miles from bourbon st and there are a crapton of jobs that pay well there. I will be moving next Friday/Saturday.

You should be moving close to me. I live in Metairie, which, prior to Katrina, was a suburb of N.O. Since Katrina, N.O. is more like a suburb of Metairie. Drop me a PM when you get here and maybe we can get together for coffee or a beer.
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securitybreach

That is exactly where I will be living.. Metairie.. I'll email you with the addy. We could be neighbors.

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Neat info Josh.

I had the same concern about EvoLution nice to see they give an option about sudo.Wish they still had the old gui installer for Arch as it looks simple but easy and I love easy.

 

If EvoLution is " It's a tool. An ARCH tool. And a good one!" then surely JuNest is the same as it changes no packages and is 100% Arch ? :whistling:

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As to JuNest well that is a tricky one. To my uneducated barbaric mind it seems to not be a distro as you can only run it in a host to me it is more like a program along the lines of Docker for instance. So if it was made into a AUR package then you could legitimately talk about it on Arch forums. The thing that differentiates it from a derivative to me is that it uses pure Arch packages with additional scripts to help it run, nothing has been changed or altered. It seems to be a very good idea for folk who want to try out new and exiting stuff in a safe manner with tools that they are familiar with.The ability to run it on different distros is a great idea as it gives you the ability to take your favourite toy with you wherever you go. :breakfast:

 

I am a tad puzzled by the G+ reaction as Evo Lution Q's and plugs are allowed. :whistling:

 

To be honest, I am not expert on a proper definition of a distro but I guess that exist Arch based distros that use purely Arch packages and repositories. So, I do not think that this property can differentiate JuNest from other derivatives. The main reasons that differentiates JuNest from other distros are that JuNest runs naturally as a sandbox and the JuNest image does not have the Linux kernel since the Linux kernel is already running on the host OS.

 

 

There are two main components for JuNest: the junest script and the JuNest image. They can be considered as two separate things:

 

*The JuNest image is a mini Arch Linux (the compressed size is ~100MB) that contains mainly pacman, yaourt, qemu static binaries and junest script.

*The junest script allows to access to the JuNest image as a sandbox.

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