First Commit

initramfs/Arch Linux/overlay_snap_ro-hook

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+#!/usr/bin/ash
+
+run_latehook() {
+	local root_mnt="/new_root"
+	local current_dev=$(resolve_device "$root"); # resolve devices for blkid
+	if [[ $(blkid "${current_dev}" -s TYPE -o value) = "btrfs" ]] && [[ $(btrfs property get ${root_mnt} ro) != "ro=false" ]]; then # run only on a read only snapshot
+		local lower_dir=$(mktemp -d -p /)
+		local ram_dir=$(mktemp -d -p /)
+		mount --move ${root_mnt} ${lower_dir} # move new_root to lower_dir
+		mount -t tmpfs cowspace ${ram_dir}  #meuh!!! space, you can't test !
+		mkdir -p ${ram_dir}/upper
+		mkdir -p ${ram_dir}/work
+		mount -t overlay -o lowerdir=${lower_dir},upperdir=${ram_dir}/upper,workdir=${ram_dir}/work rootfs ${root_mnt}
+	fi
+}

initramfs/Arch Linux/overlay_snap_ro-install

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+#!/bin/bash
+
+build() {
+    add_module btrfs
+    add_module overlay
+    add_binary btrfs
+    add_binary btrfsck
+    add_binary blkid
+    add_runscript
+}
+
+help() {
+    cat <<HELPEOF
+This hook uses overlayfs to boot on a read only snapshot.
+HELPEOF
+}
+
+# vim: set ft=sh ts=4 sw=4 et:

initramfs/readme.md

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+### Description :
+
+Booting on a snapshot in read-only mode can be tricky.  
+An elegant way is to boot this snapshot using overlayfs (included in the kernel ≥ 3.18).
+
+Using overlayfs, the booted snapshot will behave like a live-cd in non-persistent mode.  
+The snapshot will not be modified, the system will be able to boot correctly, because a writeable folder will be included in the ram.  
+(no more problems due to `/var` not open for writing)
+
+Any changes in this system thus started will be lost when the system is rebooted/shutdown.
+
+To do this, it is necessary to modify the initramfs.  
+This means that any snapshot that does not include this modified initramfs will not be able to benefit from it.  
+(except for separate boot partitions)
+#
+### Installation :
+#### Arch Linux
+1.
+`Pacman -S grub-btrfs`  
+Or if you use git  
+copy the `overlay_snap_ro-install` file to `/etc/initcpio/install/grub-btrfs-overlayfs`  
+copy the `overlay_snap_ro-hook` file to `/etc/initcpio/hooks/grub-btrfs-overlayfs`  
+You must rename the files. (I did it above)
+
+For example :  
+`overlay_snap_ro-install` to `grub-btrfs-overlayfs`  
+`overlay_snap_ro-hook` to `grub-btrfs-overlayfs`  
+Keep in mind that the files must have exactly the same name to ensure a match.
+
+2.
+Edit the file `/etc/mkinitcpio.conf`  
+Added hook `grub-btrfs-overlayfs` at the end of the line `HOOKS`.
+
+For example :  
+`HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block filesystems keyboard fsck grub-btrfs-overlayfs)`  
+You notice that the name of the `hook` must match the name of the 2 installed files. (don't forget it)
+
+3.
+Re-generate your initramfs  
+`mkinitcpio -P` (option -P means, all preset present in `/etc/mkinitcpio.d`)
+
+#### Other distribution
+Refer to your distribution's documentation  
+or contribute to this project to add a paragraph.
+#