[SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

zapper · 2025-12-08 06:31:40

It makes the system read-only until reboot I hear.

Does this mean that you cannot compile stuff and then do make install onto your system even with sudo or doas?

I found one based on debian that uses openrc hence my curiosity.

Camtaf · 2025-12-08 10:41:07

https://linuxblog.io/immutable-linux-di … tributions

fsmithred · 2025-12-08 12:57:09

That article uses the words "immutable" and "update" in the same sentence. I'm confused. It sounds like RedHat (or whoever) can make changes to your system, but you cannot. Someone who understands this, please tell me I'm wrong.

ralph.ronnquist · 2025-12-08 13:23:20

Are we searching for a distinct meaning of a marketing term?

g4sra · 2025-12-08 13:53:50

Dont 'know', but sounds very similar to something I do.

I believe

marketing term

is bang on.

I have layered containers, the lower of which are unwritable by anything above, but they themselves can be updated when accessed at their own level.

One example...
The lowest has all the core stuff installed git, gcc, etc, and the next container has Nvidia proprietary drivers which I compile and package without tainting the rest of my system or corrupt the integrity of the development layer container with unwanted include headers.

By creating container on top of container, it is possible to roll back by deleting the uppermost container.

zapper · 2025-12-08 20:22:51

I considered Nitrux actually and when i mean immutable, I mean the system is read only as to make it harder to hack lol.

Nitrux is based on debian but uses openrc.

Matlib · 2025-12-08 23:06:20

An immutable Linux distribution has its core system locked as read-only.

Strictly speaking that's not the same as ext2+ immutable files. FreeBSD uses immutable system files extensively.

Both Devuan and Debian have had the option to install read only root FS for many years now. That's my recommended setup in fact.

Last edited by Matlib (2025-12-08 23:13:32)

HardSun · 2025-12-08 23:41:19

Fedora and red hat clones use something called ostree.
https://ostreedev.github.io/ostree/introduction/
Immutable is a buzz word for atomic upgrades from what ive read.

pcalvert · 2025-12-09 00:03:59

zapper wrote:

Does this mean that you cannot compile stuff and then do make install onto your system even with sudo or doas?

According to my limited understanding, you're expected to use Flatpak to install any additional software that you may want. And I'm guessing that some software that is available in "tarball" format, like Firefox, SeaMonkey, etc., could be installed into your home directory as well.

zapper · 2025-12-09 03:23:55

@matlib I wonder how you set that up though... Especially with FDE

Matlib · 2025-12-09 11:52:44

Choose read only on root filesystem when installing. It is also possible to add ro /etc/fstab later on.

I don't use “FDE” myself but I don't see what the relation between that and read only / is.

Devarch · 2025-12-09 13:12:43

What do they call "immutable distro" is just the system where YOUR ACCESS to it is LIMITED but you can write any malware e.g. in /home.

If you want really immutable distro you can install and configure bilibop from devuan's repo.

greenjeans · 2025-12-09 19:44:13

If you REALLY want immutable, burn your favorite distro to a DVD and run it live. Maybe with a persistence partition on metal/ssd.

I used to run Puppy Linux that way.

Last edited by greenjeans (2025-12-09 19:44:28)

Devarch · 2025-12-10 00:30:59

If you REALLY want immutable, burn your favorite distro to a DVD and run it live. Maybe with a persistence partition on metal/ssd.

good luck with updates

greenjeans · 2025-12-10 02:16:02

good luck with updates

If everything works, why update?

pcalvert · 2025-12-16 18:37:10

greenjeans wrote:

If everything works, why update?

Because not updating is a bad practice, security-wise. And that's a major reason why I would never use a Puppy Linux derivative (or similar) as my "daily driver". By the way, I did try that once, years ago, on an old computer, but quickly gave up because the system was too unstable.

ralph.ronnquist · 2025-12-16 21:21:41

In my mind, the term "immutable distro" is a marketing term that really means "I, 'the vendor', knows best; Just pay us and we'll fix it.".... a variant of "secure boot", I'd say.

zapper · Today 04:26:17

@ralph I have more or less determined that I will use a non immutable, just because i looked into it and there's too many issues to resolve.

The reason I had interest btw, is because the concept of secure rollbacks if something didn't update correctly.

Last edited by zapper (Today 04:27:12)

pcalvert · Today 15:07:33

zapper wrote:

The reason I had interest btw, is because the concept of secure rollbacks if something didn't update correctly.

You can accomplish that by using BTRFS or LVM. Years ago (on the Debian forum) I mentioned that I would use such an approach if I ever decided to run Debian Sid.

The officially official Devuan Forum!

#1 2025-12-08 06:31:40

[SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#2 2025-12-08 10:41:07

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#3 2025-12-08 12:57:09

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#4 2025-12-08 13:23:20

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#5 2025-12-08 13:53:50

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#6 2025-12-08 20:22:51

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#7 2025-12-08 23:06:20

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#8 2025-12-08 23:41:19

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#9 2025-12-09 00:03:59

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#10 2025-12-09 03:23:55

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#11 2025-12-09 11:52:44

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#12 2025-12-09 13:12:43

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#13 2025-12-09 19:44:13

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#14 2025-12-10 00:30:59

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#15 2025-12-10 02:16:02

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#16 2025-12-16 18:37:10

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#17 2025-12-16 21:21:41

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#18 Today 04:26:17

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

#19 Today 15:07:33

Re: [SOLVED] Question, about immutable distros

Board footer