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Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:28:23 +0200 (CEST)
From: Wojciech Puchar <wojtek@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl>
To: "A. Hamilton-Wright" <andrew@qemg.org>
In-Reply-To: <alpine.BSF.1.10.0806131409310.78983@qemg.org>
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Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: Running with a readonly root partition
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>
> As devfs is running by default, it seems to me that
> it would be relatively easy to run with a readonly
> root partition, assuming that the directories under
> which writing is necessary (ie; /tmp, /var, /home)
> are located in separate, writable partitions.

yes. 
> The main advantages are that none of the configuration
> files or binaries in /etc and /usr (which may still

/etc is rather writable - for example when user changes password.

> be on a separate readonly partition) are vulnerable
> and the boot process update to /etc/motd).  Once these
> have been rectified by relocating the files and setting
> up symlinks, there have been no problems.
>
> My questions are:
> - does anyone else do this?

no that - but i do this on my liveDVD

> - if not, why not?

if you will set securelevel to prevent umounts - it may add much to the 
security.

but - the same time - you'll have to reboot system to change anything!