mjhjmtu

I realize the question title probably sounds weird, theoretical, or just plain stupid. There's a long backstory to this!

root@system:~# less myfile
-bash: /bin/less: Input/output error

The root filesystem is dead. But my cat is still alive (in my memory):

root@system:~# cat > /tmp/somefile
C^d
root@system:~#

He's kind of lonely though, all his friends are gone:

root@system:~# mount
-bash: /bin/mount: Input/output error
root@system:~# dmesg
-bash: /bin/dmesg: Input/output error
root@system:~# less
-bash: /bin/less: Input/output error
root@system:~# chmod
-bash: /bin/chmod: Input/output error

The system is still running, and fulfilling its purpose.
I know, I know, the only sane response to this is to get the system down and replace the root drive. Unfortunately that's not a option as it would cost a lot of time and money. Also, it would kill my cat, and that would make me sad.

I've thought of bringing him his usual friends from a donor.
I dare not try to scp them in, in case ssh tries to load it and cuts the line (the binary is gone anyway). This sounds like a job for my cat's cousin:

root@system:~# netcat -l 1234 > /tmp/less
-bash: netcat: command not found

Unfortunately he's long gone.

Now, I can sort of trick my cat to resurrect him:

cat > netcat < /dev/tcp/localhost/9999

And that sort of worked. He's almost alive:

root@system:/tmp# /tmp/netcat
-bash: /tmp/netcat: Permission denied

He just needs a tiny spark of life. That little +x magic incantation that I cannot recite at the moment.

Can you please help me bringing my cat's friends back?