Build Your Own Remix with Fedora

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Build Your Own Remix

Return to Sugar Creation Kit
Fedora only

CAUTION: DO NOT TRY DOING THIS FROM A SOAS USB STICK. A MINIMUM OF 8GB IS REQUIRED TO BUILD A CUSTOM-REMIX.ISO

A 8GB USB is a minimum requirement.
It is usually Cheaper to buy a 120GB or larger external USB Hard Drive and install fedora on it.


THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FIRST:http://download.sugarlabs.org/soas/docs/customization-guide

NOTE: this content should be used to enhance above link - 08/02/2010 satellit

NOTE: also look at SugarClone:

(SugarClone duplicates a customized live USB to 2nd USB.)
Sugar Clone, Sugar on a Stick/Sugar Clone, is a
short-cut method to customize a SoaS installation that works with a
single-word command.  It would probably serve the targeted-project,
special-focus case.

livemedia-creator

  • Newer method in f22-23
https://jbwillia.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/how-to-build-updated-fedora-live-iso-for-yourself/
  • Older post
https://www.brianlane.com/creating-live-isos-with-livemedia-creator.html

Fedora Remix Info

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Remix
  • Important Info and links
"A Fedora Remix is a combination of Fedora software, with or without third-party software,
that any community member can create at any time..."

The following is Modified/Adapted from: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Talk:How_to_create_and_use_a_Live_CD

  • AND

FedoraQA Creating_a_Test_Day_Live_Image: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/QA/Test_Days/Live_Image#Creating_a_Test_Day_Live_Image

  • Other Important links:
3/11/2014
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_create_and_use_a_Live_CD?rd=How_to_create_and_use_Fedora_Live_CD
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_create_a_Fedora_install_ISO_for_testing?rd=How_to_build_a_Rawhide_ISO_image_for_testing#Build_a_boot.iso

Introduction

  • Fedora 18 is shifting to using Anaconda with kickstart files
Notes on f18 Customization of installs using Anaconda and kickstart files: Fedora#Customize_with_kickstart_files

This page explains how to make a custom-content Remix of Live CD or DVD on Fedora-based systems including derived distributions such as RHEL, CentOS and others.

NOTE THAT THESE REMIXES ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY FEDORA
You may find some volunteer support on IRC freenode #sugar however.
click on this link to join #sugar on IRC Chat

If you simply want to burn a pre-made ISO to a disc, visit http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-fedora to download a LiveCD or LiveDVD, then see the install guide or burning how-to for further instructions.

Instructions

Fedora Spins_Process

The basic workflow for creating a remix is:

  1. Create / Modify a kickstart file that specifies the packages you want installed on your remix, along with special settings you want to tweak.
  2. Run that kickstart file through livecd-creator, which will pull in the packages and compose an .iso, which you can then burn to CD.

...that's it! We will walk you through these steps below.

Install the necessary software

To create a live image, the livecd-creator tool is used. Super user privileges are needed. The tool is more or less self-documenting, use the --help option to see options.

The livecd-creator tool is part of the livecd-tools package. If it is not installed on your system, add it with: 

su -c 'yum install livecd-tools spin-kickstarts'
latest spin.ks files


If you are interested in localized live cd files, install also l10n-kickstarts. 

su -c 'yum install l10n-kickstarts'

Note the spin-kickstart files that download are specific for the version of fedora you are using

The version of sugar will also be different for each version of fedora:
f12 0.86.-
f13 0.88.-
f14 0.90.-
f15 0.92.-
f16 0.94.-
f17 0.96.-
f18 0.98.-
f19 0.98.7-
f20 0.99. -
f21 0.102.x -

Set up your environment

Now we'll set up the place you'll be building your remix's image file in. We assume you're running a recent version of Fedora.

We will use the /home/(user*)/ directory to do our builds
Note: If you use the Kickstart files in the default installed location in /usr/share/spin-kickstarts you will have permission problems editing the files.
  • Set SELinux in permissive mode:
Remix build will fail if this is not done
su -c ‘setenforce 0’
  • Copy the kickstart files you've Downloaded to a new spin-kickstarts directory:
As noted above; copying changes the file permissions so it is easier to use them.
(user*)= your user name
  • In terminal $:
mkdir /home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts
cp /usr/share/spin-kickstarts/*.ks /home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts/
cd /home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts/
ksflatten
  • program to convert kickstart files into one file

KSFLATTEN(1) General Commands Manual KSFLATTEN(1)

NAME 

      ksflatten — flatten a kickstart file

SYNOPSIS 

      ksflatten [-c | --config INFILE]  [-o | --output OUTFILE]  [-v | --version VERSION]

DESCRIPTION 

      ksflatten is a program that takes an input kickstart file potentially containing includes and
      generates an output file with all the includes inlined.

EXIT STATUS 

      ksflatten returns 0 on success, and 1 if INFILE does not exist or there is an  error  parsing
      the kickstart file.

OPTIONS 

      -c, --config INFILE
                The name of the input kickstart file.

      -o, --output OUTFILE
                Write the flattened kickstart file to OUTFILE, or stdout if no filename is given.

      -v, --version VERSION
Examples
# /Downloads/spin-kickstarts
ksflatten -v, --config fedora-livecd-soas.ks -o flat-fedora-livecd-soas.ks --version F21
git spin-kickstarts
Updated 11/09/2014
https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/spin-kickstarts.git/
https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/spin-kickstarts.git/tree/?h=f21
Recommended for most up to date xxx.ks
Latest spin-kickstarts used for composes of live cd's
Downloaded spin-kickstarts usually are not up to date.
  • These are more up to date kickstart files-(used for builds)
Index: http://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/spin-kickstarts.git/
Unzip latest file
Use these kick-start files as shown in the above example.
Be sure to not mix them with the files we added to /spin-kickstarts
  • Suggest copying them to /home/(user)*/ to keep them apart.
  • Edit one of these .ks files with the gedit Text Editor
see (section below for details of what you can do)

Masher .ks files

  • use the flattened (one file) .ks file for the latest koji builds:
http://koji.fedoraproject.org/koji/tasks?start=0&state=all&view=flat&method=createLiveCD&order=-id
Click on the green (successful) build listed on this page and download the xxxx.ks listed below the xxxx.iso link
Save this to /home/(user)/spin-kickstarts/
Link to this after you adjust the xxx.ks for your needs (see below)

Add a xxx.ks file in Anaconda

"This test will verify that anaconda can load a kickstart file from a file:// path. This is a typical case for when the kickstart file is located in the initrd.img."

Example Terminal Command to Build .iso

You must be connected to a fast Internet connection for this to work

  • In root terminal:
livecd-creator \
--config=/home/(user)/spin-kickstarts/fedora-livecd-soas.ks \
--fslabel=Soas-v(2-11)-Remix-mmddyr --cache=/var/cache/live --verbose
  • KEY
--fslabel=Soas-v(2-11)-Remix-mmddyr = (The name you specify for the CD remix)
Explanation of format for name: (preliminary layout pending approval by Soas)
v(2-11)= the sugar version
v2= Fedora 12 sugar 0.86-
v3= Fedora 13 sugar 0.88-
v4= Fedora 14 sugar 0.89-0.90
v5= Fedora 15 sugar 0.92
v6= Fedora 16 sugar 0.94.x
v7= Fedora 17 sugar 0.95.x
v8= Fedora 18 sugar 0.98.x
v10=Fedora 20 sugar 0.99.x
v11=Fedora 21 sugar 0102.x
mmddyr= The Creation Date
Remix is REQUIRED for naming if Soas is used
--config=/home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts/ * (path to your spin-kickstarts folder and .ks file)
the flattened .ks files from koji are preferred kickstarts to use:
http://koji.fedoraproject.org/koji/tasks?start=0&state=all&view=flat&method=createLiveCD&order=-id

Create/Modify the kickstart file

  1. Open the kickstart file you chose from the spin-kickstart folder you copied to your Desktop in the editor of your choice.:
  2. Create the package manifest section and add your favorite packages:

# %include spin-kickstarts/(your).ks  (See :[1])

#redefine repo to some local mirror  (See below and :[2])

%packages
#provide list of packages (normal, wildcarded, @comps) to be added or removed - dependencies are handled
#packageYouWant
#wildcardedPackagesYouWant*
#@CompYouWant
#-packageYouDontWant
%end

%post
#put any shell commands here
%end
More Information and Examples of Usage
  • In the worst case you can base the whole livecd on Fedora 12 packages with this definition:
# not really rawhide, overriden with F12 'released' repo
repo --name=rawhide --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=fedora-12&arch=$basearch
repo --name=updates --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-f12&arch=$basearch


  • %packages
Add and or remove programs
Any Program with a minus sign (-) will be removed; any program without a minus will be added
  • %post
Manipulate files that have been installed
%post command are done in cheroot (the commands are only run against the new file system created for the live CD)
EXAMPLE
  • edit the boot parameters
delete "quiet" and "rhgb" 
%post --nochroot 
sed -i -e '/ *append / { s/quiet// ; s/rhgb//;  }'  "${LIVE_ROOT}"/isolinux/isolinux.cfg
EXAMPLE
  • disable screensaver locking
%post
# disable screensaver locking
cat >> /home/liveuser/.xscreensaver << FOE
lock:	False
FOE
EXAMPLE
  • Isolinux and most other bootloaders let you edit the boot parameters;

just delete "quiet" and "rhgb" there at boot time. None of the above is livecd specific. 

If you want to make this the default on images you build
then just add the following line in the %post --nochroot section:
sed -i -e '/ *append / { s/quiet// ; s/rhgb//;  }'  "${LIVE_ROOT}"/isolinux/isolinux.cfg
  • The SED Command
http://www.grymoire.com/Unix/Sed.html
EXAMPLE
  • Include Documents in Books directory
%post --nochroot
# Mel's Example starts  (thanks to Mel Chua)
# pull and include sample content
WD=$PWD
CACHE_DIR=$WD/../cache/books
CONTENT_DIR=$INSTALL_ROOT/home/liveuser/Desktop/books
mkdir -p $CACHE_DIR
mkdir -p $CONTENT_DIR
cd $CONTENT_DIR
PDF="$PDF http://people.sugarlabs.org/Tgillard/ReadMeFirst-How-to-build-a-remix.pdf"
PDF="$PDF http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_Creation_Kit"
PDF="$PDF http://people.sugarlabs.org/sdz/ForwardPages5-6.pdf"
PDF="$PDF http://people.sugarlabs.org/sdz/Sugar_on_a_Stick-3-Creation_Kit-en-US.pdf"
PDF="$PDF http://people.sugarlabs.org/sdz/Sugar_on_a_Stick-3-Customization_Guide-en-US.pdf"
PDF="$PDF http://en.flossmanuals.net/ActivitiesGuideSugar/FM_25Apr10.pdf"
PDF="$PDF http://en.flossmanuals.net/Sugar/FM_Sugar_28Oct08.pdf"
for pdf in $PDF ; do
 remote_file=$(basename $(curl -4 -s -L -w %{url_effective} -I $pdf | tail -1))
 file=$CACHE_DIR/$remote_file
 if [ ! -f $file ] ; then
   curl -s -4 -L $pdf > $file
 fi
 cp -p $file $CONTENT_DIR
done
%end
  • To change repository: (eg: enable rawhide)
Edit the fedora-live-mini.ks
Put # in front of repos you do not want to use
(remove # )from The repos you want to use
EXAMPLE: repo --name=rawhide --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=rawhide&arch=$basearch
  • Good example of a very complicated remix-Maintained by the Fusion Linux
EXAMPLE Desktop with customizations to fit in a CD sized image
How to add autostart apps to your Fedora Remix
Posted on February 7, 2012 by valent | Leave a comment
http://fusionlinux.org/2012/02/07/how-to-add-autostart-apps-to-your-fedora-remix/
If you want to add autostart apps to your Fedora remix there is one quick and easy way to do it.
Open your kickstart file and find section that starts with “%post”.
Any command that you issue in %post section run with root privileges in build environment before iso image is created.
Any application that you add to ~/.config/autostart folder start up in GNOME 3 when user logs on. To make this system wide you need to put your application shortcuts in /etc/skel/.config/autostart directory
so here is one example how your kickstart could look like:

# add synapse to autostart directory
mkdir -p /etc/skel/.config/autostart
cp /usr/share/applications/synapse.desktop /etc/skel/.config/autostart/

Now you can add any app that you want to start every time users log on.


  • Congrats -- you're done!

Build the image

  • The build process will take some time, as well as space and bandwidth.
  • copy paste the commands to a root terminal:
  • In terminal /home/(user)/Desktop:
su
#
cd Desktop
(This is an Example do not use)
livecd-creator \
--config=/home/(user)/Desktop/spin-kickstarts/fedora-livecd-soas.ks \
--fslabel=Soas-v(2-3-4-5-6)-yearmmdd-Remix --cache=/var/cache/live --verbose


Success is indicated by message:
"Setting supported flag to 0"
your new remix CD.iso is located in your Desktop Folder.

Credits

Parts of this page were based on Rahul Sundaram's article Roll Out A Fedora Remix. And the References listed below:

Build your own Remix with git

test Digest, Vol 97, Issue 3 Comment (by adamwill)
I can build live images if needed. Actually, you probably could too, it's actually very simple to do. You basically just need a git checkout of spin-kickstarts:

References/Links

Using the Anaconda Kickstart file

Modify the Anaconda Installer Kickstart file for a Customized install
An alternative approach
Older Anaconda Kickstart Links

Fedora

spin-kickstarts.git

Dextrose XO-1 & XO-1.5

Licensing

How to label the license for your VirtualBox exports and Remixed .iso's

Using KIWI with openSUSE to Customize

http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:KIWI_Cookbook_Live_USB-Stick

Customizing-Trisquel

Customizing-Trisquel

DebianCustomCD

Debian-Custom-CD

Mandriva Custom CD

Draklive:Mandriva Custom-CD
pclinuxos: http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/board,3.0.html

Notes/Links

http://marcopg.org/2011/06/12/html-activities/

Building Boot Images

  • (Very Advanced)
http://66.35.62.162/wiki/Install_and_configure_AutoQA
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