Tutorials/Installation/Build Your Own Remix with Fedora

Build_Your_Own_Remix_with_Fedora

Will make a customized Live CD/DVD .iso file

• This example is done using an installed Fedora 18 TC2 gnome3-live-desktop in VirtualBox 4.2.4; with the extensions installed (Use at least a 30 GB VirtualBox Hard Disk)

But similar procedures work with Earlier versions of fedora f7-f17

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'

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.- works in TC2

• It is best if your install is all in the / directory (ext4 format) as the temporary files need a lot of room on /

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*)/ 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:

Builds will fail if this is not done

su -c ‘setenforce 0’

• Copy the kickstart files you've Downloaded to your Home user directory

(user*)= your user name

mkdir /home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts
cp /usr/share/spin-kickstarts/*.ks /home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts/
cd /home/(user*)/spin-kickstarts/

Example Terminal Command to Build .iso

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

f18 build system using fedora-livecd-soas.ks

(This example also works with a f13 to f18 Build System)

• In root terminal /home/(user):

livecd-creator \
--config=/home/(user)/spin-kickstarts/fedora-livecd-soas.ks \
--fslabel=Soas-v8-Remix-20121215 --cache=/var/cache/live --verbose

be sure to leave a beginning space on lines 2 and 3

• KEY

--fslabel=Soas-v(2-3-4-5-6-7-8)-Remix-yearmmdd = (The name you specify for the CD remix)

• The Version built depends on the version of Fedora you are running.

Explanation of format for name: (preliminary layout pending approval by Soas)

v(2-3-4-5-6-7-8)= the sugar version v(2-3-4-5-6-7-8)

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

year/mm/dd= 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)

Sample Build using a customized .ks file

• Setup

 su -c 'yum install livecd-tools spin-kickstarts'

• Open and edit the appropriate kickstart file in gedit:

This is using the fedora-live-desktop.ks

Note that many ,ks files call a 2nd .ks

Open inspect and edit both in gedit

• Write commands to gedit

Copy-Paste this entry to root terminal

• Start of session in root terminal (this example uses fedora 18 gnome3)

• Begin to install

• Success is indicated by message:

   "Setting supported flag to 0" 

• Note it can take up to 60 minutes for the build to complete

Burn your custom.iso to a CD

• Find your custom live.iso in your home directory with files application

Right Click on it Burn to CD

Or save .iso for use in VirtualBox

Resources

More Customizing Tips

• Different ways to customize your kickstart Remix

Anaconda Kickstart

• Fedora's Detailed instructions on how to use a kickstart file in Fedora 18