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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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 Posted: 2008-04-05 19:21 Post subject: live-helper create image and customize environment howto! |
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CREATE A LIVE IMAGE USING LIVE-HELPER
You should have the following installed:
live-helper - recent version
basic commands are:
lh_config - creates the
configuration file, this is where you specify desktop, architecture,
extra software, include installer, and so forth.
lh_build - command to start the build
some other commands are:
lh_clean --binary use this to clean things up before building another image using the same config
lh_clean use this to clean things up before building another image when the config has changed
lh_clean --purge use this to do a super-clean, this will purge all packages from the cache
some lh_config options:
-p use a package list from /usr/share/live-helper/lists or specify your own file
-d specify the distribution (etch/lenny/sid)
-a specify the architecture (i386/amd64/?)
--debian-installer=businesscard include the business card installer
--debian-installer=enabled include the installer
--packages specify packages you want to include
Now for the fun part....some examples:
open a terminal
su to root or sudo appropriately
The following commands will build a sid live image for i386 with gnome-core predefined package list and medit
mkdir livebuild
cd livebuild
lh_config -d sid -a i386 -p gnome-core --packages medit
lh_build
when it is done, look in the livebuild folder for the binary.iso
The following commands will build a lenny live image for i386 with kde predefined package list
mkdir livebuild
cd livebuild
lh_config -d lenny -a i386 -p kde
lh_build
when it is done, look in the livebuild folder for the binary.iso
The following commands will build a sid live image for i386 with gnome-core predefined package list and medit
mkdir livebuild
cd livebuild
lh_config -d sid -a i386 -p gnome-core --packages medit
lh_build
when it is done, look in the livebuild folder for the binary.iso
The following commands will build a lenny live image for amd64 with
kde predefined package list, audacious and the debian installer
mkdir livebuild
cd livebuild
lh_config -d lenny -a amd64 -p kde --packages audacious --debian-installer=enabled
lh_build
when it is done, look in the livebuild folder for the binary.iso
The following commands will build a
sid live image for i386 with studio-xfce predefined package list,
cowsay and the debian installer
mkdir livebuild
cd livebuild
lh_config -d sid -a i386 -p studio-xfce --packages cowsay --debian-installer=enabled
lh_build
when it is done, look in the livebuild folder for the binary.iso
The following commands will build a lenny live image for i386 with myfavs package list and the debian installer
mkdir livebuild
cd livebuild
lh_config -d lenny -a i386 -p myfavs --debian-installer=enabled
lh_build
when it is done, look in the livebuild folder for the binary.iso
IMPORTANT
This howto does not even scratch the surface of what you can do with
live-helper. You can inject files into the build so if you had some
custom config files you wanted in the build. You can call a interactive
shell during the chroot stage to tweak things. You can use custom repos
or even a local repo. man lh_config gives you the multitude of options available and the wiki and mailing list provides plenty more info and help...
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/FAQ
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/Examples
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/Configuration
http://lists.alioth.debian.org/mailman/listinfo/debian-live-devel/
FYI
fyi - a basic GUI called live-magic is available in lenny/sid for building live images
fyi - you can also just download a prebuilt image from http://live.debian.net/cdimage/
Last edited by MeanDean on 2008-04-15 11:55; edited 27 times in total |
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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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| Posted: 2008-04-05 19:24 Post subject: |
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METHODS TO CUSTOMIZE THE USER ENVIRONMENT
Probably the best way to customize the user environment is to use
live-helper to inject the files into the build. I am not familiar with
that method but it is probably the 'right' method to use!
Some good info about it here
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/FAQ#head-b01328e3d5e76c7ca04f7266fc813079dd350520
and more here
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/Howto/Customising_Using_QEMU
A couple other ways to do it are:
1 - Unpack the iso you made with live-helper, unpack the squashfs,
chroot into the squashfs, su to the user you want to configure, startup
the environment in a Xnest window. see the next post for this method
2 - Create a new user on your current system. Login as that user.
Customize anything you wish. Save the config files that are created in
/home/username. Now unpack the iso you made with live-helper, unpack
the squashfs, move those config files to /etc/skel then chroot into the
squashfs and create a new user and that user automatically inherits
those config files. Bascially it is the same method as 1 but you simply
skip the xnest part and instead move the config files and create a new
user.
Last edited by MeanDean on 2008-04-15 11:54; edited 30 times in total |
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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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| Posted: 2008-04-05 19:32 Post subject: |
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CUSTOMIZE A USER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LIVE IMAGE USING XNEST
as a user
binary.iso is on the Desktop
open terminal
su to root
cd Desktop
mkdir iso
mkdir temp
mount binary.iso -o loop temp/
cp -a temp/* iso/
umount temp/
mount -t squashfs -o loop iso/live/filesystem.squashfs temp/
mkdir fs
cp -a temp/* fs/
umount temp/
rm -rf temp/
rm iso/live/filesystem.squashfs
Xnest -ac :2 &
ignore the xnest window for now, we will use it later
if :2 does not work then use a different number
just be sure to use the same number later also
cp /etc/hosts fs/etc/
cp /etc/resolv.conf fs/etc/
chroot fs mount -t proc none /proc
chroot fs mount -t sysfs none /sys
chroot fs mount -t devpts none /dev/pts
chroot fs
export LC_ALL=C
You are now using the CLI in the system you want to customize.
You are root and all that implies.
I usually add software, add users, set passwords, edit files, etc...
switch to the user whose environment you want to customize
su username
Now you can start the graphical environment in the xnest window.
if you have e17 installed then start it with the following command
env DISPLAY=":2" enlightenment_start &
or if you have icewm installed then start it with the following command
env DISPLAY=":2" icewm-session &
or if you have fluxbox installed then start it with the following command
env DISPLAY=":2" startfluxbox &
or if you have a environment that is very 'component-ized' then you probably need to startup the seperate components
env DISPLAY=":2" sawfish &
env DISPLAY=":2" pypanel &
You should see the environment startup in the xnest window.
Make whatever changes you wish then logout of environment.
Close the xnest window.
exit the user su
exit
exit the chroot
exit
chroot fs umount /proc
chroot fs umount /sys
chroot fs umount /dev/pts
chroot fs rm -rf /tmp/*
rm fs/etc/resolv.conf
rm fs/etc/hosts
touch fs/etc/resolv.conf
touch fs/etc/hosts
mksquashfs fs/ iso/live/filesystem.squashfs
mkisofs -r -V "cd" -cache-inodes -J -l -o newcd.iso \
-b isolinux/isolinux.bin -c isolinux/boot.cat \
-no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table iso/
if you copy/paste the above commands be sure not to have a space after the \
newcd.iso should be on your desktop...but is owned by root so we need to chown/chgrp it
chgrp YourUserName newcd.iso
chown YourUserName newcd.iso
you can test your newcd.iso using qemu
qemu -cdrom newcd.iso
If you aren't happy with newcd.iso (forgot to include something or forgot to tweak something)
delete newcd.iso and you can keep the work you have done so far
start back at rm iso/live/filesystem.squashfs
otherwise remove the following folders
rm -rf fs/
rm -rf iso/
exit
All done!
FYI
fyi - The file fs/etc/inittab is setup to automatically login the
'user' user when running live. Edit the file if that is not the desired
behavior. You can edit inside the chroot or outside - but you need to
have root privys
fyi - you can open a filemanager as root and move custom content
from your system to the fs/ folder at any time but I would suggest
doing it before you start chroot'ing
Last edited by MeanDean on 2008-04-15 11:26; edited 36 times in total |
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Bro.Tiag
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 524
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| Posted: 2008-04-05 19:45 Post subject: |
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Well
I can confirm that at least the binary.iso was built in the time it
tock you to make this post. Now as to whether it's bootable, I'll let
ya know once my cd-rw is finished writing & I've tested it.
Cheers |
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Bro.Tiag
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 524
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| Posted: 2008-04-05 19:55 Post subject: |
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| Bro.Tiag wrote: | Well
I can confirm that at least the binary.iso was built in the time it
tock you to make this post. Now as to whether it's bootable, I'll let
ya know once my cd-rw is finished writing & I've tested it.
Cheers |
You've got to be kidding! I'm back & can confirm that it does
make a LiveCD that quickly. I'd like to say I'm posting from said
LiveCD, but I figured the 19 sec reboot to sid would be faster then my
sorting out links to post a reply.
Well done Dean, Well Done!
Cheers |
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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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| Posted: 2008-04-05 20:46 Post subject: |
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Now that you have the basic idea, some great examples are listed here
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/Examples
I test the images using qemu
qemu -cdrom binary.iso
The guy to thank is Daniel Baumann for his awesome work! live-helper is amazing IMO, as simple or as complex as you want to make it.
The debian live mailing list is a superb mailing list to subscribe to! |
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Bro.Tiag
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 524
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| Posted: 2008-04-05 21:01 Post subject: |
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| MeanDean wrote: | Now that you have the basic idea, some great examples are listed here
http://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/Examples
I test the images using qemu
qemu -cdrom binary.iso
The guy to thank is Daniel Baumann for his awesome work! live-helper is amazing IMO, as simple or as complex as you want to make it.
The debian live mailing list is a superb mailing list to subscribe to! |
Go on dean, you did the second hardest part, reading. Thanks.
I'm working through a package list I want to include. That seems to
be the long part right now. Should have a nice new LiveCD tonight,
least I run out of beer.
Cheers |
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Bro.Tiag
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 524
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| Posted: 2008-04-06 00:33 Post subject: |
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Hum, things seemed to work OK. But somehow I wound up with a gnome desktop & not e17. Me thinks you tricked me.  I'll sort it out tomorrow.
Cheers
ps - this time I am posting from said LiveCD. |
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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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| Posted: 2008-04-06 00:59 Post subject: |
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| Bro.Tiag wrote: | | But somehow I wound up with a gnome desktop & not e17. |
too much beer? |
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Noven
Joined: 17 Mar 2007
Posts: 189
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| Posted: 2008-04-06 01:38 Post subject: |
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How
would I make a Lenny livecd with openbox and that uses gdm? I know I
can add packages with --packages, but how do I have those packages
automatically configured, IE: pypanel is installed, but configured to
start when openbox starts, or tilda is installed, but has a certain
configuration and starts upon login.
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Bro.Tiag
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 524
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| Posted: 2008-04-06 06:14 Post subject: |
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| MeanDean wrote: | | Bro.Tiag wrote: | | But somehow I wound up with a gnome desktop & not e17. |
too much beer? |
Is there such a thing?
Actually, I used the package list from yur sid-e17 LiveCD, but must have missed removing something gnome related.
Cheers |
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ingo
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 180
Location: capital of beer
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| Posted: 2008-04-07 14:47 Post subject: |
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Yeah,
live-helper is nice but I am not sure to what extend I can customise my
live CD with it. I am not saying that it isn't possible, but I can't
see the wood for all the trees at the mo...
You see, I've got a splashy theme (I know...), a kdm theme, a
ksplash theme, a totally different looking kde desktop not using any of
the menus out there but my own and I only know how to do that by
mounting the squashfs from a normal live CD (building as I type),
chrooting into it and doing it all from there.
Having said that - I am not sure how to pack the squashfs into the new iso again, but that cannot be too difficult 
Anyway, thank you MeanDean for getting this rolling!
Hm, just read that lh_config starts a proper config file. One
should be able to do a fair amount of tweaking there... Got to look
into it.
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AMD Athlon XP 2600+ - nVidia GeForce FX 5200 - 1024MB Ram on Debian Lenny / T41 on Kubuntu 7.10 |
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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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| Posted: 2008-04-08 08:54 Post subject: |
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part2 is done...I think...
feel free to ask any questions (even i f I do crack a joke about your sweaty little hand)
need any or all the sections explained then just let me know but don't forget that man is your friend too and is always there to help you
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MeanDean
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 1205
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| Posted: 2008-04-08 09:01 Post subject: |
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| ingo wrote: |
You see, I've got a splashy theme (I know...), a kdm theme, a ksplash
theme, a totally different looking kde desktop not using any of the
menus out there but my own and I only know how to do that by mounting
the squashfs from a normal live CD (building as I type), chrooting into
it and doing it all from there.
Having said that - I am not sure how to pack the squashfs into the new iso again, but that cannot be too difficult
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part2 is where I would probably start integrating my custom stuff and then I would finish it up in part3 if I needed to do more
extract the filesystem contained within the squash to folderX, move
the stuff in, chroot in, configure and tweak, exit chroot, then simply
squash folderX again with mksquashfs folderX/ path/to/filesystem.squashfs
hope this helps....always welcome...
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ingo
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 180
Location: capital of beer
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| Posted: 2008-04-08 09:03 Post subject: |
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Funny you should say that 
I made myself a basic lenny kde cd last night (weyhey!), so far so
good. I checked the man pages and found them to be either non-existent
or just as helpful - but that is just me, my brain is not sufficiently
geeky to make sense of ANY man pages (I can just about make sense of
the flags...).
Anyway, I have a working system to play with. Aim is to mount the
squashfs, chroot into it, mount proc and sys, get on the net and do
what a man has got to do - no sweat.
If you could now supply me with the proper mkisofs command to tie my
work up and pack it into a nice iso I'd be more than grateful!!! I'd
like to extract it from live-helper but that is a closed book as far as
I am concerned...
Right, time to crack your jokes 
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