CareersNG

Spinning CDs

Now that you have your repositories set, you can easily create custom Live CDs. The livecd-creator command produces ISO images that can be burned to CD-Rs. But I'd recommend using virtualization software to test the ISO without actually burning them onto physical media. There are several freely available, such as VMware Player, QEMU, and VirtualBox.

A minimal Live CD

To get the hang of the livecd-creator command, begin by creating a minimal Live CD:

Listing 6. Creating a minimal Live CD


# livecd-creator --repo=c6,file:///var/www/html/repo/core --package=bash \
--package=kernel --package=grub --fslabel=Fedora-minimal-LiveCD


This command asks livecd-creator to grab three packages -- bash, grub, and the kernel -- from the local repository and include them in a Live CD called Fedora-minimal-LiveCD. The livecd-creator command uses Fedora's YUM to install these packages and will thus also install other applications that the specified packages depend upon.

The command will take some time to complete, since it will create a working space, then install the specified packages and their dependencies, relabel the working space for SELinux, Fedora's security mechanism, compress the whole working space, configure the Live CD bootloader, GRUB, and finally create the ISO image.

Congratulations! You've just created your first Live CD. Of course, you'll not be able do much with it, since it lacks the configuration files.

A Live CD with GNOME

Now that you know how the livecd-creator command works, you can use it to create a Live CD that includes GNOME.

Listing 7. Creating a Live CD with GNOME


# livecd-creator --repo=c6,file:///var/www/html/repo/core \
--repo=lcd6,file:///root/base_packages \
--package=fedora-livecd-gnome \
--repo=e6,http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/extras/6/i386 \
--fslabel=My-Fedora-LiveCD-1


Here, you use the local repository for base packages and specify which configuration package you need to base your CD on. You also specify that any package that is required by fedora-livecd-gnome should be fetched from your local core repository. There are some packages in fedora-livecd-gnome that are not in the core repository. These packages will be fetched from the extras repository at the given URL. Finally, it will create an ISO called My-Fedora-LiveCD-1.iso.

If livecd-creator is unable to find a package -- for example, if it's not in the specified repositories -- the command will simply skip the package and still create the Live CD. Unless the missing package is an essential package like the kernel, you'll still end up with a usable Live CD.

Apart from the packages mentioned in the configuration RPM, you can add custom packages with the --package switch. The livecd-creator command can also use multiple repositories to build your CD.

Listing 8. Creating a Live CD using multiple repositories


# livecd-creator --repo=c6,file:///var/www/html/repo/core \
--package=openoffice
--repo=lcd6,file:///root/base_packages \
--package=fedora-livecd-gnome \
--repo=e6,http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/extras/6/i386 \
--repo=livna,http://rpm.livna.org/fedora/6/i386 \
--package=vlc \
--fslabel=My-LiveCD-2


As in the previous example, this command creates a Live CD with all the packages from fedora-livecd-gnome. Additionally, it will include the OpenOffice.org office suite, which is available in the core repository. It will also add the VLC Media Player from the livna repository. We are calling it My-LiveCD-2, since it contains packages from third-party repositories and cannot be called a Fedora Live CD.

What if after creating the CD you want to add another application, say Evolution e-mail client, into this custom CD? No problem. If you have the ISO of the previous CD available, just ask livecd-creator to use the packages of this ISO and append the new ones.

Listing 9. Adding new packages to an existing Live CD ISO


# livecd-creator --repo=c6,file:///var/www/html/repo/core \
--base-on=My-LiveCD-2.iso
--package=evolution
--fslabel=My-LiveCD-New


This will create a new Live CD based on packages from the previous ISO with the additional Evolution package.

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More twisted than dreadlocks

Just as you Think. LiveDistro or Live CD is a generic term for an operating system distribution that is executed upon boot, without installation on a hard drive. Typically, it is stored on bootable media such as a CD-ROM (Live CD), DVD (Live DVD), Floppy (Live floppy), USB flash drive (Live USB), among others.

The term "live" derives from the fact that these distributions are a complete, runnable, i.e. "live" instance of the operating system residing on the distribution media, rather than the typical case of a collection of packages that must first be installed on the target machine prior to using the OS.

A LiveDistro does not alter the current operating system or files unless the user specifically requests it. The system returns to its previous state when the LiveDistro is ejected and the computer is rebooted. It does this by placing the files that typically would be stored on a hard drive into temporary memory, such as a ram disk. In fact, a hard drive is not needed at all. However, this does cut down on the RAM available to applications, reducing performance somewhat. At least 256 MB of RAM is recommended, but some LiveDistros do fine with less.

A LiveDistro may be used to "demo" or "test drive" a particular operating system for those users who are unfamiliar with it. Experienced users of the operating system may also use a LiveDistro to determine whether and to what extent a particular operating system version is compatible with their current hardware configuration and peripherals.

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More twisted than dreadlocks

Yea, live linux CDs are very interestinggg,
but i ve got a problem oooo

Who can get me a LIVE WINDOWS CD

Regardss

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Fowe.
Choices make or mar Chances ... add extra care to your choices today.

As I always say, we can start World War III arguing about operating systems.

@Fowe:

I am sure your post was meant to ridicule Mr. Gates and His employees. But they certainly do not share the opinion that such "ad-hoc" OS's, have any real value.

Come to think of it, why would a mainstream OS want to implement live CDs? Isnt that a total waste of time? Isnt that "LIVE CD's" thing for "roadside" OS's trying to impress, albeit missing the point?

Linux: jargons, Brohaha.

Windows: SOLUTION.

Oya, Linux Gurus, the floor is yours. Hit me!


Disclaimer: the above post does not in any way represent/convey the preference of the author. It is solely aimed at provoking intelligent dialogue.



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More twisted than dreadlocks

There is always a solution(window live cd because developers are always providing solutions.The Microsoft has released a tool of great use to system administrators and all personal computer professionals, the so called Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE). It is a modified, short version of the operating system based on the Windows XP kernel.

In fact, WinPE lets you boot up your personal computer in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and at the same time, control the configuration of all your system. You can then format a partition, have access to files on your hard disk or to other computers in your local area network, or use some external devices (if you have the correct drivers).

WinPE comes in a bootable CD-Rom, so the user can boot up the system in emergency conditions or take advantage of its graphical environment to create or, for instance, handle a partition. It is also possible to get files from other computers using TCP/IP and run some diagnostic tools for the hardware already installed.

Unfortunately, WinPE is available only to the OEM producers. The Microsoft, however, must add WinPE in the next version of Windows “Longhorn”. This, in fact, should replace the classic text interface of the Windows setup.

For the time being, the fact that the final user is incapable of being in possession of the MS WinPE has led Bart Lagerweij to create a program called Bart’s PE Builder. This software enables you to create a Windows LiveCD with a graphical interface quite similar to the WinPE and boot up your system.

Bart's PE Builder can be used by anyone who wishes to build a "BartPE" (Bart Preinstalled Environment) bootable Windows CD-Rom or DVD from the original Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 installation-setup CD. It supports a complete Win32 environment with network support, a graphical user interface (800x600) and FAT/NTFS/CDFS file system.
But the challenge i have with microsoft is that almost every software you use you must pay for it.I am very sure most people use pirated software on Windows that is why they stings with windows,if they pay for almost everything they use, then they make the right choice.

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Fowe.
Choices make or mar Chances ... add extra care to your choices today.

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More twisted than dreadlocks

No, BillGate$ dey carry money, while we dey carry PC.
THat means Linux is all about the PC, while Gate$ is all abt the money

Anyway...Truly If microsoft ever did anything, they made Windows 2000 Professional! I respect that product, Thats the OS
Every other OS;... i dont understand why pple like to waste their RAM(money) on graphics thats butifull to the eyes only for abt 1week of first use

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Fowe.
Choices make or mar Chances ... add extra care to your choices today.

@ Fowe: han, han ! BIG LIE. Penguin wan take System Unit break Mr. Gates Head, so that Penguin go fit carry the money fly. Pictures dont lie!


Seriously. I have used a lot of OS's, I remain addicted to WIN2000 Pro. Another beautiful product is REDHAT Linux version 8.0. God that OS's also rocks. I never even bothered to look at Fedora, couldnt care less. SOmetimes when I see new realeases of OS's I start to wonder if these companies just want to remain in the news.


Its funny sha, maybe its personal, cos I remember having a lecturer (in year 2000) who would rather lose his BWM 7 series, than uninstall MS-DOS version 5.0 from his "powerful 486 box" :

One mans meat is another mans Bitter kola, I guess.



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More twisted than dreadlocks

Yea X-2-X i feel you...
I loved RedHat8 too, but the limitation is that it doesnt have the latest 2.6 kernel. Which realy has a lot of features like inbuilt mounting NTFS file system, and it also came with htb(hierarchical token bucket) for bandwith shapping etc...So, that made me go for FedoraCore 4. Which i tink is a kool one...
Another kool Linux distro I love for server installation is Trustix!

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Fowe.
Choices make or mar Chances ... add extra care to your choices today.

@Fowe: I will look up stuff regarding the "Holy grail" kernel. Been resisting pressure to try Fedora and Ubuntu (please dont even mention Vista). What do you find interesting about them? Maybe I could become interested in geekdom once again.

Why the proliferation of distro's sef? Why cant we just have the kernel, GNOME, OpenOffice; just a standard Linux? Yeap I know the kernel is "the standard" but that looks so more from the Admin/Coders point of view than from a novice user's point of view.

Fowe, u just mentioned one of the things I hated most about Linux: Mounting drive/file systems; Imagine, ordinary to play CDROM, you have to mount it first. Absolute bollocks!

As if that isnt bad enuf, Redhat discontinued MP3 support on the OS: from version 9, If you want mp3 support, you have to download an XMMS addon from a third party. That was where I said farewell to them.

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More twisted than dreadlocks

everything is mounted in Linux, i guess God mounted the Kernel into Linus's head!

I used VISTA for the first time last week, and its just confusing an unnecessary RAM eater

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Fowe.
Choices make or mar Chances ... add extra care to your choices today.