I'd like to create a customized Debian installation disc with specific requirements. I've been playing with the businesscard and CD1 ISOs in an attempt to reduce their installed footprint, but I'm coming out to a 400-500MB disk footprint before including some of the things I would like.

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Goals:

AMD64 Debian installation
No GUI/X11
Current kernel (either 2.6.39.4 or 3.0.4)
Python 2.7
Sun JRE 6 Update 26 (sun-java6-jre)
256MB installed disk footprint (or smaller)
64MB memory usage after boot/idle (or less)

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Questions:

1. Is this as simple as including the desired .deb files in the /pool/main directory?

2. How can I eliminate the network connection requirement? - Solved

3. Can I compile the kernel on a Debian VM (of the same version and architecture) and copy the compiled kernel to the ISO to use in place of the old kernel (without running into other issues)?

4. What other tips do you have for reducing the disk footprint and memory use of the installed system?

Thanks.

If I were you I'd be looking at DebianLive, it is in the repositories. Build a Wheezy Standard iso (standard doesn't have x11) and develop your iso from that.

I managed to find debian-live-6.0.2-amd64-standard.iso (squeeze), but I can't seem to find any wheezy ISOs.

According to Distrowatch, wheezy would get me Python 2.7 and JRE 6_26. However, it also says that squeeze contains JRE 6_22, but I can't find it anywhere. Any ideas?

Install live-build on your system and tell it to build a "standard" wheezy iso. I'd also suggest you download the Live Manual and read through it, it has tutorials you can follow and you learn a huge amount of how to build your own system using native Debian tools.

Thanks, I'm building my first ISO now, looks like I'm about halfway there.