Question: How to create a bootable install custom ISO?

jsokko · 04-01-2004, 10:51 AM

Hey folks,

I am looking into replicating our base install to quickly image new machines. What tools are available to do such a thing? This install image should fully copy fs & LILO settings including software RAID.

Any suggestions / solutions?

TIA.

aaa · 04-01-2004, 10:56 AM

If the machines are identical, you can use 'dd':
dd if=/dev/hda of=/file.img
If they aren't, you will need to create scripts to create partitions and install lilo. In that case just copy the files to the cd and use a script to copy them back..

jsokko · 04-01-2004, 11:05 AM

Very cool.

And yes, the hardware is identical.

Will that command work if my HD partitions are set this way?

/dev/hda:

swap = hda1
boot = hda2
RAID 1 = hda3

/dev/hdc:
swap = hdc1
tmp = hdc2 (did this just so the two HDs matched in partition size)
RAID 1 = hdc3

aaa · 04-01-2004, 11:11 AM

Make images out of both /dev/hda and /dev/hdc (obviuosly you can't make an image of the same hd you're currently using, and the hd's will need to be unmounted). Then put them on a cd, and 'dd' them back:
dd if=/file.img of=/dev/hda

jsokko · 04-01-2004, 11:14 AM

will do, sir.

thanks for the quick reply. I'll post again after I try it out... after I get openSSL working.

jsokko · 04-19-2004, 11:17 AM

Issues with dd:

I'm not completely sure but it seems that dd does a complete datadump of the mounted device. This obviously is an issue when the mount point is partitioned at 40GBs.

So is there a better solution that allows you to copy LILO and all system files and some app files (as per user selection) into an image? or is this still doable with dd?

aaa · 04-20-2004, 06:54 AM

Not sure what your problem is, but if 'dd' doesn't work, then the alternative would be to just copy the files and use scripts to make partitions and install lilo.