Creating a minimalist boot USB stick
 

English :

Hello,

I come to you after a few fruitless searches on google.
My problem is:
I'd like to create a bootable USB drive containing a Linux minimalist:
In fact I want to do is boot from the USB (compatible BIOS), as a minimalist Linux starts, and runs a file Shell, then at the end of this execution, displaying a root prompt (command line) to the execution of some commands summary.
So:
- No GUI
- Network access required
- Minimal Linux system (the minimum necessary to boot and run a file Shell), with selection of preloaded commands (grep, pico, cat, ...)

I saw on the net that is doable with DOS on Windows, but nothing on Linux.
So I need help, because everything I find is related to an existing system (Ubuntu, Debian, ...), I want a gold basis the most minimalist and lightweight as possible.
What I presented is feasible or not?
If yes, how to achieve it?

I do not ask for a ready-made solution, however, I would just like some guidance.
I have a Debian Lenny with me, and a Windows Seven.

Thank you in advance,

macman31

-------------------------------------
French :

Bonjour,

Je viens à vous après quelques recherches infructueuses sur google.
Mon problème est le suivant :
J'aimerais créer une clé USB bootable, contenant un système Linux très minimaliste :
En fait je veut que le boot se fasse depuis la clé (BIOS compatible), que un Linux minimaliste démarre, et exécute un fichier Shell, puis à la fin de cette exécution, affichage d'un prompt root (ligne de commande), pour l'exécution de quelques commandes sommaires.
Donc :
- Pas de GUI
- Accès réseau souhaité
- Système Linux minimaliste (Le strict nécessaire pour boot, et exécuter un fichier Shell), avec sélection des commandes pré installées (grep, pico, cat, ...)

J'ai vu sur le net que c'est faisable avec DOS sous Windows, mais rien sur Linux.
J'aurais donc besoin d'aide, car tout ce que je trouve a un rapport avec un système existant (Ubuntu, Debian, ...), or je veut une base la plus minimaliste et légère possible.
Ce que j'ai présenté est réalisable ou non ?
Si oui, comment le réaliser ?

Je ne demande pas une solution toute faite, au contraire, je voudrais juste quelques indications.
Je dispose d'un Debian Lenny chez moi, ainsi que d'un Windows Seven.

Merci d'avance,

macman31

I dont understand french (is it?)

seems like you want a non-X minimalist usb distro?

Yes, It's french.
And yeah, I wanna build my own minimalist distro :
- having network support (if possible)
- Can just boot, (My BIOS is compatible), exec a shell script, and prompt a root console
- No GUI, it must be the lightweight possible
- I can put basic utility like grep, cat, pico ... in this distro

Sorry for my (very) bad English,

Thanks,

macman31

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

As per the LQ Rules:Live USB_Wiki could be of some help. You could look at 'Get Your ISO, LiveCD & Pocket OS'
for other links that may help you.

:hattip: The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

ttylinux
http://minimalinux.org/ttylinux/

pipsqueak linux
http://geekinsnthings.homelinux.com:4444/pipsqueak

tinycore/microcore
http://tinycorelinux.com/

finnix
http://www.finnix.org/

grml-small
http://grml.org/

also a minimal hdd install of ARCH linux to USB is great
http://www.archlinux.org/

install from usb
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...a_on_a_USB_key

install to usb
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...x_on_a_USB_key

francais

ttylinux
http://minimalinux.org/ttylinux/

p'tit linux
http://geekinsnthings.homelinux.com:4444/pipsqueak

TinyCore / microcore
http://tinycorelinux.com/

finnix
http://www.finnix.org/

grml-petits
http://grml.org/

également une installation minimale hdd de Arch Linux à l'USB est grand
http://www.archlinux.org/

installer à partir d'usb
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...a_on_a_USB_key

installer sur usb
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...x_on_a_USB_key

Thanks for your interesting links, but it's not exactly what I want.

All of these links are "pre made" distro, or I wana build my own, from nothing.
The result would be similar that ttylinux (http://minimalinux.org/ttylinux/), but customised for my needs.

In facts, I'm more interested in building from nothing my distro than take a pre made, like ttylinux, and modify it.

Thanks for your fast answer, and sorry for my bad english,

macman31

@onebuck : Sorry, I didn't reed the rules ... But It's done now, and I have added English translation in my 1st message, and in the title.

Hi,

Have you looked at http://www.linuxfromscratch.org.

There's quite a bit of work involved in getting it up and running, but you should be able to add to it to suit your needs

Mark

In the case of wanting to start from nothing. I think you need LFS: http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Many thanks.

OK, thanks you two, it's exactly what I want.

Bye,

macman31

Maybe you should also have a look at the T2 SDE and Rock Linux Distribution Build Kit. Both are frameworks for building your own distribution, which you can fit to your needs.

Thanks, I will take a look at them.

macman31