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I think it would be easier to make your own distribution if you could install a system,configure it to your liking, then have your whole hard drive compressed and made into an iso image. That way, the iso could be uploaded and distributed with all the programs and settings you want. Is this possible? Is a program needed to do this or can you simply copy and compress the filesystem?
Check out the function "dump". I have never used it but it looks like you should be able to dump all your filesystems into a file and then restore it later.
I have use ufsdump in solaris to copy entire installs to other servers.
Keep in mind that "dump" only works for ext2/3 filesystems.
That's essentially how Knoppix remastering is done. Knoppix's web site documentation includes instructions on how to customize your own variant of Knoppix--which is why there are so many Knoppix variants out there.
So you can dump the whole thing then make it into an iso that is bootable and installable? Would this need to be done while using a LiveCD looking at a filesystem, or while you are in the system?
Would the above work? This would really improve on the amount of distros being created. Or, could you compress the filesystem only so that none of your personal files are included, just programs that you installed and theme details?
The process for making a Knoppix remaster involves first doing a special Knoppix install and then adding/removing software packages and other customizations.
If you just take any old hard drive install and make an .iso out of it, then it will only work on your computer's hardware, and other hardware which is similar enough to it.
Well, Klaus Knopper did it with Debian. But he also developed custom startup scripts to give his Debian customization the ability to autodetect a wide range of hardware. Without these scripts, it's not clear how useful your custom distribution would be. With the scripts...well, you might as well start with Knoppix or a Knoppix customization, right?
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