7 grml-live - build framework based on FAI for generating a Grml and Debian based
8 Linux Live system (CD/ISO)
13 grml-live [-a <architecture>] [-c <classe[s]>] [-C <configfile>] [
14 -e <extract_iso_name>] [-g <grml_name>] [-i <iso_name>] [
15 -o <output_directory>] [-r <release_name>] [-s <suite>] [
16 -t <template_directory>] [-v <version_number>] [-U <username>] [
22 grml-live provides the build system for creating a Grml and Debian based Linux
23 Live-CD. The build system is based on
24 link:http://fai-project.org/[FAI] (Fully Automatic
25 Installation). grml-live uses the "fai dirinstall" feature to generate a chroot
26 system based on the class concept of FAI (see later sections for further
27 details) and provides the framework to be able to generate a full-featured ISO.
28 It does not use all the FAI features by default though and you don't have to
29 know FAI to be able to use it.
31 The use of FAI gives you the flexibility to choose the packages you would like
32 to include on your very own Linux Live-CD without having to deal with all the
33 details of a build process.
35 CAUTION: grml-live does **not** use /etc/fai for configuration but instead
36 provides and uses ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG} which is pointing to /etc/grml/fai by default
37 (unless overridden using the ''-D'' option). This ensures that it does not clash
38 with default FAI configuration and packages, so you can use grml-live and FAI
39 completely independent at the same time!
43 Please notice that you should have a fast network connection as all the Debian
44 packages will be downloaded and installed via network. If you want to use a
45 local mirror (strongly recommended if you plan to use grml-live more than once)
46 checkout mkdebmirror (see /usr/share/doc/grml-live/examples/mkdebmirror),
47 debmirror(1), reprepro(1) (see /usr/share/doc/grml-live/examples/reprepro/ for a
48 sample configuration), apt-cacher(1) and approx(8). To avoid downloading the
49 base system again and again check out <<create-a-base-tgz,the base tar.gz
57 Clean up output directories before attempting the build. Packs the chroot
58 into a tar archive, and removes chroot and ISO build directories before exiting.
62 Use the specified architecture instead of the currently running one. This
63 allows building a 32bit system on a 64bit host (though you can't build a 64bit
64 system on a 32bit system/kernel of course). Please notice that real
65 crosscompiling (like building a ppc system on x86) isn't possible due to the
66 nature and the need of working in a chroot. Currently supported values: i386
71 Build the ISO without updating the chroot via FAI. This option is useful for
72 example when working on stable releases: if you have a working base
73 system/chroot and do not want to execute any further updates (via "-u" option)
74 but intend to only build the ISO.
78 Build the ISO without touching the chroot at all. This option is useful if
79 you modified anything that FAI or grml-live might adjust via Grml's FAI
80 scripts. It's like the '-b' option but even more advanced. Use only if you
81 really know that you do not want to update the chroot.
85 Specify the CLASSES to be used for building the ISO via FAI. By default only
86 the classes GRMLBASE, GRML_FULL and I386/AMD64 (depending on system
87 architecture) are assumed, resulting in a base system of about 350MB
88 total ISO size. If using a non-I386 system (like AMD64) you should specify the
89 appropriate architecture as well. Additionally you can specify a class providing
90 a grml-kernel (see <<classes,the 'CLASSES' section in this document>> for
91 details about available classes). So instead of GRML_FULL you can also use
92 GRML_SMALL and GRML_FULL.
95 All class names should be written in uppercase letters. Do not use a dash, use
96 an underscore. So do not use "amd64" but "AMD64", do not use "FOO BAR" but
100 -C **CONFIGURATION_FILE**::
102 The specified file is used as configuration file for grml-live. By default
103 /etc/grml/grml-live.conf is used as default configuration. If a file named
104 /etc/grml/grml-live.local exists it is used as well (sourced after reading
105 /etc/grml/grml-live.conf meant as main file for local configuration). As a last
106 option the specified configuration file is sourced so it is possible to override
107 settings of /etc/grml/grml-live.conf as well as of /etc/grml/grml-live.local.
108 Please notice that all configuration files have to be adjusted during execution
109 of grml-live, so please make sure you use /etc/grml/grml-live.conf as a base for
110 your own configuration file (usually /etc/grml/grml-live.local). Please also
111 notice that the configuration file specified via this option is **not** (yet)
112 supported inside the scripts/hooks/classes at ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config. Instead use
113 /etc/grml/grml-live.local for configuration stuff used inside
114 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config.
118 Use specified date as build date information on the ISO instead of the default.
119 The default is the date when grml-live is being executed (retrieved via
120 executing 'date +%Y-%m-%d'). The information is stored inside the file
121 /GRML/grml-version on the ISO, /etc/grml_version in the squashfs file and in all
122 the bootsplash related files. This option is useful if you want to provide an
123 ISO with release information for a specific date but have to build it in
124 advance. Usage example: '-d 2009-10-30'
126 -D **CONFIGURATION_DIRECTORY**::
128 The specified directory is used as configuration directory for grml-live and its
129 FAI. By default /etc/grml/fai is used as default configuration directory. If
130 you want to have different configuration scripts, package definitions, etc. with
131 without messing with the global configuration under /etc/grml/fai provided by
132 grml-live this option provides you the option to use your own configuration
133 directory. This directory is what's being referred to as ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}
134 throughout this documentation.
136 -e **EXTRACT_ISO_NAME**::
138 The squashfs inside the specified ISO will be extracted and used as the chroot.
139 This option is useful for remastering, in combination with -A and -b or -u.
143 Force execution and do not prompt for acknowledgment of configuration.
147 Set the grml flavour name. Common usage examples: grml, grml-small, grml64.
148 Please do NOT use blanks and any special characters like '/', ';' inside
149 GRML_NAME, otherwise you might notice problems while booting.
153 Display short usage information and exit.
157 Specify name of ISO which will be available inside $OUTPUT_DIRECTORY/grml_isos
160 -I **CHROOT_INSTALL**::
162 Specify name of source directory which provides files that should become part of
163 the chroot/ISO. Not enabled by default. Note: the files are installed under '/'
164 in the chroot so you have to create the rootfs structure on your own.
168 Skip creation of the ISO file. This option is useful if you want to build/update
169 the chroot and/or recreate the squashfs file without building an ISO file.
173 Bootstrap the chroot without building bootloader, squashfs, or finalizing the
174 ISO. Use this option if installation of some packages fails, you want to run
175 custom commands or similar.
176 The main use of this option is to save time by skipping stages which aren't
177 necessary for bootstrapping the chroot and which would get executed more than
178 once when iterating through the initial bootstrapping.
179 Alternatively, use this option as a test run of grml-live. Once you are
180 satisfied with the state of your grml_chroot, use grml-live **-u** to build the
181 remaining stages and finalize the ISO.
183 -o **OUTPUT_DIRECTORY**::
185 Main output directory of the build process of FAI. Some directories are created
186 inside this target directory, being: grml_cd (where the files for creating the
187 ISO are located, including the compressed squashfs file), grml_chroot (the
188 chroot system) and grml_isos (where the resulting ISO is stored).
192 Build the ISO without (re-)creating the squashfs compressed file using mksquashfs.
193 This option is useful if you just want to update parts outside the chroot in the ISO.
194 Consider combining this option with the build-only option '-b'.
198 Build the ISO without generating a netboot package.
202 Specify name of the release.
206 Specify the Debian suite you want to use for your live-system. Defaults to
207 "squeeze" (being current Debian/stable). Supported values are: etch, lenny,
208 squeeze, sid. Debian "squeeze" requires a recent base.tgz
209 (${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/basefiles/$CLASSNAME.tar.gz) or a recent version of
212 -t **TEMPLATE_DIRECTORY**::
214 Specify place of the templates used for building the ISO. By default
215 (and if not manually specified) this is /usr/share/grml-live/templates/.
217 -T **CHROOT_ARCHIVE**::
219 Unpack chroot tar archive before starting. Most useful in combination with
224 Update existing chroot instead of rebuilding it from scratch. This option is
225 based on the softupdate feature of FAI.
229 Sets ownership of all build output files to specified username before exiting.
231 -v **VERSION_NUMBER**::
233 Specify version number of the release.
237 Increase verbosity in the build process.
241 Use ZLIB instead of LZMA/XZ compression in mksquashfs part of the build process.
247 To get a Debian-stable and Grml-based Live-CD using /grml/grml-live
248 as build and output directory just run:
252 To get a 64bit Debian-testing and grml-small based Live-CD using /srv/grml-live
253 as build and output directory use the following command line on your amd64
256 # grml-live -s testing -c GRMLBASE,GRML_SMALL,AMD64 -o /srv/grml-live
260 If you have enough free space inside /dev/shm (being a tmpfs, usually you should
261 have >=1GB of RAM) just run "mount -o remount,suid,dev,rw /dev/shm" and use
262 /dev/shm as build and output directory - resulting in very fast build process.
263 But please be aware of the fact that rebooting your system will result in an
264 empty /dev/shm, so please use another directory for $CHROOT_OUTPUT,
265 $BUILD_OUTPUT and $ISO_OUTPUT if you plan to create more persistent output. :)
268 Main features of grml-live
269 --------------------------
271 * create a Grml-/Debian-based Linux Live-CD with one single command
273 * class based concept, providing a maximum of flexibility
275 * supports integration of own hooks, scripts and configuration
277 * supports use and integration of own Software and/or Kernels via simple use of
280 * native support of FAI features
286 grml-live uses FAI and its class based concept for adjusting configuration and
287 setup according to your needs. This gives you flexibility and strength without
288 losing the simplicity in the build process.
290 The main and base class provided by grml-live is named GRMLBASE. It's strongly
291 recommended to **always** use the class GRMLBASE when building an ISO using
292 grml-live, as well as the architecture dependent class which provides the kernel
293 (being 'I386' for x86_32 and 'AMD64' for x86_64) and a GRML_* class (like
294 GRML_SMALL, GRML_MEDIUM or GRML_FULL). The following files and directories are
295 relevant for class GRMLBASE by default:
297 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/scripts/GRMLBASE/
298 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/debconf/GRMLBASE
299 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/class/GRMLBASE.var
300 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/hooks/instsoft.GRMLBASE
301 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/package_config/GRMLBASE
303 Take a look at the next section for information about the concept of those
306 If you want to use your own configuration, extend an existing configuration
307 and/or add additional packages to your ISO just invent a new class (or extend an
308 existing one). For example if you want to use your own class named "FOOBAR" just
309 set CLASSES="GRMLBASE,GRML_SMALL,AMD64,FOOBAR" inside /etc/grml/grml-live.local
310 or invoke grml-live using the classes option: "grml-live -c
311 GRMLBASE,GRML_SMALL,AMD64,FOOBAR ...".
313 More details regarding the class concept can be found in the documentation of
314 FAI itself (being available at /usr/share/doc/fai-doc/).
321 The package selection part of the classes can be found in
322 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/package_config whereas some further classes are defined for
323 example in ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/scripts/ so specific feature sets can be
324 selected. The following classes are predefined:
326 * DEBORPHAN: get rid of all packages listed in output of deborphan
328 * GRMLBASE: the main class responsible for getting a minimal subset of what's
329 defining a Grml system. Important parts of the buildprocess are specified in
330 this class as well, so unless you have a really good reason you should always
333 * GRML_FULL: full featured Grml, also known as the "normal", full grml as
334 introduced in December 2011 (~350MB ISO size).
336 * GRML_MEDIUM: medium sized Grml version, used to be known as grml-medium
337 until December 2011 (~220MB ISO size).
339 * GRML_SMALL: minimum sized Grml version, known as grml-small (~110MB ISO
342 * GRML_XL: large size Grml version, used to be known as "full grml" until
343 December 2011 (~700MB ISO size).
345 * LATEX: LaTeX(-related) packages like auctex, texlive,...
346 (which used to be shipped by grml before the LaTeX removal)
348 * LATEX_CLEANUP: get rid of several very large LaTeX directories
349 (like some /usr/share/doc/texlive-*, /usr/share/doc/texmf,...)
351 * LOCALES: use full featured locales setup (see /etc/locale.gen.grml). This
352 avoids to get rid of /usr/share/locale - which happens by default otherwise - as
355 * NO_ONLINE: do not run scripts during the chroot build process which require a
358 * RELEASE: run some specific scripts and commands to provide the workflow for an
359 official grml release
361 * REMOVE_DOCS: get rid of documentation directories (like /usr/share/doc,
362 /usr/share/man/, /usr/share/info,...)
364 * SOURCES: retrieve Debian source packages after installation. Files will be
365 placed in the output directory under grml_sources.
367 * XORG: providing important packages for use with a base grml-featured X.org
374 Notice that grml-live ships FAI configuration files that do not use the same
375 namespace as the FAI packages itself. This ensures that grml-live does not clash
376 with your usual FAI configuration, so instead of /etc/fai/fai.conf (package
377 fai-client) grml uses ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/fai.conf instead. For more details see
378 below. To get an idea how another configuration or example files could look like
379 check out /usr/share/doc/fai-doc/examples/simple/ (provided by Debian package
380 fai-doc). Furthermore /usr/share/doc/fai-doc/fai-guide.html/ch-config.html
381 provides documentation regarding configuration possibilities.
385 Script for the main build process. Requires root permissions for execution.
387 /etc/grml/grml-live.conf
389 Main configuration file for grml-live which should be considered as a reference
390 configuration file only. Please use /etc/grml/grml-live.local for local
391 configuration instead.
393 /etc/grml/grml-live.local
395 All the local configuration should go to this file. This file overrides any
396 defaults of grml-live. Configurations via /etc/grml/grml-live.local are preferred
397 over the ones from /etc/grml/grml-live.conf. If you want to override settings
398 from /etc/grml/grml-live.local as well you have to specify them on the grml-live
401 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/fai.conf
403 Main configuration file for FAI which specifies where all the configuration
404 files and scripts for FAI/grml-live can be found. By default the configuration
405 variables are FAI_CONFIG_SRC=file:///etc/grml/fai/config and
406 GRML_FAI_CONFIG=/etc/grml/fai/config - both pointing to a directory shipped by
407 grml-live out-of-the-box so you shouldn't have to configure anything in this
410 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/make-fai-nfsroot.conf
412 This file is used by make-fai-nfsroot(8) only. Usually you don't have to change
413 anything inside this file. If you want to modify NFSROOT though you can adjust
416 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/NFSROOT
418 This file specifies the package list for creating the NFSROOT.
420 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/
422 The main directory for configuration of FAI/grml-live. More details below.
424 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/class/
426 This directory contains files which specify main configuration variables for the
429 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/debconf/
431 This directory provides the files for preseeding/configuration of debconf
434 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/hooks/
436 This directory provides files for customising the build process through hooks.
437 Hooks are user defined programs or scripts, which are called during the
438 installation process.
440 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/package_config/
442 Directory with lists of software packages to be installed or removed. The
443 different classes describe what should find its way to your ISO. When running
444 "grml-live -c GRMLBASE,GRML_SMALL,AMD64 ..." only the configuration of GRMLBASE,
445 GRML_SMALL and and AMD64 will be taken. If you use 'grml-live -c
446 GRMLBASE,GRML_SMALL,AMD64,FOOBAR ...' then the files of GRMLBASE, GRML_SMALL,
447 AMD64 **plus** the files from FOOBAR will be taken. So just create a new class to
448 adjust the package selection according to your needs. Please notice that the
449 directory GRMLBASE contains a package list defining a minimum but still
450 reasonable package configuration.
452 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/scripts/
454 Scripts for customising the ISO within the build process.
456 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/live-initramfs/
458 This directory provides the files used for building the initramfs/initrd via
465 Starting with grml-live version 0.17.0 you should find log files in a directory
466 named 'grml_logs' in the output directory (next to grml_isos, grml_chroot,...).
468 grml-live versions before 0.17.0 used to log into /var/log/grml-live.log
469 and /var/log/fai/grml.
472 Requirements for the build system
473 ---------------------------------
475 * any Debian based system should be sufficient (if it doesn't work it's a bug,
476 please send us a bug report then). Check out <<deploy-on-debian,How do I deploy
477 grml-live on a plain Debian installation>> for details how to set up grml-live
478 on a plain, original Debian system.
480 * enough free disk space; at least 800MB are required for a minimal grml-live
481 run (\~400MB for the chroot [$CHROOT_OUTPUT], \~150MB for the build target
482 [$BUILD_OUTPUT] and \~150MB for the resulting ISO [$ISO_OUTPUT] plus some
483 temporary files), if you plan to use GRML_FULL you should have at least 4GB of
484 total free disk space
486 * fast network access for retrieving the Debian packages used for creating the
487 chroot (check out "local mirror" and "NFSROOT" to workaround this problem as far
490 For further information see next section.
494 Current state of grml-live with squashfs-tools and kernel
495 ---------------------------------------------------------
497 Use squashfs-tools >=4.2-1 (available from Grml repositories as well as from
498 Debian/testing and Debian/unstable) to build Grml (based) ISOs featuring kernel
499 version 2.6.38-grml[64] or newer.
506 How do I deploy grml-live on a plain Debian installation?
507 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
509 The easiest way to get a running grml-live setup is to just use Grml.
510 Of course using grml-live on a plain, original Debian installation is supported
511 as well. So there we go.
513 What we have: plain, original Debian squeeze (6.0).
515 What we want: build a Grml ISO based on Debian/wheezy for the amd64 architecture
521 # adjust sources.list:
522 cat >> /etc/apt/sources.list << EOF
524 # grml stable repository:
525 deb http://deb.grml.org/ grml-stable main
526 # deb-src http://deb.grml.org/ grml-stable main
528 # grml testing/development repository:
529 deb http://deb.grml.org/ grml-testing main
530 # deb-src http://deb.grml.org/ grml-testing main
533 # adjust apt-pinning (only prefer squashfs stuff from grml):
534 cat >> /etc/apt/preferences << EOF
536 Pin: origin deb.grml.org
539 Package: squashfs-tools
540 Pin: origin deb.grml.org
544 # get keyring for apt:
546 apt-get --allow-unauthenticated install grml-debian-keyring
548 # optionally(!) install basefile so we don't have to build basic
549 # chroot from scratch, grab from http://daily.grml.org/
550 # mkdir -p /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles/
551 # mv base.tgz /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles/I386.tar.gz
552 # mv base64.tgz /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles/AMD64.tar.gz
554 # install relevant tools
555 # please check out http://grml.org/grml-live/#current_state when encountering problems!
556 apt-get -o APT::Install-Recommends=false install grml-live squashfs-tools
558 # adjust grml-live configuration for our needs:
559 cat > /etc/grml/grml-live.local << EOF
560 ## want a faster build process and don't need smaller ISOs?
561 ## if so use zlib compression
562 # SQUASHFS_OPTIONS="-comp gzip -b 256k"
563 ## want to use a specific squashfs binary?
564 # SQUASHFS_BINARY='/usr/bin/mksquashfs'
565 ## install local files into the chroot
566 # CHROOT_INSTALL="/etc/grml/fai/chroot_install"
567 ## adjust if necessary (defaults to /grml/grml-live):
568 ## OUTPUT="/srv/grml-live"
569 FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP="wheezy http://cdn.debian.net/debian/"
571 CLASSES="GRMLBASE,GRML_FULL,AMD64"
574 # just optional(!) - upgrade FAI to latest available version:
575 cat >> /etc/apt/sources.list << EOF
577 deb http://fai-project.org/download squeeze koeln
580 # get gpg key of FAI repos and install current FAI version:
581 gpg -a --recv-keys AB9B66FD; gpg -a --export AB9B66FD | apt-key add -
583 apt-get install fai-client fai-server fai-doc
585 That's it. Now invoking 'grml-live -V' should build the ISO. If everything
586 worked as expected the last line of the shell output should look like:
588 [*] Successfully finished execution of grml-live [running 687 seconds]
590 and the ISO can be found inside /grml-live/grml-live/grml_isos/ then.
592 [[grml_fai_config_variable]]
593 What is $GRML_FAI_CONFIG?
594 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
596 The variable '$GRML_FAI_CONFIG' is pointing to the directory /etc/grml/fai by
597 default. To provide you a maximum of flexibility you can set up your own
598 configuration directory (e.g. based on /etc/grml/fai) and use this directory
599 running grml-live with the '-D <config_dir>' option. Now '$GRML_FAI_CONFIG'
600 points to the specified directory instead of using /etc/grml/fai and all the
601 configuration files, scripts and hooks will be taken from your
602 '$GRML_FAI_CONFIG' directory.
605 I've problems with the build process. How to start debugging?
606 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
608 Check out the logs inside the directory 'grml_logs' next to your grml_chroot,
609 grml_isos,... directories.
611 If you need help with grml-live or would like to see new features as part of
612 grml-live you can get commercial support via
613 link:http://grml-solutions.com/[Grml Solutions].
615 [[install-local-files]]
616 How do I install further files into the chroot/ISO?
617 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
619 Just point the configuration variable CHROOT_INSTALL to the directory which
620 provides the files you would like to install. Note that the files are installed
621 under '/' in the chroot - so you have to create the rootfs structure on your
624 echo "CHROOT_INSTALL=\$GRML_FAI_CONFIG/chroot_install" >> /etc/grml/grml-live.local
625 mkdir -p /etc/grml/fai/chroot_install/usr/src/
626 wget example.org/foo.tar.gz
627 mv foo.tar.gz /etc/grml/fai/chroot_install/usr/src/
630 [[local-debian-mirror]]
631 Can I use my own (local) Debian mirror?
632 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
634 Yes. Set up an according sources.list configuration as class file in
635 ${GRML_FAI_CONFIG}/config/files/etc/apt/sources.list.d/ and adjust the variable
636 FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP (if not already using NFSROOT's base.tgz) inside
637 /etc/grml/grml-live.conf[.local]. If you're setting up your own class file don't
638 forget to include the class name in the class list (grml-live -c ...).
640 If you want to use a local (for example NFS mount) mirror additionally then
641 adjust MIRROR_DIRECTORY in /etc/grml/grml-live.conf[.local] as well.
643 If you want to use a HTTP Proxy (like apt-cacher-ng), set APT_PROXY. Example:
645 APT_PROXY="http://localhost:3142/"
647 [[add-additional-debian-packages]]
648 How do I add additional Debian package(s) to my CD/ISO?
649 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
651 Just create a new class (using the package_config directory):
653 # cat > /etc/grml/fai/config/package_config/MIKA << EOF
657 another_name_of_a_debian_package
661 and specify it when invoking grml-live then:
663 # grml-live -c GRMLBASE,GRML_SMALL,AMD64,MIKA
665 [[reset-grml-live-configuration]]
666 I fscked up my grml-live configuration. How do I reset it to the defaults?
667 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
669 Notice: this deletes all your grml-live configuration files. If that's really
670 what you are searching for just run:
672 rm -rf /etc/grml/fai /etc/grml/grml-live.conf
673 dpkg -i --force-confnew --force-confmiss /path/to/grml-live_..._all.deb
675 [[create-a-base-tgz]]
676 How do I create a base.tgz for use as NFSROOT?
677 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
679 First of all build the chroot system:
681 mkdir /tmp/nfsroot && cd /tmp/nfsroot
682 debootstrap squeeze /tmp/nfsroot/ http://cdn.debian.net/debian
685 Then check out where your NFSROOT is located:
687 # grep '^NFSROOT' /etc/grml/fai/make-fai-nfsroot.conf
688 NFSROOT=/grml/fai/nfsroot
690 So as /grml/fai/nfsroot is your NFSROOT place the file under
691 /grml/fai/nfsroot/live/filesystem.dir/var/tmp/:
693 mv base.tgz /grml/fai/nfsroot/live/filesystem.dir/var/tmp/base.tgz
695 or even better use /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles/$CLASSNAME.tar.gz instead.
696 Use I386 as $CLASSNAME for i386 builds and AMD64 for amd64 builds.
698 Now running "grml-live ..." will use this file as main system instead of
699 executing debootstrap. Check out the output for the following lines if using
703 Calling task_extrbase
704 Unpacking Debian base archive
705 Extracting /grml/fai/nfsroot/live/filesystem.dir/var/tmp/base.tgz
709 or if using /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles/$CLASSNAME.tar.gz for:
712 ftar: extracting /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles///AMD64.tar.gz to
713 /grml-live/grml-live_20071029.22138/grml_chroot//
717 Existing base.tgz can be found at http://daily.grml.org/
720 Set up apt-cacher-ng for use with grml-live
721 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
723 Make sure /etc/grml/grml-live.local provides according APT_PROXY and
726 # cat /etc/grml/grml-live.local
728 APT_PROXY="http://localhost:3142/"
730 FAI_DEBOOTSTRAP="squeeze http://localhost:3142/cdn.debian.net/debian squeeze main contrib non-free"
732 Make sure apt-cacher-ng is running ('/etc/init.d/apt-cacher-ng restart').
733 That's it. All downloaded files will be cached in /var/cache/apt-cacher-ng then.
736 How do I revert the manifold feature from an ISO?
737 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
739 The so called manifold feature Grml ISOs use by default allows one to use the same
740 ISO for CD boot and USB boot. If you notice any problems when booting just
741 revert the manifold feature running:
743 % dd if=/dev/zero of=grml.iso bs=512 count=1 conv=notrunc
745 To switch from manifold to isohybrid mode (an alternative approach provided by
746 syslinux) then just execute:
751 How do I create a base tar.gz (I386.tar.gz or AMD64.tar.gz)
752 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
754 Execute the following commands (requires root):
756 ARCH='amd64' # replace with i386 if necessary
757 SUITE='squeeze' # using the current stable release should always work
758 debootstrap --arch "$ARCH" --exclude=info,tasksel,tasksel-data "$SUITE" "$ARCH" http://debian.netcologne.de/debian
760 rm var/cache/apt/archives/*.deb
761 tar zcf ../"${ARCH}".tar.gz *
763 And finally place the generated tarball in /etc/grml/fai/config/basefiles/ (note
764 that it needs to be uppercase letters matching the class names, so: AMD64.tar.gz
765 for amd64 and I386.tar.gz for i386).
768 Download / install grml-live as a Debian package
769 ------------------------------------------------
771 Debian packages are available through the grml-repository at
772 link:http://deb.grml.org/pool/main/g/grml-live/[deb.grml.org]. If you want to
773 build a Debian package on your own (using for example a specific version or the
774 current development tree), just execute:
776 git clone git://git.grml.org/grml-live
784 The source of grml-live is available at
785 link:https://github.com/grml/grml-live/[https://github.com/grml/grml-live/]
791 Please report feedback, link:http://grml.org/bugs/[bugreports] and wishes
792 link:http://grml.org/contact/[to the Grml team]!
798 The most recent grml-live documentation is available online at
799 http://grml.org/grml-live/ and for offline reading also available
800 in different formats:
802 * http://grml.org/grml-live/grml-live.epub
803 * http://grml.org/grml-live/grml-live.pdf
808 Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>
810 /////////////////////////////////////
811 // vim:ai tw=80 ft=asciidoc expandtab
812 /////////////////////////////////////