Adding packages to a distro

[Tuork]

Hello all.

Over the past months I've been working on setting up a Visualization Cluster as part of a research project into tiled displays, and we've been thinking of creating our own custom distro (CentOS 5.2) which includes source/packages for all the extra applications we've installed.

Does anyone know a quick way of doing this?

I've looked into an app called Revisor, but I get a bunch of funky errors, and Linux From Scratch is not exactly what we have in mind (aside from being very time consuming).

Many thanks.

[grey_1]

Have you tried Reconstructor?
http://reconstructor.aperantis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=37

I haven't myself, but it's something I've been interested in also.

[Tuork]

Reconstructor is for Ubuntu. :(


I'm using CentOS 5.2.

[bacon12]

I have done this for a distro based off mandravia, and it was very easy considering. I just removed everything I could from a base install, then installed the kernel I wanted, removed the base kernel, and added the apps I wanted to be in the iso.

You could still use the same sources for the repos, and keep the package manager enact if you like.

Then use the mklivecd (http://developer.berlios.de/project/showfiles.php?group_id=1149) to create an iso. It will make an exact copy of the install you are working with.

[grey_1]

I forgot all about mklivecd bacon, I think several distros like mepis and maybe kanotix bundle in.

[bacon12]

Yup Mandy does, and its pretty well documented in the wiki. The easiest to do it on is pclinuxos and they have the script set up to be one command, and you have a bootable/installable live cd that is an exact snapshot of your install. The pclinuxos rpm may even work on cent.

It really shouldn't be that easy. ;)

[grey_1]

Funny that...I just happened to dl the pclinux iso the other day. :p

Just got to get my linux rig running again.

[Tuork]

Thanks guys. I'll have a look at pclinuxos thingumabob as soon as I can. :)

[Tuork]

Hmm... it seems mklivecd only works for Mandrake (and pclinuxos). :(

Damn CentOS distribution. There's nothing available for it.

[bacon12]

Hit the Cent mailing list and see if one of the devs will build the package for you. You could also try to compile it from source.

I would set up a test machine, and do it from there thou. Also give the pclos rpm a go on the test machine. You might get lucky, as there is a good bit of red hat code in pclos/mandy.

I will try and find you a link to a site one of the pclos devs put up from the work he did on it.

Edit..
Here is the script generator. Once you set up everything like it should be for cent getting everything pointing in the right place, save that script. Then running it will get it done for you.

You still need a working mklivecd install thou.

http://pclos.intraweave.com/mklivecd/mklivecd.php?action=preview

[Tuork]

Thanks a lot mate. I'll have a go at it tomorrow once I'm back at the lab.
:)

Oh, I also found this:
www.linux-live.org