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#1 2012-03-14 18:22:12

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Making a custom Arch live disc

I'm making my own custom Arch live disc. It will be based on Arch, with GNOME-Shell, but preconfigured with all the necessary stuff (like Linux Mint does, for example).

I'd like:
-boot into GNOME-Shell
-GUI installer
-has a bunch of programs installed
-GNOME-Shell integration addon in Firefox
-comes with a few GNOME-Shell extensions enabled
-single-click on Nautilus
-custom artwork
-necessary drivers installed

I came across KahelOS while looking up things, and it's the type of thing I would want to do, with a GUI set up, and a graphical installer, with some GNOME-Shell extensions enabled, etc. My problem with it was that it had way too many programs installed, in my opinion, and was only 32 bit. Also, I sent the developers a message and they did not respond. (It's been a few weeks)

What I have so far is a live disc that auto-starts GDM when it boots, and has GNOME-Shell and my programs in it, along with most of the drivers needed.

I thought I would make an account on the Arch Linux forum and see if any of you could give me a hand smile

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#2 2012-03-15 01:37:54

TheHebes
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From: New England
Registered: 2011-07-07
Posts: 138

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

What would you need help with? smile


Laptops:
MSI GS60 Ghost
Asus Zenbook Pro UX501VW
Lenovo Thinkpad X120e

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#3 2012-03-15 01:46:04

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

I would like it to autologin, don't have that yet. I also don't have any extensions working, or the GUI installer. Any help is appreciated, really, as I've kind of hit a brick wall ^^

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#4 2012-03-18 10:54:33

orschiro
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Registered: 2009-06-04
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Do you intend to optimise your live cd for mobile system, i.e. notebooks?

For a long time now I wanted to create a optimised notebook distribution based on Arch that pre-configures Arch for notebook usage.

That could be combined with your idea of a solid and user friendly system based on Gnome.

Regards

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#5 2012-03-18 16:42:55

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

I don't have any plans on that area, but it could be done. What would optimising it for notebook usage entail? I could add drivers for touchpads or wireless internet, etc. We could do that for sure, I want it to be usable on as many form factors as possible, as it is a live disc meant to make setting up Arch easier. smile

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#6 2012-03-19 09:26:27

orschiro
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Registered: 2009-06-04
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Besides touch pad settings with various scroll methods I would also like to include energy saving settings, a proper power management, fan control as well as special settings for displays such as required for tablets.

Furthermore the out of the box support for multimedia keys and providing the appropriate kernel modules for various notebook types.

Initially I wanted to use Archbang as my basis for further adaptation but I'm also fine with an ArchMint as you indent to create. smile

Regards

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#7 2012-03-19 20:08:28

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

One of the things I want is for it to be very minimal (i.e. not coming with lots of software preinstalled). So for the main ISO I'd rather not have all that mobile-specific software, but I could have a script included, or a checkbox in the installer, that would download the software in question.

Also, do you have any experience with making live discs, or do you have any idea how to do it? I have mine building, but as I said, I'm kind of stuck hmm

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#8 2012-03-20 15:51:04

orschiro
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Registered: 2009-06-04
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

I'm fine with a basic installation and either a special mobile release or bundles for various manufacturers that can be selected during the installation process. Different bundles since different vendors and notebooks require slightly different configurations and programs.

Concerning the live cd. I have never build one but wanted to refer to the following guides and projects.

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=117216

http://vaipui.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/ … n-of-arch/

https://kroweer.wordpress.com/2011/09/0 … -live-usb/

http://lifehacker.com/5680453/build-a-k … he-process

What is your progress of your live cd?

Regards

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#9 2012-03-20 21:39:46

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

I was working off the tutorial in the third link. So far I have my most of packages installed, so it should have programs and codecs, etc. It boots into the terminal, but then starts GDM immediately ('rc.d start gdm' in the rc.local, IIRC). One must then log in to GNOME-Shell by clicking the user icon.

It still doesn't have any custom settings (GNOME-Shell/Firefox extensions, or single-click), custom artwork (themes, or wallpaper), and there is no graphical installer.

Thanks for the links, they look helpful. I'll take a more in-depth look when I have some time smile

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#10 2012-03-22 14:58:45

orschiro
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Registered: 2009-06-04
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Can you publish your code somewhere such as on github so that I get a chance to test it and contribute?

Regards

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#11 2012-03-22 19:33:14

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Thanks orschiro for the links you provided.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#12 2012-03-22 19:34:17

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

How would I publish my code? I've never done anything like that before hmm
Alright I made a git account and a repo for the live disc, I'm just figuring stuff out right now....
https://github.com/theRealPadster/Turbo-Arch-Live-Disc

Last edited by padster (2012-03-22 20:19:40)

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#13 2012-03-22 20:33:47

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

For a graphical installer I think Anaconda might be possible to be ported.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#14 2012-03-22 20:36:34

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

And tribe might also be used but it has heavy KDE dependancies.

This is project is of a very high interest to me as I am looking to make something similar.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#15 2012-03-22 20:42:04

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

twilight0: Thanks for the help, I'll look up porting Anaconda. Since it's a GNOME distro, and already almost 1GB in size I don't really want to add a whole bunch of KDE dependencies, so no tribe.

If you're also looking to make something similar, why don't you take a look at the git page? smile
https://github.com/theRealPadster/Turbo-Arch-Live-Disc

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#16 2012-03-22 21:24:45

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

I would like to base my system on LXDE and i686 only so no GNOME for me this time. But I like the graphical installer. I will probably remaster the Archbang.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#17 2012-03-22 21:25:51

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

And thanks for the link I am looking at it right now.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#18 2012-03-22 21:26:19

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Ah, okay then.
No problem, I still haven't put anything up yet, really just the readme. The original files are owned by root, and it's proving somewhat difficult to get them over to my user's privileges.

Last edited by padster (2012-03-22 21:32:28)

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#19 2012-03-22 22:01:08

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
Website

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

padster I just registered on GIT and I am a newbie to all this, but still I would like to help you out. Could you add me to your project? I registered as Twilight0.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#20 2012-03-22 22:11:04

twilight0
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From: Greece
Registered: 2011-05-01
Posts: 227
Website

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

padster I 've sent you a message.

As for the GNOME extensions I am thinking of an unofficial repo we could build all of them there for all architectures. Dropbox is an option.


Proud Arch Linux user since 2007.

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#21 2012-03-22 22:48:31

RichAustin
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From: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
Registered: 2011-07-27
Posts: 186

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

twilight0 wrote:

padster I 've sent you a message.

As for the GNOME extensions I am thinking of an unofficial repo we could build all of them there for all architectures. Dropbox is an option.

A better option would be a free account on http://unfuddle.com/ which allows you to setup free Git or Subversion Repositories. This way you can track changes and roll back as you go. There's no tracking, checking out, checking in etc. with Dropbox - though Dropbox is useful for simply sharing a file quickly.

As to the ideas on what modules to include etc. what about the system that Puppy Linux uses where you can add modules as you require them, and then save the setup to a USB stick or section of memory? I don't know exactly how that works but it's open source as far as I know.

I'd include Wicd simply because it connects to pretty much everything, and once you have a connection you can add anything else. I totally agree that the distro should be as minimal as possible - geany, vi, nano, banshee, firefox and vlc and an email app like Thunderbird would be perfectly adequate.

[Edit]
Forgot to put this part in:

In my opinion it is essential a live distro recognises wireless - Broadcom especially - because this factor has really put me off a few distros.

[/Edit]

Last edited by RichAustin (2012-03-22 22:54:18)

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#22 2012-03-23 00:36:44

padster
Member
Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
Website

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Twilight0: Okay, I think I added you, and you should also watch the project, probably. On a side note, how did you change your avatar?

RichAustin: Modules is a good idea, I think. The other thing we need to think about, though, is how we're going to do this. As I've said before, I don't have much experience with this at all ^^
And wicd is just a package called "wicd"? Is that wireless or what should I install to add wireless capabilities? My ethernet doesn't seem to work from my live disc at the moment, by the way.

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#23 2012-12-18 01:05:31

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
Website

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

I have decided to put an end to this project. I have found Bridge Linux, which is Arch and comes with a GNOME, KDE, and XFCE version. This is what I was wanting, so I don't need to make my own anymore. Thanks to all who have contributed smile

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#24 2012-12-18 06:28:47

orschiro
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Registered: 2009-06-04
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

You can also have a look at Cinnarch which is Arch + Cinnamon and very nicely implemented.

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#25 2012-12-18 20:52:31

padster
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Registered: 2012-03-14
Posts: 24
Website

Re: Making a custom Arch live disc

Yeah, looks pretty good, but my point was to make a GNOME-Shell disc, which Bridge has done

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