sudo docker run --privileged -it -v /var/lib/docker/volumes/fusiondata/_data:/home/fusion fusionbuild1 /bin/bash
i want to make a custom linux distribution based on debain bookworm with live build tool please help me with that
distribution usecase : for ai, ml /ds engineers
based on : debain 12 bookworm
installer : Calamares
desktop environment : no desktop environment i want i3 window manager preinstalled
features : usb persisteance when boot through usb (that is memory must not loose after rebooting it)
every where it should replace debain as Fusion flux as an Distribution name
iso : 64bit amd64 iso
prerequisites
To create a custom Linux distribution using the Live Build tool (commonly used for Debian-based distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives), you need to install several prerequisite packages. Here’s a list of essential packages and a basic step-by-step guide for setting up the environment.
Prerequisites for Using live-build:
Debian/Ubuntu-based System:
Ensure you are working on a Debian or Ubuntu system, as live-build is designed for these distributions.
Install Required Packages:
Open a terminal and run the following command to install the required tools:
debootstrap: Helps in creating a minimal base system (required for bootstrapping a Debian system).
curl/wget: For downloading additional files or packages during the build process.
xorriso: A command-line ISO 9660 editor and CD image creation tool, needed for making ISO files.
syslinux: For booting the system; used to configure boot loaders like ISOLINUX.
squashfs-tools: Tools to create a compressed filesystem, which is commonly used in live images.
genisoimage: Tool for creating the actual ISO image.
Optional Packages:
Depending on the complexity of the custom distribution, you may need additional packages:
apt-cacher-ng: If you plan to cache packages during repeated builds.
sudo apt-get install apt-cacher-ng
git: To manage repositories or pull specific configuration files.
sudo apt-get install git
locales: To manage system locales if you want to customize them.
sudo apt-get install locales
schroot: To manage chroots if you are building in an isolated environment.
sudo apt-get install schroot
Configure Live Build Environment:
After the necessary packages are installed, you can configure the build environment. For example:
lb config
This command sets up the default configuration for live-build. You can further customize it by adding options, such as specifying the distribution (Debian or Ubuntu version) or desktop environment.
Build the Image:
Once the environment is configured, you can start building the ISO by running:
sudo lb build
This process will generate a live ISO image that you can customize further by editing configuration files or adding packages as per your requirements.
Key Files and Directories:
config/package-lists/: You can place custom package lists here to include specific software in the build.
config/includes.chroot/: You can add custom files or scripts to be included in the final system.
By ensuring these prerequisites are installed and following the steps above, you’ll be able to create a custom Linux distribution using live-build.
Creating a custom Linux distribution based on Debian, with the ability to boot from a USB (using tools like Rufus or Ventoy) and install directly from the BIOS like other popular distributions (such as Kali), involves several steps and key configurations. Here’s a breakdown of the major components and steps you’ll need to follow:
1. Choose a Base (Debian) Version
Select the correct Debian base version (e.g., Debian 11 “Bullseye” or 12 “Bookworm”).
Make sure to use the amd64 architecture as you mentioned.
2. Debian Live Build System
Use Debian live-build tools, which are designed for creating live systems and installing them.
Install the live-build tool to generate the ISO:
sudo apt-get install live-build
Live-build allows customization of the system, including packages, scripts, and configurations, which you need for the live boot and installation.
3. Configure the Live Boot
The live boot system is essential for creating an image that can be tested in live mode (before installation).
Steps:
Create a working directory:
mkdir custom-linuxcd custom-linux
Start the live build process with a minimal Debian system template:
lb config --architecture amd64
Customize configurations:
Set up live boot settings (optional configurations can be added in the auto/config file):
Modify the boot menu using GRUB configuration in /config/bootloaders/grub or the grub-pc package for BIOS compatibility.
7. BIOS Compatibility
Make sure your ISO is hybrid (so it works for both BIOS and UEFI systems). You can achieve this by ensuring your lb config command uses the --debian-installer true option.
Hybrid ISO configurations will make the boot media compatible across different systems, including BIOS and UEFI boot modes.
Verify the ISO can be booted using Rufus and Ventoy in both MBR and GPT partition schemes.
8. Persistent Storage (Optional)
If you want the live boot environment to support persistence (i.e., save changes to the USB), enable persistence via custom configurations:
Modify the boot command line (in syslinux or grub):
boot=live components persistence
The persistence file or partition needs to be named properly (e.g., persistence.conf in the root of the USB drive).
9. Testing and Debugging
Test your custom live image on virtual machines like VirtualBox or QEMU.
Boot the ISO with tools like Rufus, Ventoy, or BalenaEtcher to verify it works both in live mode and installation mode.
Ensure that the system installs correctly and that custom packages/software are properly configured post-installation.
10. Optional Tools for Simplified Building
Refracta Tools: If live-build feels complex, you can use Refracta tools. They simplify the process of creating a live system and installer. These tools can create a live ISO and provide an easy-to-use graphical installer.
This process will create a Debian-based custom ISO with live boot and installation options, BIOS/UEFI compatibility, and custom software configurations.
2nd via prompt
To create a custom Linux distribution based on Debian 12 “Bookworm” using the live-build tool, tailored for AI, ML/DS engineers, and using the i3 window manager without a desktop environment, here’s how you can go about it. You also want the installer to be Calamares, with USB persistence support and custom branding replacing Debian with the name Fusion Flux.
Below are the detailed steps to guide you through the process:
1. Install Required Tools
First, you need to install the necessary tools on your build machine (which should ideally be a Debian 12 “Bookworm” system):
You can find default configurations for Calamares modules in the Debian repository. Customize the installer for your distribution’s needs. For example, place the following configuration in the netinstall.conf for Calamares:
Persistence Configuration
To ensure USB persistence, ensure the boot command includes the persistence option (already included in --bootappend-live). Additionally, when users create a live USB with persistence, they need to set up a persistence partition named persistence.
Modify the live boot files to include support for persistence:
Once the configuration is ready, build the ISO using the following command:
sudo lb build
This will create a 64-bit amd64 ISO image in the current directory.
The build process can take some time depending on the size of the packages you’ve included.
Check for any errors or missing packages and modify config/package-lists/custom.list.chroot as needed.
5. Test Your ISO
After the build process is complete, you will have a .iso file ready for testing.
Test the ISO in VirtualBox or QEMU:
You can test the live boot and installation process using a virtual machine before trying it on real hardware. If everything works, you can create a bootable USB.
Create a Bootable USB with Persistence:
Use Rufus, Ventoy, or BalenaEtcher to create a bootable USB from the ISO.
If you are using persistence, make sure to create a second partition on the USB labeled persistence and a file named persistence.conf with the following content:
/ union
This will ensure that changes made in the live session (e.g., saved files or installed packages) are persistent.
6. Final Touches
Once your ISO is fully functional, you may want to:
Further tweak configurations for the installer.
Add more advanced AI/ML tools based on feedback from users or your own preferences.
Ensure all branding elements (logos, texts, etc.) reflect the Fusion Flux identity.
By following these steps, you will have created a custom Debian Bookworm-based Linux distribution named Fusion Flux, with i3 preinstalled, Calamares as the installer, and USB persistence. This distribution will be optimized for AI, ML, and Data Science workflows, and should work smoothly when booted from a USB or installed on a system.
3rd firmware error
I understand you’re encountering an error while building your Fusion Linux distribution. The error message indicates that the package ‘firmware-linux’ is not available. This is a common issue when working with Debian-based distributions, especially when dealing with non-free firmware. Let’s troubleshoot this step by step:
First, ensure that you have the non-free and contrib repositories enabled. In your lb config command, add the following if you haven’t already:
The package ‘firmware-linux’ has been replaced by more specific packages in recent Debian versions. Instead of ‘firmware-linux’, you should use ‘firmware-linux-free’ and possibly ‘firmware-linux-nonfree’. Update your package list to include these:
Edit your config/package-lists/live.list.chroot file and replace ‘firmware-linux’ with:
firmware-linux-free
firmware-misc-nonfree
Make sure your system is up to date:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
Clean your build environment before rebuilding:
sudo lb clean
Rebuild your live system:
sudo lb build
If you’re still encountering issues, here are a few more things to try:
Check if you have the correct sources list. Create or edit the file config/archives/debian.list.chroot:
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
If you’re behind a proxy, make sure it’s correctly configured in your build environment.
If the issue persists, you might want to try using a newer version of live-build:
sudo apt install live-build/bookworm-backports
After making these changes, clean and rebuild your system. If you’re still facing issues, please provide the full output of the build process, and I’ll be happy to help you troubleshoot further.
test with qemu
qemu-system-x86_64 -cdrom '/home/yash/Desktop/live-image-amd64.hybrid.iso' -boot d -m 3000
building and modififing chroot
Using chroot allows you to enter a filesystem environment (in this case, the filesystem of your live-build) and interact with it as if it were the root of your system. This is very useful for testing changes like adding or removing programs without having to rebuild the entire ISO.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use chroot in the context of a live-build:
Steps to Use chroot with Live-build
Prepare the Build Environment
Make sure you have your live-build setup ready, and you have at least done the lb build command once to create the base filesystem. If you haven’t built the image yet, run:
lb build
This will create a chroot/ directory in your live-build project where the root filesystem resides.
Entering the chroot Environment
Once the chroot directory is ready, you can enter it:
sudo chroot path/to/chroot/
For example, if you’re in your live-build directory, it might be:
sudo chroot chroot/
Now you’re inside the filesystem as if it’s the root of your system.
Update Package Lists
Inside the chroot, you’ll want to update the package list to make sure it has access to the latest repositories:
apt-get update
Installing Packages
You can now install any packages you want to add to the final ISO. For example:
apt-get install your-package
Removing Packages
Similarly, you can remove packages:
apt-get remove your-package
Testing and Configuring
You can also modify and test configurations inside the chroot environment. You are working within the actual environment that will be part of your live system, so this allows you to test changes immediately.
Exiting the chroot
Once you’re done making changes, you can simply exit the chroot environment:
exit
Repack the ISO (if needed)
If you are satisfied with the changes made in the chroot, you can rebuild the binary part of the ISO (not the full rebuild) to integrate the changes:
lb clean --binarylb build
This will regenerate the ISO but keep the same base environment, making it faster.
Additional Notes:
Mount proc, sys, and dev: Some services or scripts inside chroot may require access to /proc, /sys, or /dev. You can mount these as follows before entering chroot:
sudo mount -o bind /proc chroot/procsudo mount -o bind /sys chroot/syssudo mount -o bind /dev chroot/dev
Using chroot allows you to make changes quickly without needing to rebuild the entire image. This can save a lot of time when testing packages or configurations.
add set users, change os name , and configure calamares
1. Add default username (fusion) and password (fusion), and make fusion user a sudoer
You can achieve this by editing the configuration of live-build to create a user with the required credentials. You’ll modify the hooks to add the user and set up sudo permissions.
Add the following commands to replace Debian with Fusion in key files:
#!/bin/bash# Change OS name from Debian to fusionsed -i 's/Debian/fusion/g' /etc/issuesed -i 's/Debian/fusion/g' /etc/os-releasesed -i 's/Debian/fusion/g' /etc/motd
5. Remove Calamares installer after installing the distribution
Once the OS is installed, you will want to remove Calamares from the target system (the installed system). You can create a post-installation script for this purpose.
Create a new hook to remove Calamares after installation: