How to make a custom ISO image

2012-03-07T05:25:59Z

M0e:

This document explains how to build a custom ISO image using the alpine-iso scripts.

First make sure we have the needed tools
{{Cmd|apk add alpine-sdk}}

Then we clone (or update) the [http://git.alpinelinux.org/cgit/alpine-iso.git/ alpine-iso git repository].
{{Cmd|git clone git://git.alpinelinux.org/alpine-iso}}

The alpine-iso scripts is a simple makefile which you need to feed with a ''<name>.conf.mk'' file and a ''<name>.packages''.

In the ''<name>.conf.mk'' we specify

;ALPINE_NAME
:name of iso image

;ALPINE_VERSION
:(optional) version string. Will default to todays date.

;KERNEL_FLAVOR
:(optional) either ''grsec'', ''vserver'' or ''pae''. Will default to grsec.

;MODLOOP_EXTRA
:(optional) Extra kernel module packages for the modloop image. For example: ''dahdi-linux-vserver''

The ''<name>.packages'' is just a plaintext list of packages that should be included in the ISO image. You should always add ''alpine-base'' in there or the CD might not be able to boot. The dependencies for the packages will automatically be pulled in.

== A rescue CD example ==
As an example, let us make a rescue ISO image with packages needed for rescue operations. We call it ''alpine-rescue''

We create the ''alpine-rescue.conf.mk'' as follows:
ALPINE_NAME := alpine-rescue
KERNEL_FLAVOR := grsec
MODLOOP_EXTRA :=

If you are going to use a custom kernel, don't forget to specify KERNEL_FLAVOR_DEFAULT which will set the default kernel to boot.

And then the ''alpine-rescue.packages'' as:
alpine-base
bkeymaps
openssh
e2fsprogs
mdadm
lvm2
parted
debootstrap
ntfs-3g

{{Tip| Make sure your public keys are placed in /etc/apk/keys/ (example: root-xxxxxxxx.rsa.pub):
{{Cmd|ls /etc/apk/keys/}}

Learn apk-tools to find your home-built apk's:
{{Cmd|echo "~/.cache/apks" >> /etc/apk/repositories}}
}}

Make sure the apk index is up to date (so apk finds the packages):
{{Cmd|apk update}}

We create the ISO image by telling the makefile the profile name. The makefile target is ''iso''.
{{Cmd|<nowiki>make PROFILE=alpine-rescue iso</nowiki>}}

To generate the sha1 sum we use the ''sha1'' make target.
{{Cmd|<nowiki>make PROFILE=alpine-rescue sha1</nowiki>}}

== Package lists ==

Beside the plaintext package lists in the git repository, there are more documented package lists contributed by Alpine users. Those lists can be transformed into a plaintext to use with <tt>alpine-iso</tt> list with the simple python-based <tt>[http://git.alpinelinux.org/cgit/fab/alpine-iso/tree/config-builder.py]</tt> script.

So far the lists below are available:

* [[Alpine_mini|Alpine Mini]]
* [[Alpine_rescue|Alpine Rescue]]
* [[Alpine_security|Alpine Security]]

== Testing your ISO image ==

[[Qemu#Live_mode| Qemu]] is useful for a quick test of your created ISO image.

Alpine Linux - User contributions [en]

How to make a custom ISO image