 
 
 
 
 
Linux Community Forums New to Linux Getting Started with Linux Need help making a new distro
07 Jun 09
I know everyone is thinking: "Ugh!!! Not another distro!!!
But this is a different case. I am making this for my personal use and for a few friends and family members.
I am thinking of basing it off Slackware or Arch, although I am currently using PCLinuxOS and Mint on a couple other pcs.
ALL help and advice is helpful. But first I need to figure out WHERE to start.
If anyone would like to help with this, please post here with any links or info I will be needing. I am totally lost here.
07 Jun 09
To start? You need a base install. One without any window managers. In Debian, I use the businesscard install, I go to advanced or expert installation, then uncheck everything but the base. I've never experimented with Slackware or Arch, but, since they are advanced distros, I would guess they would also have the option of a base install.
From there just add what you need. Not a new distro, but your distro.
07 Jun 09
Thanx GoinEasy9, maybe I will try Debian. I was looking at Slackware and it just seems like it might be a pain.
@ manfred: What?
07 Jun 09
DemonTek wrote:
I know everyone is thinking: "Ugh!!! Not another distro!!!
But this is a different case. I am making this for my personal use and for a few friends and family members.
I am thinking of basing it off Slackware or Arch, although I am currently using PCLinuxOS and Mint on a couple other pcs.
ALL help and advice is helpful. But first I need to figure out WHERE to start.
If anyone would like to help with this, please post here with any links or info I will be needing. I am totally lost here.
If you are going to roll your own distro, one important question might be: How do you intend to manage your software packages? The two most popular binary formats are RPM (Fedora/Mandrake et al) and DEB (Ubuntu/Debian et al). If you prefer one of those to the other, you might want to use one of those to create your base image. Or you can go the other route and complete roll it from scratch using Linux From (you guessed it) Scratch.
Good luck and post your progress!
07 Jun 09
Well, I'm thinkin of goin the Debian route now, so I guess I will be using DEB. That way I can also add in their repos.
I have never "rolled my own" distro before. So the easiest way, is the best way for me right now.
I was also thinkin on just grabbin Debian and theme it up and add every thing we use to it. But then, it wouldn't really be my own creation, would it?
I mean, so many ppl do exactly that, then bundle it, rename it and tag it as their own creation.
08 Jun 09
While I wrote this how-to in Sept/08, I do believe the steps I took using the Debian Businesscard Installer are still viable. I also used an app called smxi (from techpatterns.com) to add my kde window manager after the basic Testing install. You may or may not want to use it, that's up to you, but it is a helpful app. It was also given a DistroWatch award a couple of months ago, so it does have geek cred. When you use the Businesscard install in Debian you can (at one point) choose whether you want to install Lenny(stable), Squeeze(testing) or Sid(unstable). Many choices for your own unique install.
Have Fun
Tom
Edit: LoL, forgot the link
http://www.linuxquestions.org/blog/goineasy9-98941/2008/9/9/using-debian-businesscard-install-and-smxi-to-make-the-perfect-debian-testingkdesmxi-enhanced-distro-1176/
The Linux Foundation is a non-profit consortium dedicated to the growth of Linux.
Join / Linux Training / Board
