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The following steps will guide you through the yast2-cd-creator which helps you to create your own installation media (for example a recovery CD) based on SUSE Linux Enterprise.
Starting the CD Creator
Step 1. Make sure that the package „yast2-cd-creator“ is installed on the system.
Step 2. Open YaST and go to „Miscellaneous“ -> „CD Creator“.
Create a new configuration
Step 3. Create a new configuration using the „Add“ button.
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| You can create several configurations on the same machine, ie. if you want to use one machine to create several different installation media.
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Configure the CD Creator
After creating a new configuration the CD Creator Configuration screen shows up. This screen lets you select a predefined set of packages that will be installed with the resulting installation media.
Step 4. Enter a name for your newly created configuration under “Configuration Name”
Step 5. Select the autoYaST profile and check “Copy Profile to CD Image”
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This howto defaults to using an autoYaST profile, but there are different options you can use:
- You can use the package manager to select the packages to be installed. When using this option, the “normal” YaST package manager shows up and lets you select the packages to be installed.
- You can use an autoYaST control file containing that information (default). You can get the autoYaST control file by using
- a) the „Clone this system for autoYaST“ option at the end of the installation or
- b) in the autoYaST module in YaST, or you can create it by yourself. You can find the autoYaST documentation under http://forgeftp.novell.com//yast/doc/SL10.1/autoinstall/index.html
If you are using the cloning function, the autoYaST control file will be saved in /root/autoinst.xml after installation. If you want to have the autoYaST control file included on the media, please check the option „Copy Profile to CD Image“.
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Select the installation source
After pressing the „Next“ button you will be asked for the installation source to read the packages from.
Step 6. Select the installation source by pressing the “Select” button.
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| Currently only local sources in a local directory are supported, CD/DVD media, network installation sources or ISO images cannot be used. If you want to use an ISO image, do not use the “ISO Image” option in yast, but mount the ISO image as a loopback device (mount -o loop iso.iso /mountpoint) and specify the mountpoint as an installation source in YaST. It is planned to offer this functionality with an update to yast-cd-creator.
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ISO Image Configuration
This is the final configuration for the ISO image to be created.
Step 7. Enter the path for the directory tree to be created (mandatory)
Step 8. Enter the filename for the resulting ISO image file
Step 9. Enter your company name under “CD Publisher” and “CD Preparer”
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The generated directory tree will contain the installation media structure and – at your choice – either all RPMs from the installation source (recommended as the customers might want to install additional packages which otherwise are not on the installation media) or only the selected subset of packages (for that, check the „Copy only needed files to save space“ option). This saves space and by using that option, you could create a 1-cd-installation media.
Another option is to let cd creator create only the directory tree, by checking the option “Create Directory Tree Only”. In that case, you will have to create the ISO image yourself (ie. by using mkisofs – see “man mkisofs” for details).
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Configuring SYSLINUX/isolinux.cfg
The next screen lets you edit the isolinux.cfg for the resulting media. This file is responsible for the boot menu that will appear when booting from the new installation cd.
Step 10. Keep the options as they are and press “next”
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The entry „default“ sets the default seletion for the CD's bootloader. Usually you want to use „harddisk“ as default, as the system then boots up its installed operating system even though the bootable CD is entered.
If the entry „autoyast“ is selected, the installation will be done using the supplied autoYaST configuration file. If the customer wants to do a regular installation, the entry „install“ has to be selected. If so, it is up to the customer what packages/configuration are used for the system to be installed (just like with a regular install media).
For more detailed information on the isolinux.cfg file, please have a look at the file /usr/share/doc/packages/syslinux/syslinux.doc.
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Finalize configuration and create the media
Next, the cd creator will present you a summary of your configuration.
Step 11. Press “Finish” to confirm your settings and start image creation
You can now burn the resulting ISO image with your favorite burning application. Dependent on its size, you have to decide on your know whether to use a CD or DVD media.
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The created ISO image is not digitally signed, the installer will print a warning message during installation. The warning can be safely ignored. It should be possible to create a signed ISO image by the CD creator in the future.
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