SIG - AlmaLinux Live Media

This git repository contains Kickstarts and other scripts needed to produce the AlmaLinux Live DVDs. Two ways to create/build this project. Using docker containers or AlmaLinux system.

Build using Docker

Create `almalinux/ks2rootfs:livecd-tools` image

Project root directory contains the Dockerfile necessary to build almalinux/ks2rootfs:livecd-tools image. Use docker build command to create docker image.

docker build -t almalinux/ks2rootfs:livecd-tools -f Dockerfile .

Using `almalinux/ks2rootfs:livecd-tools` image

Change working folder to kickstarts and run docker image created in previous step. Mount current working foder to code folder inside docker container as below.

cd  kickstarts
docker run --privileged --rm -it -v $PWD:/code almalinux/ks2rootfs:livecd-tools

Run following commands inside docker shell to build Gnome live media.

ksflatten --config almalinux-8-live-gnome.ks --output flat-gnome.ks
livecd-creator --config flat-gnome.ks \
               --fslabel AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD-Gnome \
               --title=AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD \
               --product="AlmaLinux 8 Live" \
               --cache=/code/pkg-cache-alma \
               --releasever=8

Run following commands inside docker shell to build Gnome Mini live media.

ksflatten --config almalinux-8-live-mini.ks --output flat-mini.ks
livecd-creator --config flat-mini.ks \
               --fslabel AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD-Mini \
               --title=AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD \
               --product="AlmaLinux 8 Live" \
               --cache=/code/pkg-cache-alma \
               --releasever=8

Run following commands inside docker shell to build KDE live media.

ksflatten --config almalinux-8-live-kde.ks --output flat-kde.ks
livecd-creator --config flat-kde.ks \
               --fslabel AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD-KDE \
               --title=AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD \
               --product="AlmaLinux 8 Live" \
               --cache=/code/pkg-cache-alma \
               --releasever=8

Run following commands inside docker shell to build XFCE live media.

ksflatten --config almalinux-8-live-xfce.ks --output flat-xfce.ks
livecd-creator --config flat-xfce.ks \
               --fslabel AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD-XFCE \
               --title=AlmaLinux-8-LiveDVD \
               --product="AlmaLinux 8 Live" \
               --cache=/code/pkg-cache-alma \
               --releasever=8

Build using AlmaLinux System

Build Environments

This project contains number of KickStart files to build live media for AlmaLiux. It uses anaconda and livecd-tools packages for ISO file build process. livecd-tools available in epel repos, enable prior to install.

AlmaLinux system installed on a physical or vitual system is prefered. following additional packages are required. Package hfsplus-tools is available only in elrepo, make sure enable prior to isntall it.

sudo dnf -y install epel-release elrepo-release
sudo dnf -y update
sudo dnf --enablerepo="powertools" --enablerepo="epel" --enablerepo="elrepo" install anaconda\
                livecd-tools \
                hfsplus-tools \
                efibootmgr \
                efi-filesystem \
                efi-srpm-macros \
                efivar-libs \
                grub2-efi-x64 \
                grub2-efi-x64-cdboot \
                grub2-tools-efi \
                shim-x64

Build ISOs

Local build proces takes 20-50 minutes depends on number of CPU cores and internet speed. Minimum 15GB work space for temporary files. Resulting ISO size ranges from 1.4GB to 2.4GB depends on build type.

Building gnome live media

sudo livecd-creator \
    --cache=~/livecd-creator/package-cache \
    -c almalinux-8-live-gnome.ks \
    -f AlmaLinux-8-Live-GNOME

Building mini live media

sudo livecd-creator \
    --cache=~/livecd-creator/package-cache \
    -c almalinux-8-live-mini.ks \
    -f AlmaLinux-8-Live-mini

Building KDE live media

sudo livecd-creator \
    --cache=~/livecd-creator/package-cache \
    -c almalinux-8-live-kde.ks \
    -f AlmaLinux-8-Live-KDE

Building XFCE live media

sudo livecd-creator \
    --cache=~/livecd-creator/package-cache \
    -c almalinux-8-live-xfce.ks \
    -f AlmaLinux-8-Live-XFCE

Full live media

Minimal live media

Live Media installer

Make adjustment to install options and start the install process.

Installer options

Installer in progress

Post install

Reboot the system, accept the license. Now system is ready to use.

Additional notes

Current build scripts uses the AlmaLinux mirror closer to US/East zone. Use https://mirrors.almalinux.org to find and change different mirror.
Use following commnd to generate package list to install rpm -qa --qf "%{n}\n" | grep -v pubkey | sort > packages-XXX.txt
Make sure to use --cache for build process, it will help for faster build and less network traffic.'

jaboutboul/sig-livemedia