live-custom-ubuntu-from-scratch/README.md

# Live custom Ubuntu from scratch

## Prerequisites (GNU/Linux Debian/Ubuntu)

Install applications we need to build the environment.

```
sudo apt-get install \
    debootstrap \
    squashfs-tools \
    genisoimage \
    syslinux \
    syslinux-utils \
    imagemagick \
    isolinux
```

```
mkdir $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
```

## Bootstrap and Configure Ubuntu
```
sudo debootstrap \
    --arch=amd64 \
    --variant=minbase \
    bionic \
    $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch/chroot \
    http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/
```

```
sudo mount --bind /dev $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch/chroot/dev

sudo mount --bind /run $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch/chroot/run
```

## Access chroot environment
```
sudo chroot $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch/chroot
```

1. **Configure mount points**
    ```
    mount none -t proc /proc

    mount none -t sysfs /sys

    mount none -t devpts /dev/pts

    export HOME=/root

    export LC_ALL=C
    ```

2. **Set a custom hostname**
    ```
    echo "ubuntu-live" > /etc/hostname
    ```

3. **Configure apt sources.list**

    Edit /etc/apt/source.list

    ```
    cat <<EOF > /etc/apt/sources.list
    deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic main restricted universe multiverse 

    deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-security main restricted universe multiverse 

    deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-updates main restricted universe multiverse 
    EOF
    ```

4. **Upgrade packages if you want**
    ```
    apt-get update

    apt-get -y upgrade
    ```

5. **Install and configure dbus**
    ```
    apt-get install -y systemd-sysv

    apt-get install -y dbus
    ```

    ```
    dbus-uuidgen > /var/lib/dbus/machine-id

    dpkg-divert --local --rename --add /sbin/initctl

    ln -s /bin/true /sbin/initctl
    ```

6. **Install packages needed for Live System**
    ```
    apt-get install -y \
        ubuntu-standard \
        casper \
        lupin-casper \
        discover \
        laptop-detect \
        os-prober \
        network-manager \
        linux-generic
    ```

7. **Graphical installer**
    ```
    apt-get install -y \
        ubiquity \
        ubiquity-casper \
        ubiquity-frontend-gtk \
        ubiquity-slideshow-ubuntu \
        ubiquity-ubuntu-artwork
    ```

8. **Install window manager**
    ```
    apt-get install -y \
        plymouth-theme-ubuntu-gnome-logo \
        ubuntu-gnome-desktop \
        ubuntu-gnome-wallpapers
    ```

9. **Install usefull applications**
    ```
    apt-get install -y \
        clamav-daemon \
        terminator \
        apt-transport-https \
        curl \
        vim \
        nano
    ```

10. **Install Visual Studio Code**

    1. Download and install the key 
        ```
        curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > microsoft.gpg

        install -o root -g root -m 644 microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/
        
        echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/vscode stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list

        rm microsoft.gpg
        ```

    2. Then update the package cache and install the package using:
        ```
        apt-get update
        
        apt-get install -y code
        ```

11. **Install Google Chrome**

    1. Download and install the key 
        ```
        wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -
        ```

    2. Add the key to the repository
        ```
        echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
        ```

    3. Finally, Update repository and install Google Chrome.
        ```
        apt-get update

        apt-get install google-chrome-stable
        ```

12. **Install Java JDK 8**
    ```
    apt-get install -y \
        openjdk-8-jdk \
        openjdk-8-jre
    ```

13. **Remove unused applications**
    ```
    apt-get purge -y \
        transmission-gtk \
        transmission-common \
        gnome-mahjongg \
        gnome-mines \
        gnome-sudoku \
        aisleriot \
        hitori
    ```

14. **Remove unused packages**
    ```
    apt-get autoremove -y
    ```

15. **Cleanup the chroot environment**

    1. If you installed software, be sure to run
        ```
        rm /var/lib/dbus/machine-id
        ```

    2. Remove the diversion
        ```
        rm /sbin/initctl

        dpkg-divert --rename --remove /sbin/initctl
        ```

    3. Clean up
        ```
        apt-get clean

        rm -rf /tmp/*

        rm /etc/resolv.conf

        umount /proc
        
        umount /sys
        
        umount /dev/pts
        
        exit
        ```

## Unbind mount points
```
sudo umount $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch/chroot/dev

sudo umount $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch/chroot/run
```

## Create the CD image directory and populate it

1. Access build directory
   ```
   cd $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
   ```

2. Create directories
   ```
   mkdir -p image/{casper,isolinux,install}
   ```

2. Copy kernel images
   ```
   sudo cp chroot/boot/vmlinuz-**-**-generic image/casper/vmlinuz

   sudo cp chroot/boot/initrd.img-**-**-generic image/casper/initrd.gz
   ```

3. Copy isolinux and memtest binaries
   ```
   sudo cp /usr/lib/ISOLINUX/isolinux.bin image/isolinux/

   sudo cp /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/{chain,gfxboot,ldlinux,libutil,libcom32,vesamenu}.c32 image/isolinux/

   sudo cp chroot/boot/memtest86+.bin image/install/memtest
   ```
## Boot Instructions

1. Access build directory
   ```
   cd $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
   ```

2. Create image/isolinux.txt
    ```
    cat <<EOF > image/isolinux.txt
    splash.rle
    ************************************************************************

    This is an Ubuntu from scratch Live CD.

    For the default live system, enter "live".  To run memtest86+, enter "memtest"

    ************************************************************************
    EOF
    ```

## Splash screen

1. Access build directory
   ```
   cd $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
   ```

2. Create image 640x480 in png format (splash.png)

3. Convert png image to ppm (indexed 16 colors)
   ```
   convert +dither -colors 16 splash.png splash.ppm
   ```

4. Convert ppm to rle
   ```
   ppmtolss16 '#ffffff=7' < splash.ppm > splash.rle
   ```

5. Move image
   ```
   sudo mv splash.rle image/
   ```

## Boot-loader configuration

1. Access build directory
   ```
   cd $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
   ```

2. Create image/isolinux.cfg
    ```
    cat <<EOF > image/isolinux.cfg
    path 
    include menu.cfg
    default vesamenu.c32
    prompt 0
    timeout 50
    EOF
    ```
3. Create image/menu.cfg
    ```
    cat <<EOF > image/menu.cfg
    menu hshift 13
    menu width 49
    menu margin 8

    menu title Installer boot menu
    include txt.cfg    
    ```

4. Create image/txt.cfg
    ```
    cat <<EOF > image/txt.cfg
    default live
    label live
        menu label ^Try Ubuntu from scratch without installing
        kernel /casper/vmlinuz
        append  file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd quiet splash ---
    label live-install
        menu label ^Install Ubuntu from scratch
        kernel /casper/vmlinuz
        append  file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu.seed boot=casper only-ubiquity initrd=/casper/initrd quiet splash ---
    label check
        menu label ^Check disc for defects
        kernel /casper/vmlinuz
        append  boot=casper integrity-check initrd=/casper/initrd quiet splash ---
    label memtest
        menu label Test ^memory
        kernel /install/memtest
    EOF
    ```

## Create manifest

1. Access build directory
   ```
   cd $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
   ```

2. Generate manifest
   ```
   sudo chroot chroot dpkg-query -W --showformat='${Package} ${Version}\n' | sudo tee image/casper/filesystem.manifest

   sudo cp -v image/casper/filesystem.manifest image/casper/filesystem.manifest-desktop

   REMOVE='ubiquity ubiquity-frontend-gtk ubiquity-frontend-kde casper lupin-casper live-initramfs user-setup discover1 xresprobe os-prober libdebian-installer4'

   for i in $REMOVE
   do
       sudo sed -i "/${i}/d" image/casper/filesystem.manifest-desktop
   done
   ```

## Compress the chroot

1. Access build directory
   ```
   cd $HOME/live-ubuntu-from-scratch
   ```

2. Create squashfs
   ```
   sudo mksquashfs chroot image/casper/filesystem.squashfs
   ```

3. Write the filesystem.size
   ```
   printf $(sudo du -sx --block-size=1 chroot | cut -f1) > image/casper/filesystem.size
   ```