Thursday, January 8, 2015

How to create Ubuntu Live CD/DVD using Remastersys

This tutorial is for creating a Live CD/DVD based on Ubuntu 12.04. You can also try latest version of Ubuntu Live CD/DVD by using the following instructions.

Step 1
Install Ubuntu 12.04 in a PC or inside a Virtual Box application.
Upgrade the system by installing latest packages, apply the following commands,

sudo su
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

Install the additional applications (e.g. Gimp) for your Live CD/DVD.

Step 2
You can remove following packages to reduce the size of final ISO file.
 apt-get remove libreoffice-help-en-us ubuntu-docs thunderbird smbclient rhythmbox totem deja-dup gnome-orca transmission-gtk 

Remove games, 

sudo apt-get purge aisleriot gnome-sudoku mahjongg ace-of-penguins gnomine gbrainy


Remove the unnecessary packages deposited in cache using Bleachbit. Otherwise the size of Live DVD will be heavy. Bleachbit can remove lot of junk files and save space. Install Bleachbit using the following command,

apt-get install bleachbit

Open Bleachbit from Applications > System Tools 



To use Bleachbit, see the documentation here.

Few more tips too make your Live DVD good,

Disable Apport to prevent unwanted system messages.

Open following file and fine the entry enabled=1 change to enabled=0.

sudo gedit /etc/default/apport 

You can change boot splash to text mode. Open following file

gedit /etc/default/grub
  
and find following line,

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" 

Remove the entry "quite splash", save file and close. 


Step 3
Installation of Remastersys in Ubuntu 12.04. Apply the following commands.

sudo su
wget -O - http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu/remastersys.gpg.key | apt-key add -

gedit /etc/apt/sources.list


Add the following lines in the file, save and close.

#Remastersys Precise
deb http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu precise main


Update the package repository and install Remastersys

apt-get update
apt-get install remastersys remastersys-gtk

Remastersys will appear in Applications > System Tools > Administration 
   
See the screen shots below,

Main screen of Remastersys.



You can assign a name for Live DVD.



You can export user settings to Live DVD. It means, you can assign an inbuilt user name and password for DVD.


You can click on appropriate buttons to build Live DVD. You need Internet connection to run Remastersys. Certain packages to be installed from Internet to build the Live DVD. The output will be in .iso format, you can locate it from /home/remastersys. Burn the .iso file in a DVD and boot from computer.