Home > Articles > Operating Systems, Server > Linux/UNIX/Open Source

Like this article? We recommend

Creating the Kickstart File for a Live CD

To make a more useful live CD or DVD, you can start with one of the livecd-creator desktop kickstart files. (Refer to the official kickstart page for details about the format of this file.) This section shows the contents of the livecd-fedora-8-base-desktop.ks file, divided into three sections (preinstall, packages, and post-install).

To build your own Fedora desktop live CD, you should start with either the KDE (livecd-fedora-8-kde.ks) or GNOME (livecd-fedora-8-desktop.ks) live CD desktop kickstart file. Both of these kickstart files include the base desktop kickstart file illustrated in this section.

Setting Preinstall Values in Your Kickstart

The first set of values in the kickstart file sets standard features before the actual install begins. These values in our sample kickstart file include the following:

lang en_US.UTF-8
keyboard us
timezone US/Eastern
auth --useshadow --enablemd5
selinux --enforcing
firewall --disabled
xconfig --startxonboot
part / --size 4096
services --enabled=NetworkManager --disabled=network,sshd

repo --name=released --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=fedora-8&arch=$basearch
repo --name=updates --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-f8&arch=$basearch

If you’ve installed Fedora on previous occasions, you’ll notice that the entries in this first section of a kickstart file answer many of the questions you get during a regular install:

  • By default, this file creates a United States/English live CD.
  • The language is U.S. English (lang en_US.UTF-8).
  • The keyboard is U.S. (keyboard us).
  • The time zone is set to East Coast United States (timezone US/Eastern).
  • Security settings include standard shadow passwords used with MD5 encryption (auth --useshadow --enabledmd5), SELinux set to be turned on (selinux --enforcing) and iptables firewall features are off (firewall --disabled).
  • With xconfig set to --startxonboot, the live CD will be configured to boot to a graphical login screen. Only a single partition is created (/) and it’s set to be at least 4096MB. The default services running on the live CD are modified to have the network service and Secure Shell (sshd) service on, with networking managed by the Network Manager service.
  • The two repo entries are important because they point to the Fedora repository where livecd-creator will get the software. The exact site chosen is taken from a mirror list. In this case, the Fedora 8 basic and updates repositories are used, so you can get the latest updated software for Fedora 8.

The following table shows some ways to modify or add more settings in this section.

Option

Setting

SELinux

Disable SELinux by setting selinux --disabled

No X

Disable the GUI on boot by setting skipx instead of xconfig

Change bootloader timeout

Change the length of timeout from the boot screen to system boot by using bootloader --timeout=n (replace n with the number of seconds before timeout)

Add boot options

Use bootloader --append to add kernel options at boot time; fr example, bootloader --append="noprobe 3" causes the live CD to not probe hardware and start in runlevel 3

Use specific repositories

Instead of using --mirrorlist to choose a repository to use, you can indicate a specific repository with the --baseurl option.

If you decide to specify repositories, you can point to either an online Fedora yum repository or a local file, as in the following examples:

repo --name=release --baseurl=http://frp.udl.es/pub/fedora/linux/releases/8/Everything/i386/os
repo --name=newrepo --baseurl=file:///var/tmp/newrepo

Notice that the second repo example points to a local directory:

repo --name=updates --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-f8&arch=$basearch

The pointer could offer a way to include your own software packages (RPMs) in the live CD. That directory has to contain the RPM packages you want and be configured as a yum repository using the createrepo command (described later).

Likewise, if you have a Fedora repository available from your local system (from a local directory or DVD), you can point the repo line to that repository and save a lot of download time. For example, the Fedora 8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Bible (Wiley, 2007) comes with an 8GB Fedora 8 install DVD. I used the following repo lines when I built a live CD with that DVD inserted:

repo --name=release --baseurl=file:///media/Fedora\ 20071108\ i386\ DVD
repo --name=updates --mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-f8&arch=$basearch

This approach saved me from having to download most of the packages needed to build the live CD, but also grabbed new packages for which updates were available.

Adding Packages to Your Kickstart File

In the packages section of the kickstart file, you indicate which groups of packages you want installed, any individual packages you want installed, and packages you want to prevent from being installed. (For example, you might want to exclude a package that was being pulled in as part of a selected group.) The following example shows some of the package list in the sample kickstart file:

%packages
@base-x
@base
@core
@admin-tools
@dial-up
@hardware-support
@printing
kernel
memtest86+

# save some space
-specspo
-esc
-samba-client
-a2ps
-mpage
  .
  .
  .
%end

Notice that the package list begins with %packages and ends with %end. Each group is indicated by the at sign (@). Added packages are simply listed by name, and removed packages are preceded by a hyphen (-).

Once you’ve chosen a starting package list, there are several options to consider regarding the packages you add or remove from your package list:

  • Check available packages. Use Package Manager (Applications > Add/Remove Software, or type pirut) to see available groups and packages. Use yum search to search or yum list | less to list all packages.
  • Compressed file system. Because livecd-creator uses mksquashfs to compress the live CD’s file system to less than 1/3 of its normal size, you can fit more on a live CD than you would get on a regular hard disk install. So, for example, the file system on the minimal install CD before it’s compressed is about 460MB, but the resulting squashfs image is only 114MB.
  • Getting a list of packages. If you installed Fedora to your hard disk, a kickstart file (anaconda-ks.cfg) reflecting that installation is copied to the /root directory. Although not all the information in that file is needed for live CD creation, you can use the %packages section as the basis for the live CDs you create.
  • Selecting packages for CD vs. DVD. Aside from size, there’s no difference between selecting packages for a CD versus a DVD ISO image. You can just select more packages for a DVD, because there’s more room on the disc.

Adding Post-Install Commands to Your Kickstart File

The post section of the kickstart (indicated by %post) is where you can modify the contents of the live CD after all the packages have been downloaded and installed to the temporary directory. Because the code in the post section is a bit ugly, I’ll give you the highlights from the sample kickstart and make suggestions on commands you might want to add:

Adding a User

The following lines add the "fedora" user account with a blank password:

useradd -c "Fedora Live" fedora
passwd -d fedora > /dev/null

First Boot

By default, firstboot (which lets you configure firewalls, SELinux, a new user, and other features when you boot the CD) is off by default. If you like, you can turn it on by changing NO to YES in the following line:

echo "RUN_FIRSTBOOT=NO" > /etc/sysconfig/firstboot

Turning Services On or Off

The sample kickstart uses the chkconfig command to turn off certain services. Here, six services are turned off for the common run levels (3, 4, and 5):

chkconfig --level 345 yum-updatesd off 2>/dev/null
chkconfig --level 345 crond off 2>/dev/null
chkconfig --level 345 atd off 2>/dev/null
chkconfig --level 345 anacron off 2>/dev/null
chkconfig --level 345 readahead_early off 2>/dev/null
chkconfig --level 345 readahead_later off 2>/dev/null

Adding Files

The livecd-creator command includes a way to add files to a live CD’s file system. By having a %post --nochroot section at the end of the kickstart file, you can modify the live CD’s file system after all the packages have been installed. In the sample kickstart file, that section copies the GPL and a readme file from the installed system ($INSTALL_ROOT) to a directory on the live CD ($LIVE_ROOT):

%post --nochroot
cp $INSTALL_ROOT/usr/share/doc/*-release-*/GPL $LIVE_ROOT/GPL
cp $INSTALL_ROOT/usr/share/doc/HTML/readme-live-image/en_US/readme-live-image-en_US.txt $LIVE_ROOT/README
%end

You can add your own data files to the live CD by doing a similar copy in the %post --nochroot section. Here’s an example of how you might add your own music files to a Fedora live CD:

%post --nochroot
cp -ar /home/chris/Music $LIVE_ROOT/
%end

Changing the Desktop

As you further tailor your live CD, you may want to change the look and feel of your desktop. To see ways in which this can be done, look at the livecd-fedora-8-kde.ks file. The post section of that file sets up the KDE desktop to be the default desktop environment, and does other things such as disabling the screen saver and doing auto-login.

One way that I add custom desktop settings to a live CD is to configure a desktop exactly as I would like it on an installed system, and then copy the resulting configuration files from that user’s home directory to the /etc/skel directory on the live CD. If you can do that before the Fedora user is added to the live CD, all those settings are automatically copied to the Fedora user’s home directory.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020