[gentoo-user] Virtual machines, and creating bootable images

[gentoo-user] Virtual machines, and creating bootable images

[Jigme Datse Yli-RAsku]

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I am looking at creating a gentoo install which I can use for my hosted
servers.  The documentation I have seen about doing so is to mount an
"ISO" and then dd the mounted device to a data drive, make the data
drive bootable (set it in the settings for hosting provider) and attach
it to a server.

I want to be able to build these images and test them in a virtual
machine on my local server, then end up doing what I need on the hosting
provider to get them in place.

Quick research hasn't given me any clear guidance as to how I can export
the virtual machine (ie. what even can do this) to an image that can be
copied to a drive to produce a bootable drive.

Anyone have some good starting points to think about this?

Jigme Datse Yli-Rasku

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Jigme Datse Yli-Rasku
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Jigme Datse Yli-Rasku
PO Box 270
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Canada

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[gentoo-user] Re: Virtual machines, and creating bootable images

[James]

Jigme Datse Yli-RAsku <jigme.datse <at> datsemultimedia.com> writes:


> I am looking at creating a gentoo install which I can use for my hosted
> servers.  The documentation I have seen about doing so is to mount an
> "ISO" and then dd the mounted device to a data drive, make the data
> drive bootable (set it in the settings for hosting provider) and attach
> it to a server.

Testing:: 
http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net/


VM/container images::
There are many around.
Rich0 put up one of my favorites, which included btrfs::

https://docs.google.com/document/
d/1VJlJyYLTZScta9a81xgKOIBjYsG3_VfxxmUSxG23Uxg/edit?pli=1

And if you are into openstack cluster images::
https://blog.mthode.org/posts/2016/Jun/gentoo-openstack-and-osic/


> I want to be able to build these images and test them in a virtual
> machine on my local server, then end up doing what I need on the hosting
> provider to get them in place.

Yes we all want this. Truth is, it is very easy to make a misstep.
Catalyst was the traditional tool for this this, but it is still usable
(at least some claim so). ymmv. Some of the older scripts are very
instructive for the steps, but the details will need to modified
to fit your current needs.

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Catalyst


GRS::
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:RelEng_GRS


Stage 4::

https://github.com/TheChymera/mkstage4
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-312817.html
http://www.tutorials.chymera.eu/blog/2014/05/18/
mkstage4-stage4-tarballs-made-easy/
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?p=1751698#1751698


Random links::

http://opensource.dyc.edu/tinhat-howtocook

https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-995118.html

http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Isohybrid

https://tails.boum.org/blueprint/bootstrapping/installer/

https://github.com/mikemol/gentoo-install/blob/master/gentoo-install.sh



NEW pathways to robust, automated installation::

https://github.com/gentoo/stager/blob/master/road_map.md

https://calamares.io/
app-admin/calamares

Ansible::

http://blog.jameskyle.org/2014/08/automated-stage3-gentoo-install-using-ansible/

https://github.com/gentoo-ansible


> Quick research hasn't given me any clear guidance as to how I can export
> the virtual machine (ie. what even can do this) to an image that can be
> copied to a drive to produce a bootable drive.
> Anyone have some good starting points to think about this?

Once you have worked through the gentoo handbook (maybe a few times)
all of the  methods do start to make more sense. I have been slowly been
gathering and testing up old and new methods to automate gentoo installs, 
regardless of platform:: on discrete hardware, vm, container, hpc or
embedded. All have similarities and mostly differ in how you set up the
storage (ram, usb, disk, flash, etc etc).


> Jigme Datse Yli-Rasku

This list is not exhaustive. Before folks will help you very much, make
sure you have gone through at least a few gentoo handbook installs and know
those steps well.

Do post back, as auto/image installs are still a pita for me, as it does
take time to smooth out the details on any installation method for gentoo
I've been in pursuit of the holy grail of gentoo install. A custom hardware
rack/apparatus, where I can plug in anything and perform a myriad of gentoo
installs, all with just a few click. ymmv. I have most of the pieces, but
ADHD stills has me blocked....

GOOD HUNTING!

hth,
James

[gentoo-user] Re: Virtual machines, and creating bootable images

[James]

Jigme Datse Yli-RAsku <jigme.datse <at> datsemultimedia.com> writes:


> Anyone have some good starting points to think about this?

Here is a link to some amd64 stage-4 images::

http://rsync5.us.gentoo.org/gentoo/releases/amd64/autobuilds/current-install-amd64-minimal/


Here is the Google Summer of Code proposal, where the devs would be
willing to work with anyone who wanted to develop an updated method
to stag3-4 installs.

Oh, just in case you do not know, lots of folks like to make stage-4 images
of servers or systems, for an easy backup/restore snapshop of critcal systems::

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Google_Summer_of_Code/2016/Ideas/
Stage4_Console_Configurator


hth,
James

Re: [gentoo-user] Virtual machines, and creating bootable images

[J. Roeleveld]

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On Friday, June 17, 2016 11:46:08 PM Jigme Datse Yli-RAsku wrote:
> I am looking at creating a gentoo install which I can use for my hosted
> servers.  The documentation I have seen about doing so is to mount an
> "ISO" and then dd the mounted device to a data drive, make the data
> drive bootable (set it in the settings for hosting provider) and attach
> it to a server.
> 
> I want to be able to build these images and test them in a virtual
> machine on my local server, then end up doing what I need on the hosting
> provider to get them in place.
> 
> Quick research hasn't given me any clear guidance as to how I can export
> the virtual machine (ie. what even can do this) to an image that can be
> copied to a drive to produce a bootable drive.
> 
> Anyone have some good starting points to think about this?

Not entirely how you are looking into this, but I generally do the following:

1) Build an install with the packages and config I need
2) Backup the binary packages
3) Backup all the config files I modified (keep a list during "1")
4) During install at remote site, copy the packages and install using the "-k" 
flag

Any modern hosting site allows me to attach an ISO image to boot from. My 
preference is sysresccd as it is Gentoo based and works quite well together 
with the install guide.

--
Joost

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[gentoo-user] Re: Virtual machines, and creating bootable images

[James]

Jigme Datse Yli-RAsku <jigme.datse <at> datsemultimedia.com> writes:

 
> I am looking at creating a gentoo install which I can use for my hosted
> servers.  The documentation I have seen about doing so is to mount an
> "ISO" and then dd the mounted device to a data drive, make the data
> drive bootable (set it in the settings for hosting provider) and attach
> it to a server.

> I want to be able to build these images and test them in a virtual
> machine on my local server, then end up doing what I need on the hosting
> provider to get them in place.

> Anyone have some good starting points to think about this?


Oops,

I forgot to mention this link::

https://blog.mthode.org/posts/2016/Feb/creating-gentoo-vm-images/

I thought I'd go ahead and list it in this thread, in case any else
searches out this topic.

hth,

James